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I'm blogging with nothing in particular to say. That never ends well. But writers write. [And fighters fight.--ed.] Did you just quote "Rocky Balboa" at me? [The real end of that saga.--ed.] I agree. The fifth should not have been made.

I went to bed a little mad last night. Nothing new happened. Just lingering things. I try not to think about them, but I do. Everyone can say there are things they'd do differently. But the mark of a good character is that you admit mistakes, and try to correct them. If you can look yourself in the eye, look God in the eye, and say that you are the same person fundamentally that you appear to be to others, it's a good life.

You can't control what people think or say about you. It hurts sometimes. A lot. Because people matter. Anyone who says, 'I don't care what people think of me!' is saying the opposite. And probably hiding deep pain and guilt.

I digress. God is the friend I talk to most often. I have other friends, and that's good. But I really want to be able to say that my closest friend is God. I'm a pretty simple man, so right now, I feel like my life is not terribly interesting. Do I really understand what I ask for in prayer? No. Do I think I know God at all? No. I know things about Him. The only thing that keeps me from admitting myself to the crazy-bin on suspicion of talking to myself is Faith. My faith is almost like a tangible thing, like a blanket or something. Whenever I hear the voice that says, "Praying is pointless; this life is all there is" another voice says, "But God is Love" or, "Jesus rose from the dead" or something. Every time. So then I exclaim, "Well, then, who cares what it looks like! This could be like the old Transformers movie from 1986: everything sucks for 97% of the story, and then right at the end, the good guys win." [Did you just compare the cosmos and the spiritual life to the Transformers movie?--ed.] I believe I did. [This is what praying to Mary gets you.--ed.] Exactly. [You missed my point.--ed.] I know. Your points lead me into schism and worse.

I guess it seemed good to say something about something. I think I'll find myself some good human interaction today. Most of us aren't super-saints; we need to see the Love of God in the eyes of a person. Or in the voice, if you like.

Well, if you are snickering at this bit of wisdom (such as it is) because it came at a high price (that is, I am the one who exacted it), I can only ask for your mercy. One day, we'll all be drowning in an endless vat of Mercy, but we won't drown. I hope I make it. But God-willing, I'll see you there.

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