Where did last week end . . . . .

. . . . and this week begin.  They just seem to run together.


I ran weekend errands  Friday afternoon, then I did not step outside the house until Monday morning.
I felt better Saturday than I did Sunday.  Getting out Monday seemed to set me back again.


For a long, long, time, I have supported a former friend who is incarcerated.  He was in TDCJ until about three years ago, then the Feds got him. 


About two weeks ago I received an e-mail from him that was extremely sharp, basically telling me how blind and stupid I am to what is going on in the world.  He tabs himself as a conservative, led by his religious beliefs.


I responded, somewhat surprised by his biting the hand that has been feeding him.  He sent his reply, even more sharp and extremely radical.


I will admit, at that point it was on.  I sent a very sharp response.  Where he attacked, I defended and I attacked back.


We were kind of at a stalemate, having reverted to a prior agreement to agree to disagree.  But he just couldn't let it alone.  Telling me "Open my eyes".


This man had requested to be released to my address upon his release from a halfway house in May of 2015.  It was his intention to work with me until he was released to travel where he could go back to driving a truck.


He has lofty goals with champagne taste.  To be honest, his champagne taste and "short cuts" are the reason for his incarceration.


I sent him an e-mail, telling him I wasn't sure we could get along for the long run, and I told him I have opened my eyes and here is what I saw:
1) He needs me more than I need him


2) $900 cash sitting on a FBOP inmate trust form, awaiting possible transfer.


I told him I have a real problem with conservatives hiding behind "Christian values" and biblical teaching.


Finally, I told him I think Jesus was probably the greatest liberal of all times.  What he brought, he brought to everyone, with no regard for status or position.  At a time where Jews considered themselves to be God's people, Jesus became the common denominator for Jews and Gentiles.


I just really hate to see anyone try to pull religion into politics.  I think that is one reason I abhor the "700 Club".  Just this morning they were championing "Christians vote Republican".


I don't know where our country is going.  I know the Democrats have always been more social services minded, but I also realize there has been an across the board shift by both parties in the last 50 years.


I believe my incarcerated friend is a racist homophobe that has remorse for getting caught,  not for doing the crime, and for some strange reason he feels he entitled and owed.


I have very little faith that this is my friends last brush with the law.


It pains me to have devoted nearly eleven years to this project, only to be deceived so near the end.


Other news.  Yesterday afternoon, Rian resigned his position with the Shallowater ISD.  This had been in the works for almost a month, and finally terms were worked out.


I had told Rian that whatever he decided would not change my position with him.  I love and support him for him, not for the job he held.


Surprisingly, Rian said it is such a relief.  It is kind of like getting that elephant off your chest. 


To be honest, I have not felt Rian's heart was in his job for quite some time.  In many ways he had put himself in a position similar to what all of us were in with the trucking company.  The job was consuming him.


I don't know what Rian will do.  I don't know if he will make more money or less.  I really don't care as long as he comes home with a smile on his face and a full heart.


Tomorrow is mediation for Merrit's CPS case.  She is a real work.  She and her mother are so much alike it is alarming.


Merrit started my day this morning texting me saying her psychiatrist was changing her anti-depressant medication and she was  scrambling for her portion.  I told her, I was not paying for it.  She told me "I'm not asking you to".


By the time I walked into the office, my phone dinged and there was her text. "Can you send me money for my prescription." 


I told her to get a partial fill.  She told me she still needed money.  I told her I was not sending cash to her.  I called Walgreens to check options.  They said no credit card over the phone.


In October I paid $1225 of Merrits', rent, electricity, fines, probation, whatever.


She is 32 years old.  It has to stop somewhere.


The other day she called me from a car lot.  She side swiped something and knocked the mirror off and broke the two passenger side windows.  When she went to get an inspection sticker, they denied it saying she had a headlight out,  a hole in the muffler and her parking brakes were not holding.  I told her if he had the money to buy a car, she needed to pay her attorney.  (He is threatening to withdraw Thursday unless she clears up her account leading to arbitration).


FYI, I ordered windows for her car.  Not for her but for Noble.


Everybody go vote.


OH FATHER, I ask for wisdom to work through everything that is swirling in my world.  I continue to ask for healing.