There are people who chase storms. Adrenalin pumping rush of excitement. Looking to see something that most of us have not. I chased storms as a boy with my stepfather driving his vintage car. It was in the middle of the night so we saw little. Earl would peer out of his open car window looking for the direction to get out of the way of the tornado. A frightening proposition.

Storms are promised for this afternoon. Baseball size hail. Our climate is unsettled. We seek the whirlwind but the answer is not there. The thrill of the hunt is profound until you are on the wrong side of the hail.

What will the children read in the far future? Will they read of the end of the Republic? Or, will they study the Great Change of Directions. Will our leaders be thought as the catalyst of positive change or the fall of Rome?

Church has gone out of style for many but seeking faith has not. We are in a game of Hide and Seek. We want to look beyond the Veil and discover the Secret.

‘Neva J has gone behind the Veil again,’ Chet said. ‘She had a gleam in her eyes and a glass of Merlot in her hand,’ Chet continued. ‘Neva J said that Grandma A had beckoned for her to enter from the corner of the Veil with a wide smile,’ Chet noted. ‘Neva J told me that there are answers to the riddle and pieces to the puzzle behind the Veil,’ Chet said with sincerity.

‘Come in Neva J Preacher said we have been waiting for you.’ ‘Take a seat beside your brother Dutch he has been wanting to talk with you,’ Preacher assured. ‘The storms are bad and life is hard for so many,’ Preacher noted with concern. ‘Here is a shelter from the storm,’ Preacher assured. ‘Many are worried regarding political unrest,’ Preacher commented. ‘It was similar when I walked the Earth,’ Preacher smiled. ‘When God is forgotten men take his place,’ Preacher said. ‘Here we take time to consider the obvious pitfalls of narcissism,’ Preacher explained. ‘Helping others in word and deed was my message on Earth with no separation of who you love and who deserves our love,’ Preacher mused. ‘Dutch told me that he has not spoken with you since the Second World War,’ Preacher observed. ‘Wars and rumors of wars but the end is not yet,’ Preacher assured. ‘God is control of our lives and is not restricted by a building or cult or doctrine,’ Preacher whispered.

‘There is peace beyond the Veil,’ Neva J exulted. ‘There were people from every nation and time on Earth,’ Neva J said with excitement. ‘Nothing is lost and time stands still for reflection and renewal,’ Neva J said. ‘There were no puffed up full of themselves leaders spouting evil rhetoric,’ Neva J promised. ‘I did see a wolf lay down by a lamb,’ Neva J cried with joy.

Storms are coming. So says the meteorologist. The risk is high. Remember they tell us that it is highly unlikely a tornado will hit your home but be ready. So it goes with us in our present distress. In the midst of work and child care responsibilities to aged parents and finding a family moment we are numb to what others are going through. Somewhere we decided along the way that freedom was for only a select few. Kings are good although we fled one when we became a nation. We did not want a sovereign telling us what to do. We wanted to make our own decisions and breathe the rarified air of freedom. We fought and died for the concept of democracy. Rule by the people we proclaimed. Our President was one equal branch of our goverment containing Congress and the Judiciary. Checks and balances we sought. Monarchy bad…democracy good. Well we must be Suckers to have believed that we were the country who said to, ‘Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-most to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!’

Perhaps we should remove the lamp from the Statue of Liberty’s hand. The President is getting a 400 million dollar plane from Qatar and his Secretary of Homeland Security wants a new plane as well. The rest of us feel fortunate to arrive at our flight destination safe and well.

We seek the promise of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Not that we will find these jewels we simply are happy to be in the game. We have been the envy of the world. We have been the golden example. Oppressive governments have feared us. We were the Promise. As a school boy I was taught the United States was founded on religious freedom. This includes having no religion which is becoming increasingly popular.

