Sorry folks for missing last week. I was a bit under the weather and I’ll try to relate what happened to some extent. The week did, however, give me a little time for reflection.

A O

Over the years I’ve been amazed at the search for happiness from us humans. So very often the search came down to the idea that if “only I could accomplish (or obtain) this particular thing, I’d be happy.”

How many times did a person accomplish that goal, but still was unhappy?

I came to the conclusion many years ago that happiness is not a destination (such as accomplishing the goal mentioned above) but rather, it is a journey. Last week was a small part of my journey, but one I don’t think I’ll forget.

I’m not sure how to tell the story, but hope you don’t get too bored.

A week ago Saturday evening we attended the Mass and World Marriage Day Social at Sacred Heart church.

It was a great event enjoyed by many. However . . . just as we got home I could not stop shaking and was feeling bad (even rotten). (I blamed it on that second Brott I ate.)

I laid around the rest of the evening before going to bed. Sunday saw me horizontal more than vertical, just not feeling well.

Monday came and I finally looked at my leg. It was a bright red and swollen substantially. All that brought a call to the doctor and the earliest appointment was Tuesday afternoon. I could not attend Gene Svoboda’s funeral and remained horizontal.

By Monday night I thought I could see the gates of Hell. No, not see them, but ‘feel’ them.

Do to the Guidance from God, Barb Janda contacted us and after talking with Nancy, I was put on the parish ‘Prayer Chain.”

I’m not sure the exact moment, but I know that somewhat later I was feeling much better. I know that must have been the moment the name went out to all those good people doing the praying.

My infection hasn’t gone away, but I’ve sure ‘felt’ better since then.

The trip to the doctor confirmed the infection. He said I was within an inch of being sent to the hospital, but I was not.

The rest of the week was spent on medication with rest. I really didn’t do anything.

I am somewhat better this week, but I’m not sure the hospital visit is out of the question.

Thank you to the concern shown by everyone.

The week was not a “happy” time, in some ways . . . but, I was happy to learn of the power of prayer.

A O

One of those mornings during the week I woke up with the strangest sensation. I remembered a dream from the night. (I don’t always remember dream details.)

If anyone out there could interpret this dream, please let me know.

Somehow I was on a visitor’s tour of the Vatican in Italy. Our group had lunch with Pope Francis in his residence and was to have a lazy afternoon of visiting in the Vatican on a tour.

I can next remember some people playing board games with the Pope and just enjoying a lazy afternoon. I sort of got separated from the group and went looking for them. As I rounded a set of steps in to a lower part of the building, there was Carolyn Kohmetscher administering C P R to a young child. She asked me to call 911 for an ambulance.

I took off looking for a phone. I found one, but soon realized I could not talk the language. The Pope was close by and he completed getting the information passed on.

A short time later the ambulance pulled up with Lynn Hoelting being the driver.

Well, the Pope insisted on being the driver, and we took off. However, shortly we had to pull into a gasoline station as we would never reach the hospital with the gasoline we had.

I woke up, never knowing the rest of the story.

A O

History and Politics . . .

Through my short history in observing politics here in both Nebraska and the United States, I have often linked many of the liberal ideas that have come up (abortions, gender confusion, etc.) with the Democratic Party. Seemed many practices that so many deem “bad” were brought into being by the Democrats.

In general that may be true, but I’ve been trying to identify those people who want to continue killing unborn babies as “liberals” rather than Democrats as I know there are a lot of Democrats that object to abortions, changing gender identity and other liberal ideas.

I bring this up because of action in the Nebraska Unicameral this year. Nebraskans are getting closer to finally putting the clamps on abortion in the state. It is not perfect, but it goes a long ways to protect the unborn.

Also, a ban on gender altering procedures for minors is being considered.

These items give me a good feeling that maybe ‘non-liberal’ elements in society have come together to restore some sort of “right” to society.

The liberal elements in Nebraska and in the U. S. are very good at picking out a “situation” in society that may not be good. But their answer to solving this “situation” usually generates more problems than there was to start.

The abortion question is a prime example. Liberals saw families with low incomes have children which required more of their income and pushed them further down the economic pole. The liberal’s answer resulted in the killing of millions of human beings on a scale unknown to the world before this time.

It would take much time and space to talk about all situations I think liberals have messed up. However, I am pleased that this edition of the Unicameral is taking action to correct several items that should have never been started.

A O

What all that has to do with ‘happiness’, I’m not sure. However, after watching the Cornhusker basketball team win Sunday afternoon for their fourth win in their last five games . . . I’ll count the week as a “Happy” week.

A O