a moment with the pastor

I had a little conversation with my pastor today. We talked about church stuff--stuff on my mind. Plus pepperings of odds and ends.

I'm glad he's a much older man. I've seen his picture when he was a young man. I'd be having serious struggles if he were that young now. Such a handsome devil. Now he's just a big gruffy old bear. He can still kick butt, though, with brains, whatever brawn he as left, and that steely stare.

He is something of a "papa" to me, though we hardly talk. He's my picture of Catholicism, my picture of priest, and my picture of aging. I handle that old bear with care.