Dictators are venal. They are transactional. Kings are set apart they are special they are better than the people. Their rulings are capricious. Their motivations are self serving. Kings kill those who disagree with them. Autocrats ship innocent people to gulags and prisons in foreign countries. I worked for a narcissist and found that one day I was in favor with him and the next day I had fallen out of grace. This is life without the rule of law.

Leaders have chaotic minds. In the bubble they live in and the sycophants who advise them they have an altered view of reality. King Henry XIII loved his wives until he did not…ask Anne Boleyn.

‘So this is the Veil Room,’ Chet said. ‘There seems to be no division in time as there are people from every historical perspective…Why, I even saw a caveman,’ Chet smiled. ‘So if this is the transition room, is this the next step, or have we been in it for our lives as we know them?’ Chet asked. ‘Pope Francis is washing the feet of the poor, and both are lost in a vortex of time,’ Chet noted. ‘I see myself as a child and a man and an old man in a glimpse of an eye,’ Chet marveled. ‘I am in a first-grade classroom at Hillcrest School with Billy B, and the teacher is asking me to take my hat off and place it in the cloak room…I wondered what the cloak room was for a moment,’ Chet mused. ‘Billy B and I are playing with our western action figures, and I have Daniel Boone, who is fashioned after the actor Fess Parker,’ Chet grinned. ‘Next to the house in Parish Addition in the early 60s is my accounting business where I am a success and have many employees,’ Chet marvelled. ‘When I turn my head, I am in the rest home with a nurse helping me eat my supper,’ Chet said sadly.

‘Well, we were playing Hide and Seek and God asked if he could play,’ Neva J said. ‘He laughed and said our adventure would reveal more than we had bargained for, and we would have more questions when the journey was complete,’ Neva J winked. ‘I have wanted to peek behind the Veil all my life, and suddenly we had the opportunity to do so,’ Neva J said. ‘The experience is like Deja vu with funhouse mirrors,’ Neva J explained. ‘There is peace behind the Veil,’ Neva J observed. ‘Behind the Veil reveals the many misconceptions we have had of death,’ Neva J said softly. ‘We are players on a great stage and the play never ends,’ Neva J spoke with assurance. ‘Our role in the Great Drama is a permanent one, it does not end with transition…it continues with profound purpose,’ Neva J said with tears in her eyes.

‘When I first looked behind the Veil, I felt I had been there before,’ Jane said. ‘There was mom and dad and all the memories of home…But I was living them behind the Veil,’ Jane questioned. ‘Was I in the Great Foyer of the Secret of the Ages…or had I been in it for my life and just now understood where I was,’ Jane asked?

‘The Great Doors fascinate me,’ Billy B said. ‘I do not remember coming in them, but I see people going out of them,’ Billy B mentioned. ‘Do you suppose it is the long hall of white light leading to Heaven?’ Billy B asked? ‘Is God at the other end of the brilliant hall with his arms outstretched and saying Welcome home, my child,’ Billy B postulated. ‘Or could it be you are a baby being born all over again…there is mom and dad and everything is new,’ Billy B smiled. ‘Are we looking for Superman and the Marvel Superheros, or are we surrounded by God daily and fail to notice our sense of place in his plan,’ Billy B said.

The great Doors opened slowly. ‘Who is ready for a terrific train ride?’ the Conductor asked. ‘In five minutes we depart for the answer to the Secret,’ the Conductor said with aplomb. ‘God is the Engineer and has been looking forward to our Holiday together,’ the Conductor announced. ‘Bring your furry friends with you as they will enjoy the journey,’ the Conductor said with a wide smile…

We are told that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Comforting words as we play hide and seek. We are actors in the Big Mystery. Where did we come from, and when do we leave? How could our world be so majestic and awe-inspiring by chance? Or…how could there be so much human suffering with a benevolent God at the controls?

‘I will count to 10 and you hide,’ Jane exclaimed. ‘I may peek,’ Jane laughed. ‘I like to read the end of a novel before I start it,’ Jane winked. ‘Be sure to hide where I can find you,’ Jane said.

