During the Oct. 17th class, we took a tour of the church.  I can be maniacally non-observant, which I'm trying to work on (it's really not a becoming trait in a writer!), so it was interesting, and calming, to stop, look around and learn about the windows, statues, altar, etc.

 

During the Oct. 24th class, Joan, one of the lay leaders of the class, went through the Bible and did a quick summary of every book -- or, she tried to, except that the Catholic Bible has 73 books, since the apocrypha is included, so there was no way to get it done in an hour and 45 minutes!

 

Joan did tell two fascinating stories, though.  She said she knows for a fact that God is in charge, because at one point last year, she challenged God; she said, "I know you don't just move people around at will!"  Well, wouldn't you know, as soon as she said that, she was running into this one friend of hers, Henry Kell, everywhere.  She went on a random errand to an out-of-the-way store; there was Henry Kell.  She took the train downtown; there was Henry Kell.  Anywhere she went, she ended up seeing Henry Kell, until she finally said to God, "OK, you DO put people where you want them, I get your point!"

 

She also said, "My mother gave me faith on her deathbed."  She said one night, her mom was busily clearing away dinner, and Joan said, "You look tired, why don't you go to sleep?"

 

Her mother said calmly, "I can't go to sleep.  I'm going to die."

 

Joan stared at her.  "What do you mean?"

 

"The Lord and my mother are waiting for me," her mom said.  And sure enough, she died that night, at age 53 and one day.

 

"That's all the proof that I need," Joan told us.