tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038032059747160770.post6759267155006200156..comments2020-02-26T15:18:11.053-05:00Comments on <br><br>Living Without God—A Life of Reason: Remembering a Religious FriendBill Cooneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07877676340567105536noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038032059747160770.post-5877622448032475152009-09-19T21:20:15.560-04:002009-09-19T21:20:15.560-04:00Tomorrow marks 10 years that our friend Paul Laffi...Tomorrow marks 10 years that our friend Paul Laffin was taken from us on such a tenderly warm, deceitfully cruel September day at Mercy Housing & Shelter Corporation in Hartford, Connecticut.<br /><br />We together all that morning, Paul & I; from our hysterical emergency meeting about what to do with a clients' strange bagful of cash to a quick smoke (or three) in the back room; I was there. Paul stopped by to wave, on his way to the hospital to visit his Dad as he did every day. <br /><br />Paul never made it to see his Dad. Like a scene unfolding in the haze of a dream, Paul's life was viciously extinguished by a knife. The hand wielding the knife belonged to an extremely mentally ill man; a child of God who society, who the Church, who Mercy itself could not help. I was with him while he faced the inenvitible fate that awaits us all- I saw his breath leave his body.<br /><br />I like to think I witnessed a free soul gain flight. Toward heaven? Toward where? Did it matter where he actually went, or where we believe he went?<br /><br />For weeks afterward, 'crisis' workers from nearby agencies hovered around us; 'the witnesses'...we had memorials, candles, and eventually Mercy planted a garden in his name.<br /><br />Seeking solace in finding one of my fellow <br />soldiers (coworkers) with whom to remember Paul this year, I found no one from the Shelter. Googling and Facebook stalking everyone I could remember, I found no-one. All of us who were there that day, save for Sister Pat are gone. Vanished apparantly, into the clouds, the deserts, the frontlines, or maybe the recesses of our safe, predictable world. <br /><br />I devoured Mercy Housing & Shelter's website- I sought anything; any mention of Paul, of this 10 year anniversary of his return to Jesus Christ, of his life and works. Was he nominated as an unsung hero? From this God-driven agency, on whose soil he died, for whose weary he comforted, there was NOTHING. No memorial. No newsletter. No mention. <br /><br />Nothing in Mercy's history to give due a man that LIVED in God, who breathed unassuming goodness into every room he went. Mercy Housing & Shelter Corporation. He gave his life to God in your service- how will you remember Paul? Will you pray for him? For his family & friends? For his soldiers from that day? <br /><br />Because I am quite certain that every last one of us still needs it. <br /><br />Tomorrow when I trekk up Mercy House to lay flowers and a pack of Kools near his garden and place of death, I will say the obligatory prayer; I will pretend he hears me; I will give pause and maybe even genuflect. But it doesn't matter because I know I will be alone.Trisha Blecich Dobienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038032059747160770.post-33321256094621431092008-10-11T21:13:00.000-04:002008-10-11T21:13:00.000-04:00I'm so sorry to say, Tara, that my own mother kind...I'm so sorry to say, Tara, that my own mother kind of gives religious people a bad name with her intolerance. I have been decidedly lowered on the human intellectual food chain since my mother became aware of my skepticism. She actually thinks less of me as a person.<BR/><BR/>You, however, seem to appreciate the need to respect ideological diversity. I tend to think a little more of religious people after hearing from someone such as yourself.Bill Cooneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07877676340567105536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038032059747160770.post-28063442594674027572008-10-11T13:27:00.000-04:002008-10-11T13:27:00.000-04:00I really enjoyed this post! I find it sad many wou...I really enjoyed this post! I find it sad many would make religion or lack of a requirement for friendship, I think your friendship and caring for each other speaks highly of the character of you both!Tara B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13584312084891112603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038032059747160770.post-80335648968473258672008-10-10T12:57:00.000-04:002008-10-10T12:57:00.000-04:00I was very moved by your words about Paul. Paul t...I was very moved by your words about Paul. Paul truly took you at face value and believed in all the goodness of your humanity. If we believe in anything, we need to believe in each other. That is what Paul taught by helping the homeless.<BR/><BR/>In my job I'm sometimes criticized for taking a humanistic and compassionate approach to my job wanting to give people a second chance. As a factory line team leader, I hire some of the neediest and my compassion for them sometimes makes people wonder. But, if we cannot show compassion for the least fortunate among us, then for what purpose are we living our life? We can see the best and the worst in every human being and it is my serious objective to bring out the best. I'm getting better at putting this into practice, but it sounds like Paul was an expert at it.<BR/><BR/>Great post William :)Questions About Faith, Etc.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11991533785879609481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038032059747160770.post-39006842042792411242008-10-09T13:26:00.000-04:002008-10-09T13:26:00.000-04:00Over the years I have let religion fall by the way...Over the years I have let religion fall by the wayside. There is no specific reason, I just have. And if I contemplate as to why this has transpired, I still do not believe I can pin down any one event. I know there are things I <I>know</I> to be random acts, for if God has done them, he ain't a nice guy.<BR/><BR/>There quite a few folks who probably do not know I have no religion in my life. Odd that should be that in a part of my life I have chosen to undertake homeschooling and that is usually made up by a large portion of Christians.<BR/><BR/>One of my dearest friends told me that she knows that many of the women in our group probably have no idea I am a person of no faith. Now what I am inquisitive to know is...if they did know would they view me differently, no longer speak to me, have their children no partake in my cooking classes?<BR/><BR/>You were lucky that Paul took you at face value. That my <I>friend</I> is what friendship is all about!Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04689263509227953924noreply@blogger.com