‘I have always liked hide and seek, it is a mystery exercise,’ Chet mused. ‘There are so many places to become invisible to others,’ Chet commented. ‘Some nights Dad comes to me in my dreams and tells me that he will see me soon,’ Chet said softly.

‘Why hello there,’ Neva J said with a witty smile. ‘I was wondering when you would return here,’ she continued. ‘I have been puttering around in what seems to be a great foyer to a mansion,’ Neva J said with a smile. ‘Many people are coming through and then moving on out of the far doors at the end of the grand hall,’ Neva J said. ‘We all stop when we hear the bell that signifies God’s voice,’ Neva J informed. ‘It sounds like rushing waters and whiporwills to me,’ she said.

‘What is on the other side of the doors at the end of the great hall?’ Billy B asked. ‘Is that where the answer is to the Secret?’ he continued. ‘By the way, where is this Neva J?’ Billy B asked.

‘This is the Veil Room…we are behind the Veil,’ Neva J said. ‘This is where you come when you transition,’ she continued. ‘The people coming and going seem to be from all periods and centuries,’ Neva J said with a flourish. ‘I saw Kublai Khan and Mother Theresa walking hand in hand out by the coy pond the other day,’ Neva J grinned. ‘The Veil Room has no symmetrical limits, it is unending, but always the doors at the end of the great hall are in view,’ Neva J said with tears in her eyes. ‘Many live full lives in the Veil Room as they study infinity,’ Neva J noted. ‘They finally walk through the doors and we do not see them any longer,’ Neva J mused.

‘Time for supper,’ Neva J called out. ‘Tomorrow we will peek behind the Veil again,’ Neva J laughed a wonderful laugh.

Rain is a constant companion. We live in Dickensian times. Scrooge has all he wants, and Bob Cratchit shivers in the office. The miracles of capitalism are complete for a select few. Many ask for a crust of bread.

Stand in line for homage time. We owe our success to a select few. They must have their due. They love praise, and it is difficult to produce it fast enough. The need for approval is great, and the thirst is insatiable.

We are not doomed to repeat history; we rewrite it like a bad Play. A remake is in the works, and it will be better than the first. No more history of persecution of Native Americans. We Europeans were benevolent to the people here before us. We gave them select land. They have casinos.

Hitler won. He had stealth agents to take our country from within. Oppression is popular if you are the oppressor. It is good to be the King.

Slavery was on-the-job training. Kind landowners took African Americans under their wing and trained them in useful work. What a country of blond, blue-eyed super-humans. Now we provide sanctuary for the persecuted white folks who have not had an advocate until recently. Happy days are here again.

A little girl cries in the street. Hungry, cold, and nowhere to go. A little boy holds his sister’s hand. He is trying to protect her while he needs protection.

‘Bring in the clowns, we gotta have clowns.’The circus is in town. The poor sit in the cheap seats as usual. The new clowns are in town. Their humor is slapstick. Real pain is part of their new Vaudiville act.

A clear day with blue sky. All the world is an open book. Full of possibilities, the horizon is as far as the eye can see. I pondered my first time at the restaurant and considered it well…55 years since my first Italian Beef Sandwich bought from the side window in the alley. My cousin Billy and I traveled from Eldorado to Elkville to attend church. Church was a big deal, as was the Italian beef sandwich. DuQuoin was a happening place in those halcyon days. It was a Mecca to me. I subscribed to the DuQuoin Evening Call newspaper when I lived in Eldorado. DuQuoin had Green’s IGA, and Mr. Green, the owner, greeted me warmly every time I entered his grocery. I felt like I was somebody.

I had somewhat older friends who worked in DuQuoin, the two Michaels. Both Jewish and from Chicago. One Michael worked at a Camper Business, and the other worked for a Candy Vendor. Through the Michaels, I met my friend for life, Jeff. All three had been hippies. Through our friendship, I learned of other places besides Southern Illinois.

