Pope Francis shows Democrats how to take back America

[jtuck004]

123. Sitting in front of the cathedral in Spokane last night, watching the homeless guy wrap himself

in plastic and blankets, big sleeping bag...

My wife asked my heathen ass to take her to Midnight Mass. I don't believe in ghosts, or that we might be comforted by a better life after being screwed over in this one, but I like some of the songs, so we went.

We went early so we could park closer (she has rheumatoid arthritis, so it's a little hard for her to walk long distances) and while sitting in the car noticed a figure on the park bench across the street sitting, looking around. Dark, couldn't see very well, but before we went in I saw the figure lay down, and I realized it wasn't just someone enjoying the night before the service.

So I walked over, and from a few feet away I said "You asleep yet?. Guy's head emerged, said "no". I handed him a few bucks, wished him a Merry Christmas, shook his hand. I told him there was a Mass across the street, he could come in and at least get warm for while, but I suspect he knew that wasn't gonna happen. Their security is used to turning people away down there.

We went inside and I enjoyed the music and the singing. The preacher mentioned that Pope Francis wanted them to take better care of those that were hurting. He told a story about a priest who went to the island of Molokai to minister to the lepers, and how excited the fella became when he himself contracted leprosy. Now he wouldn't just be doing things "for" them, he would be doing things "like" them because he was one of them now. (a desired quality noted by James J. Matles in his book about the UE titled "Them and Us", re-released in 1995).

He went on to say that the most effective shepherds of sheep were said to be those that had the "stink" of the sheep on them, and exhorted the crowd to learn that lesson. (One could think that is an unfortunate metaphor for caring, but given how the Democratic Party has run away from working people, perhaps it's more relevant than some would like to think...).

They handed bowls for donations around twice, first time for the church, second for Catholic Charities and their work. I noted that they didn't tell them the second "ask" was coming before they took their money for the first one. I wonder if people would have contributed more to that one had they had the chance to?

We left, and I saw that the homeless fella was asleep under the bench across the street.

Got home, and the stray dog that has been hanging around the neighbor's house was out there, so I gave him a few bites of food. His "owners" are in a a trailer park a few blocks from here, but they don't care for him at all. Essentially homeless as well, he gets more love and attention from the people in the duplex than he gets from his owners.

The people in the duplex nearly got an eviction notice last week, couldn't pay their rent, but I think they made it, finally. The dad and his kid were homeless 3 years ago, and have struggled back to this. He works a minimum wage service job at the airport, and his father (disabled Vietnam era vet) lives with them. Barely hanging on.

(I think, if I can figure out where to get $300 I might find some t-posts and wire fence and help him put up an enclosure. They have three old dogs that are his dad's friends, but no fence, and that might help them a little.)

Too much need out there. How did we forget that we make a prosperous and safe nation by investing in our people, not making our banks and insurance companies richer? Working people need a party that gives a flying rat's ass about them.

I hope the Holidays bring you all Peace...