It was a damp, wintery morning in West Akron.  I was just about to start a quiet, early morning doing that for which it was intended: drinking coffee and mediating.  It was just then that the phone began to ring disturbing the peace and quiet that so rarely descended upon my rooms.  That didn't bode well.  Nobody called that early in the morning to tell you that you've won the lottery or to compliment you on your flower garden.  I picked up the call with trepidation.  But when you are in my line of work, that's what you do. Of course there had been a crime commit ..read more

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For Christmas this year I got a new office and one of the perks of which is this automatic winter, coffee warmer ..read more

St. Sebastian Parish is getting a new boiler (and chiller) for Christmas.  Right now that means being without heat until Friday but in the long run we will be happier, warmer and spend much less money on heat.  Here is the old boiler being chopped up in the basement of the church I don't know what I was expecting but the inside looks like a giant radiator.  But now, thinking about it, I guess it makes sense.  After it was all (loudly) chopped up, a giant crane came by to haul it piece by piece out of the basement. So here is a picture so you can not see what I don't ..read more

Part of Christ's whole mission was to heal the divisions between us, that we might be one in the Body of Christ.  Part of the most insidious parts of the whole COVID situation is the division it causes (a sickness in and of itself) within the body that appears to be almost irreconcilable.   No matter how helpful and diplomatic those in charge try to be, the nature of this beast just seems to make everything more difficult. The diocese tries to do what they can which is mostly calling you to tell you somebody complained. "Do you want me to kick people out?  Do you want me to h ..read more

Two of us were exposed to COVID and were subsequently tested.  My friends tested negative.  It was a cause of great rejoicing for him!  He was not infected nor infectious!  It was like Lazarus risen from the grave.  Perhaps too much so.  After all, Lazarus would still have to face life with all its bumps and scratches and once more struggle with death.  Similarly, because of a negative diagnosis, there was still the mandate to quarantine, and after, there remained the possibility of contracting COVID and facing quarantine again.  Bearing in mind all an ..read more

  So far being alone in my rooms hasn't been so bad.  I worry that I am prematurely positive about this.  Is there something for which I am not preparing?  I think of prisoners thrown into solitary confinement and wonder how they get started.  One can only sleep so long.  I know solitude is where one can find God and himself, but - well - I'm a planner. So yesterday I sat down and made a plan.  I am not going to just sleep through this.  I put together a list of things that I will do every day so I don't end up on Monday (only Monday for Pete's sake) w ..read more

In movie and television shows there is always that person who moves to the big city and lives in a tiny, two room apartment (from were I learned what a Murphy bed is) and is SOOOOOOO happy because they are living in the pulse of humanity.  But is it worth it to have to wash your dishes and your unmentionables in your bathroom sink and be charged with unreasonable rent just to enjoy this privilege?   Funny thing about God.  He often listens and grants even minor prayers. I mean . . . (cough) . . . thank you God. I haven't blogged in a long time as other things became more p ..read more

About a year ago, when I brought home the magnificent icon of St. Sebastian, written by Mother Iliana of the Christ the Bridegroom Byzantine Monastery, asked if I had another saint that I wanted because people were asking about commissions and there would be a waiting list.  (There is a waiting list now measured in years.)  I asked for St. Joan of Arc because I was ordained on her feast day and my class took her as our patron. I received a phone call about a week ago that said that St. Joan was ready and that I could come pick her up!  Fr. Anthony and I, feeling a little houseb ..read more

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND:  "Bacons the best.  Even the frying of bacon sounds like applause."  Jim Gaffigan QUOTE II:  When you have bacon in your mouth, it doesn't matter who's president or anything. Every time I'm eating bacon I think, I could die right now, and I mean it. That's how good life is."  Louis CK QUOTE III:  "Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon."  Doug Larson QUOTE IV:  Bacon is so good by itself that to put it in any other food is an admission of failure. You're basic ..read more