Dear Father,<\/p>\n
I know I don’t have to explain to You why I haven’t written.\u00a0 I’ve already said so much but there’s more I want to say about what happened in West Hollow.\u00a0 First I wanted to take some time to remember what happened before You sent me there.\u00a0 Because I valued those assignments and those occasions with friends, too.<\/p>\n
On the 20th my friends yet again spoiled me with their designated celebration of my birthday.\u00a0 They remembered how much I liked the clothes, patched with pieces of their own, they gave me when I was homeless.\u00a0 So they made a quilt for me.\u00a0 I took it with me to West Hollow but You knew I needed more than just a token of them.\u00a0 Thank You.\u00a0 And thank You for seeing to it that I was with them for the party. \u00a0 I’m not sure who would have been more upset to be separated on my birthday: them or me.\u00a0 Having Monica there made it even more special.\u00a0 Even though Tess couldn’t be there, it meant so much that she called to sing to me.\u00a0 And the hockey stick from Raquel and Nico was really great.\u00a0 And useful.<\/p>\n
Then I had my assignment with Cyril.\u00a0 Like I told Laja: there’s nothing quite like seeing an old man polka his way into Heaven!\u00a0 That’s one of those assignments I won’t soon be forgetting.<\/p>\n
Then came my gig as a postal worker in South Dakota.\u00a0 I hope April is continuing to look on the bright side when she can.\u00a0 I wasn’t sure I’d get through to her.\u00a0 That assignment reminded me of Max.\u00a0 It made me wish Monica and Tess were with me.<\/p>\n
After I left April, You sent me to St. James Prep where I was a janitor.\u00a0 You know, I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun scrapping gum off desks.\u00a0 Ed was a character (still is) and I wish more people at the school would have appreciated him before it was too late to tell him.\u00a0 I know You’ve told him.\u00a0 And I know one day they’ll be able to.\u00a0 That’s one of the great things about being an angel: knowing there’s always forever.<\/p>\n
Next came my time as a convenience store clerk.\u00a0 That was difficult.\u00a0 Father, I still don’t understand what causes people to harm others. Don’t they think about what they’re doing to those left behind?\u00a0 To You?\u00a0 I wish I could get through to more of them.\u00a0 But free will… it’s an amazing gift.\u00a0 One of the most important.\u00a0 I wish all people recognized that and treated it as the chance to do good that it is.<\/p>\n
You knew I needed some fun after that.\u00a0 And You must have thought my friends did, too.\u00a0 All these years as an angel and this was my first time as a hand model.\u00a0 It’s harder work than I realized!\u00a0 And now I get to spend a good, long time watching my friends flip through magazines looking for my hands.\u00a0 0:-)\u00a0 At least I got Bernadette to realize that she needs to take some time off for herself and for her health.\u00a0 I really enjoyed my time with her but, for her sake, I hope I don’t see her again for a long time!<\/p>\n
It was great to spend a day at the Phoenix again at the end of September.\u00a0 Every time I see Crystal she seems even more sure of herself and stronger.\u00a0 And Jason… that kid is going places!\u00a0 Catherine and her staff are doing amazing work.\u00a0 I hope their new addition fits in well.\u00a0 You know, I’m really glad You created dogs.<\/p>\n
Bennie…\u00a0 Father, I’m still not sure what I think about her return last month.\u00a0 I’m angry at her for upsetting Rose and Laja.\u00a0 I don’t think it’s fair that she ran away before hearing us out completely.\u00a0 But when I think about her… mostly I feel sad.\u00a0 I feel like she needs us now.\u00a0 But how can you help someone who has made it clear they don’t want you around?\u00a0 As I wrote that, it occurred to me that You must feel that sometimes.\u00a0 It’s not easy.\u00a0\u00a0 If there’s anything You want me to do for Bennie: I’m here.<\/p>\n
After that I spent some time behind the counter at Bill’s Book Bazaar.\u00a0 I may not have gotten many customers but at least I got some reading done.\u00a0 So is Bill still trying to find Shakespeare and Dante and his other favorite authors?\u00a0 I wish I was There for those conversations!<\/p>\n
Then came Oct. 8th when I started my assignment in West Hollow.\u00a0 I don’t want to write about that right now.\u00a0 Some of the girls will be here soon.\u00a0 But thank You for giving me that evening away from it on the 10th so I could help celebrate Adam’s birthday.\u00a0 Thank You for Adam, period.<\/p>\n
Love,<\/p>\n
Andrew<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear Father, I know I don’t have to explain to You why I haven’t written.\u00a0 I’ve already said so much but there’s more I want to say about what happened in West Hollow.\u00a0 First I wanted to take some time … Continue reading