As my husband drove us home one night, over and around and through the hills that crown the ridges of this place where we minister, on our way back from smalltown PA for the wake of a fellow priest's wife, we were playing "Sinner's Crossroads." I save the archived hour-long radio programs to CD and then review songs in the car. Each CD contains one continuous, hour-long track. Playing them is just like turning the radio on; you have to listen all the way through, to get to the most special songs.

I think counting going down and coming back up, we ran through about 3 hours of radio.... (Pity the folks who only get it an hour at a time!)

Dark was falling fast and thick fog was rising up out of all big valleys and little folds.

Cutting through the overload of the day and evening, the fog and the darkness, came the music preserved all these years. Most of the singers are gone, but the power is ALL there. We had it cranked up pretty loud.

We sing along with the songs that are becoming friends. We dream about the people who will be coming to hear what we do with these when we are able to recreate the spirit of the songs with our own goofy little band.

In one of the shows we heard, the host (who has a kind of dry, minimalist style) said it was the hair of the dog, good for the spirit, good for the soul. And you know? He is exactly right.

Well I do some work in our diocese on discernment. One thing I know is that no matter what God calls us to, if we do not respond and show good stewardship of our lives and calling once He's called and we've said we've heard Him-- the blessing does not travel on.

So I thanked God last night. I thanked the program's host the next day.

And today, Jerry, I thank YOU for bringing so much of this music into present time. I can't quite claim you as my father in gospel, because as you know I had made my way to it before we *met*. But I do claim you as my brother in Gospel. And so as a sister, on behalf of all the many, many people you have "fathered" into it, Happy Father's Day! :~)

So... didja get the Sinner's Crossroads CD I sent you while you were gone? :~)

~Susan