It is truly a blessing to exercise a blessing, a call put into action.  “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you” (John 15:16).  “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope”  (Jeremiah 29:11).  God sends me forth and I experience joy.  Last night with my current patient proved remarkably pleasant, worth revealing and meditating upon.  When I arrived all apprehension disappeared, a sense of joy permeating my disposition.  It was grace.  God provided.  I was pleased to visit with the gentleman.  Unresponsive, eyes closed this evening, he exuded an overall sense of pleasantness.  His breathing was calm, his presence at peace.  This is the interesting part.  We prayed, talked seriously, for nearly three hours, yet during the majority of time we shared in a basketball game together.  Two friends sitting watching an excellent sporting event with one another.  I love basketball, and I felt my friend did also.  The Golden State Warriors overcame a twenty-three point deficit, winning by ten points to remain undefeated.  It was an incredible game.  I thoroughly enjoy watching the wily and crafty Stephen Curry light-up the score board.  He appears so innocent, unimpressive in physical stature, yet in performance and competitively he is a killer.  My friend and I enjoyed a basketball game together.  This is the intriguing part.  I felt Mary approved whole heartedly.  It was strange, the attentiveness and attunement I possessed while slowly praying a Rosary, talking with my friend, and also giving credence to the basketball games.  During exciting moments in the game, I would hold silence, pausing the Rosary, pausing prayer and deep focus upon eternity.  Both of us would give attention to the game.  The game, better still, life was appreciated, the living respected, sharing in the thrill of it all.  My friend and I did not overwhelm ourselves in morbidness, sadness, overly sentimental regarding the miracle of death.  A new beginning, eternity, was not approached in desperation, fear, and a rejection of life.  Mary smiled upon my friend and I while we deeply and respectfully called out to her while enjoying the game together.  I am so convinced of the fact.  God marked with a seal of approval my friend and I preparing for his entrance into heaven with the simple and good natured sharing of a basketball game together.  My friend enjoyed hosting a visitor and I was pleased to have a friend to visit.  It was perfect and an absolute joy to experience.  Our time together flew by in naturalness and benevolence.  I am utterly grateful and pleased to have a friend I am able to visit, to be serious with, to exercise a calling, while remaining simple in the pursuit of the enjoyment of life.  There is no reason to be overwhelmed by the inevitable happening of death.  Life is for the living and death is for eternal bliss.  God is good and all giving.

Stephen Curry quote: There’s more to me than just this jersey I wear, and that’s Christ living inside of me.