Answers to questions without answers

Since many of you wrote in response to my last post, in which I wrote to my close friend, S, about the Amish school killings, you may want to read her reply, which follows. She makes several points that some of you made earlier.

I think the reason the Amish incident happened can be summed up in the words of this Amish woman: "Katie Weaver, from an Amish community in Michigan, came here to offer sympathy. 'We can tell people about Christ and actually show you in our walk that we forgive, not just say it, but in our walk of life,' she says." All religions tell us love and forgive. This message was given to all. Most talk the talk but don't walk the walk. People tend to pick and choose ... it only meant forgive these or those people. To do otherwise would be impossible, they say. This incident was used by the Divine to show us that we can live this way, loving unconditionally and forgiving all. The people this happened to felt God won because this man planned to sexually molest all those children, but police arrived before he could carry out his plan. Our time in a physical body is but a blink of an eye, but our lives are eternal. As an Essene, I also believe in reincarnation. We believe we are each given a 'birth vision' and choose which family we come into each lifetime. To each is designated a particular lifespan on earth. If one commits suicide, they must return to finish out that original timespan before continuing on. What better way to finish out a lifespan than as an Amish child, innocent, loved and free, in tune with the earth. These souls then showed us the power of love and forgiveness, thereby advancing and evolving. ALL things work together for good for those who love God.

I should explain that S is a member of the clergy in the Essene church. The Essenes are followers of a Gnostic faith, which had split from mainstream Christianity before the Council of Nicea in the 4th century AD. So they believe in the same Jesus--but in different ways and have different beliefs. Their Bible includes books that are not in the mainstream Christian canon. See this link to learn more about that.

As many of you also know, S is very dear to me, and I love her very much. Her words made me feel much better about what happened in Pennsylvania last week, and I wrote her last night to tell her thank you.

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The big news up here this week is that autumn is going to be checking out for a while, and The Old Man is coming.

Yes, the fall color season is definitely over. It's raining here this morning, but it's supposed to change over to snow late this afternoon, and we're supposed to get several inches of it overnight. Areas closer to Lake Superior will be getting more. A lot more. Plus plenty of wind from out of the north. The storm will continue there through most of Thursday and maybe into Friday.

Guess where my football games are this weekend? They are both in the area that is supposed to get hit the hardest. One is near Ironwood on Friday night, and the other is near Houghton on Saturday afternoon. The roads will be plowed out by then, and the football fields will be cleared, but there likely will be at least a little snow in the air. And both fields could be very sloppy and muddy.

In other words, they are the perfect places to get some memorable photos in miserable weather. I'm already lining up my foul weather gear. My winter boots. Long johns. Heavy coat. Knit cap. Mitts. I'll try to be ready for anything.