Emlings’ cafe was open all night, which was unusual for 1970. Mornings, we traveled to DuQuoin for biscuits, gravy, and more. An extraordinary adventure for a lad of 13 to eat and take in the sights of those who breakfast at 3:00 am.

Spring colors were pervasive. Excellent food and drink. Jennifer was with us and made the day complete. Laughter and easy living. A good day for time travel…

We drove to DuQuoin along highway #51, as we reflected on Tom’s Place, which was recently torn down. It was a historical landmark that had begun as a Speakeasy during Prohibition. Inside the establishment were several rooms that had once had secret doors to quickly escape the police if a raid occurred. We noted the changes in time and the loss of history.

‘I say it is a cold winter’s night,’ Chet exclaimed. ‘Winter may have just begun, but it feels like it has settled in for the long haul,’ Chet continued. ‘I remember Mom sitting by the window on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa Claus,’ Chet smiled. ‘Her dedication to Santa was complete,’ Chet noted. ‘My watching her by that window with the red candle in it caused me to know that St. Nick was the genuine article,’ Chet winked. ‘Our Christmas Tree could be seen behind her in the living room,’ Chet commented. ‘When I saw the red candle in the window, my heart was happy.. Mom was waiting for me to come home for Christmas,’ Chet reminisced.

‘Neva J loved the Christmas Lights of Eldorado,’ Billy B said. ‘Each year we would drive slowly through town and admire the festive glow,’ Billy B smiled. ‘Her face was the brightest light at Christmas,’ Billy B observed. ‘Neva J waited for me each day as I rode the bus home from school,’ Billy B recalled. ‘I could rely on her to be home to greet me as she rested before preparing supper,’ Billy B said.

‘Times are hard and things are bad,’ Jane said. ‘It seems the light has gone and we are foraging in darkness,’ Jane continued. ‘When Mom was here, I knew what to do,’ Jane said. ‘Mom had an unshakeable sense of place,’ Jane laughed. ‘When trouble arose, the warmth of the kitchen lights and the coal stove in the corner warmed the little table,’ I had many pieces of holiday coffee cake sitting at that table with Mom’s radiant, calm face,’ Jane beamed. ‘Mom caused worry to evaporate with her quiet, calm love,’ Jane whispered.

‘It is quite a slippery road we are on, and we slid onto a side road that I did not know was here,’ Billy B observed as the car abruptly stopped. ‘I see a red candle in the window and the glowing lights of a Christmas Tree in the background,’ Billy B observed.

‘The news on the car radio said that President and Mrs. Kennedy extended Merry Christmas wishes to everyone,’ Jane said with a quizzical look of happy lights in her eyes.

When we were born, the hourglass was turned over, and the sand began to trickle. The movie of our life had begun, and we were a bit player on the silver screen. Life is much too slow; we must learn to crawl and walk. The halcyon days of youth were lost on us as adulthood beckoned. Hurry, do not be late, we heard. Daylight is burning. Places to go and people to see. Speed is success. Not a moment to waste. Decisions became ours to make. Our world became a self-generating bubble of opportunity. Others were in our peripheral vision, and their forms were blurred.

Change is afoot. You can see it, you can feel it. Life is a hurricane with a calm and serene eye. When we are in the eye, we feel peace. When the wind is howling and the hail is hitting our earthen structure, we want to be time travellers. Let us go back to calmer times and safer places. When we were in those glowing days of yore, did we realize our sense of place?

Neva J lived through the Great Depression. She and her siblings foraged for berries in the woods to eat. She and Dad married when he returned from the Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was a time to grab life by the stack-and-swivel as the Big Bands played swing music.

I would like More, please, we say like Oliver Twist. We hurry to enjoy the fruits of the tree of life and let the juice drip off our chins. The sand in the hourglass is diminishing.

