"Life is Like Toilet Paper" and Other Thoughts

I often read articles posted at Beyond These Stone Walls by falsely imprisoned priest, Fr. Gordon MacRae. His case illustrates the evil of ungodly prosecutors, corrupt policemen, and greedy lawyers whose only motivation is money and advancement. (Read this!) 

If you've never heard of Fr. MacRae, you need to remedy the situation. Talk about a priest experiencing dry martyrdom! And yet, he is not bitter nor has he lost his faith in God. He is an icon of suffering. He could have been out of jail in a few years, but he would not take a plea bargain and lie about being a sex abuser priest. Abandoned by his spiritual father and brothers in the Diocese of Manchester who apologized for his "guilt" even before the trial began, Fr. MacRae walks faithfully in the footsteps of Jesus. 

How would you respond if you were falsely accused and threatened with decades in prison? We know how some of the January 6 participants, threatened and persecuted responded? They admitted "guilt" and took the couple of months vs. the threat of years. It's hard to find fault with them for refusing to be heroes.

What struck me this morning reading Father's latest post was a thought shared with a former inmate from a prison sermon:

Pornchai told me that Father Bernie once said in a homily that “life is like toilet paper. It goes by a lot faster toward the end of the roll.” We both laughed at the truth of that.

At 77 I'm certainly aware of the rapid passage of days, months and years. What if I was experiencing that passage incarcerated like some of the pro-lifers recently sentenced to draconian jail terms for offering help to pregnant women in crisis?  Things have changed since my own rescue years back in the 1970s and 80s. Would those years in jail pass faster in my old age or would they be like a long, drawn out torture? Would every minute be like the drop of water in Chinese water torture; or would they be a joining to Christ in His passion? I probably won't find out.

My pro-life work these days is visiting my sister in a nursing home as she approaches the end of life. She gets few visitors and really looks forward to my weekly treck to Frederick with my dear husband who doesn't want me to take the 3-hour+ round trip alone. She is a priority for me. Someone recently said she is not my duty, but I disagree. While my first duty is to God, the second to my husband, the third is to my children, grandchildren, and other needy extended family members. My sister is a special duty because she is mostly alone. Can I pass her by on the road like those who ignored the wounded Jew on the road to Jericho? I can't. 

When I was taking Communion to Skyline Terrace, a nursing home in my home town of Woodstock, the staff would sometimes call me and request that I come and sit with a dying patient who had no one. They called me once to come and sit with a man whose son lived in Australia. What a tragedy to die alone. Of course I said yes. He wasn't Catholic and was not responsive, but we prayed the rosary and urged him to think of his past sins and failures, express sorrow for them, and ask God's forgiveness. We prayed for him and hopefully with him. 

None of our brothers and sisters should die alone. When we have the opportunity to do so, what a privilege it is to accompany someone on the final sprint to the finish line. Is someone in your family nearing death? Can you accompany them even with a letter or a prayer. Don't miss the opportunities God offers. One day you and I will be that suffering soul. May God surround us with angels and saints and at least one earthly angel to share our final journey.

May Jesus Christ be praised!