As I continue to get hints of everyone's stories in posts, I am filled with grief and compassion for you all. How much hurt is shared amongst us.

Kathy, Jim and Evie, my heart goes out to you all. I am gathering it has all been much more than any of us ever desreve for your family. And I am very sorry to hear of the church that turned its back on you in your time of need. Sounds like they all need to relearn the meaning of a community that loves regardless.

As far as faith goes, as I have matured in my views on this in recent years, I have developed my own view on what my faith is and what I want it to be. It is just that. Whatever we want it to be. Look how many religions there are the world over. ANd those milions upon millions of people all pryingin to their different God or God-like figure each day. Prayers answered, prayers not answered, faiths strengthened and lost, each day. But I believe in one thing, a higher power of some decription. Someone or something that hears our prayers. That we can turn to for comfort, to give thanks to, to ask forgiveness of and to ask for guidance from. Make it whatever gives you peace I say. Personally I pray to God, the Saints and all the (Guardian) Angels.

I am from a Catholic background and attended Catholic Schools. My husband and I were married by a Catholic Priest in a Catholic Chapel. But I would not consider my own personal faith strictly Catholic. I believe. I have faith. But I believe in what makes sense to me, not the exact story that comes from the Old Testament. And either way, my God, whatever his/her forn loves me just the same, because I am a child of God. I don't think we were ever meant to be by the book in our faith. That's exactly the fundamental principle of faith. You believe because it's what you believe, and it's what fills yyou heart with love, not because you are told it's what you should believe.

Well, it's the way I see it and what makes me feel good.