Quiet is what we need. Reflection is required. Patience possesses our souls. Most pervasive problems resolve, and as the days pass, we tend to forget how we felt when we could think of nothing else. Remind us, dear Lord.

‘But there shall not a hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls.’

Pope Francis’ dedication to the poor, voiceless, and forgotten touched my heart. He was inspirational. Now, Pope Leo XIV is our first American Pope. Pope Leo hails from Chicago. I was born there and lived there until I was 5 years old.

Pope Francis was a force for good, and I believe Pope Leo XIV will continue that good and necessary work. Our world cries out for a voice for the poor and disenfranchised of Earth. Christ’s message was to the invisible of the land. Those who did not have the money or power to be noticed. Those who appeared different from the accepted or ‘In Crowd’, which these days includes many politicians who say what their constituents require of them. A fat wallet was never Jesus’ requirement to enter the kingdom of Heaven.

‘And the common people heard him gladly.’ Servant Leadership inspires. Humility compels action. Giving with no plan or hope of seeking recompense or acknowledgment is golden.

There is the facsimile and there is the real thing. Some pretend to have Christ’s mind, and some follow his humble way. The difference is night and day. Some shut the door to the needy, cold, and shunned. Some open the door wide to all who seek help and a balm of Gilead.

Pain in words never leaves you. Being called hurtful names and rejected leaves wounds. The balm is loving others who have been treated similarly.

Answers we seek. Pain is everywhere. It is too big for any of us. It is just right for one person at a time.

‘Neva J, you are a saint,’ Abigail said to her friend. ‘No one would speak to me in town until you came,’ Abigail noted. ‘They call me One Eye as a joke and for a laugh as I lost my eye in an accident years ago,’ Abigail said. ‘You see me as I believe God sees me,’ Abigail cried joyfully. ‘My husband and I performed in Vaudeville and were happy and carefree until our automobile accident when he was killed and I lost my eye,’ Abigail recounted. ‘We were on the stage in Chicago and did two shows a day, seven days a week,’ Abigail said. ‘After the accident, my friends left me as I became depressed for a long time, Abigail whispered.

‘You are my family,’ Neva J said. ‘I have adopted you as my sister,’ Neva J continued. ‘Where I go, you go and we will stay until we need to come home,’ Neva J smiled and winked. ‘If I go to a fine restaurant, you will sit next to me and we will order like there is no tomorrow,’ Neva J danced on one foot and then another. ‘When someone calls you an ugly name, they are calling me an ugly name,’ Neva J said somberly.

My friend said Give what you would give to me to another who is more needy. My friend is a Servant Leader…

Reversals are a way of life for most. Best laid plans suddenly go awry. Paula Abdul sang about One Step Forward and Two Steps Back.

When buffeted by the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, we want to reflect on what we did wrong rather than move forward. If we look around, we are on the high diving board and preparing to make our Olympic Dive. As former Olympian Greg Louganis would tell us, the dive at hand is the focus, not the one previously where we hit our head on the diving board.

What appears to be a dark night of the soul is the beginning of a bright new day. We are in the long game. It is a marathon, not a sprint.

We are engaged in a Herculean struggle. All of us make mistakes. Make the best of errors and triumph over adversity.

Never let the bastards get you down…

‘I wonder if I will ever amount to much,’ Chet said. ‘I have these thick glasses and am overweight,’ Chet added. ‘Some of the kids make fun of me, Chet reflected. ‘They tell me why try, you have been dealt a bad hand of cards, you are a loser,’ Chet recounted. ‘I know I can succeed and apply myself to accounting and am good at it,’ Chet smiled. ‘The numbers are like family to me, we understand each other,’ Chet smiled. ‘No one can take my education from me,’ Chet beemed.

‘I must take our taxes to Chet,’ Billy B said. ‘Although he is the head of a billion-dollar accounting firm, he still does my taxes,’ Billy B reflected. ‘Chet did not let the naysayers get him down, he did not quit, he succeeded,’ Billy B proclaimed.