Mr. Fuss-a-lot and friend are here again this morning although, in all fairness, they are being very quiet this morning. They are a couple of Cardinals are vying over the peanuts again this morning.

Happy Saturday morning! The world is back this morning to a state of nervous peace. Yesterday in Paris France, terrorists attacked several soft targets such as resturants and theaters, killing at least 155 totally innocent people. I spent over three decaade in the armed forces of this country. I've studied war and the philosophy behind war and nothing I have ever read says that this kind of violence against innocent people makes any sense. The people who commit these atrocities have only one thing in mind --- kill everybody who doesn't believe like them; all in them name of their version of their religion. They are cowards who won't face an enemy soldier, but rather use our humanity against us. They infiltrate countries as refugees relying on acountries sense of kindness, then they plot, plan ancarry out acts of terrorism designed to kill as many people as possible -- then rather than stand and declare their belief in their cause --- they kill themselves. It is a battle plan that is hard to comprehend, foresee, or defeat. May God help us all.

And since I'm already disgusted with yesterday's event -- I'll mention something that I think disgusts me even more than the attacks. In this country we also have a state of unrest being driven by young and not so young college people protesting basically because their feelings are hurt. In the middle of all the killing and terror in France yesterday, our young college protestors were whining because they weren't the focus of the news. One protestor was recorded saying "Those people getting killed over there in France has nothing to do with the injustice we feel right here. This needs to be what America focuses on."

So, --- this morning, God has again sent my Cardinal to sit on my birdbath as a reminder that not all of the world is crazy. Between that cardinal and a single red rose blooming in the sunlight on this crystal clear morning, God reminds me that the world is still full of beauty; one need only look up and see it. The world is still full of goodness, and love, and people who care about one another. Tomorrow, several of the people of my parish will be gathering together and filling Operation Christmaas Child shoeboxes to send to children around the world. We have a lot of stuff to box up and our boxes will be put with a million other boxes that people from around the country have also boxed  up. A million plus gifts of love sent to people we will never know or meet. That's how you wage a holy war; by using weapons of kindness, love, and respect for your fellowman. That's how you conduct a jihad of love and peace. Have a blessed day.