There are many ways to serve. For me- even though I am not Catholic- I'm glad to know there are cloistered people who 'pray without ceasing'. It is my belief that God doesn't need the prayers, we do. We have no way of knowing what our world would be like if, heaven forfend, there weren't strong elements in it of peace, altruism, empathy, respect, and love, to somewhat counter-balance the view that only physical courage is valid or of use.

As an example, I suspect that many people- including Mudcatters- are able to feel the turmoil around them when minds and hearts violently disagree, even when no one is speaking; by the same token, we can feel the serenity of peaceable hearts. Things of the spirit do affect this world.

Ebbie