What Do You Do When.....

What do you do when you see I Am Pilgrim, by Terry Hayes, at the Book Cranny in Arvada? It happens to be the book that will be discussed at the next book club meeting. I don't know what you would do, but I entered the store and found out that the used book cost $8.00. I will e-mail the information for anyone who may want to buy the book.

What do you do when you visit the outdoor market in Arvada? The one unusual thing in the different booths was the Volcanic Garlic. I asked how it was different and was told the garlic is grown in volcanic earth and it gives the garlic head a purple hue. The demonstrator told me it has a distinct flavor, stronger than regular garlic. She had samples but I refrained from tasting a clove of the garlic.

What do you do when the bread booth has two small children holding down the fort. One child was touching all the pieces of bread which were samples. It was as if she was playing a game by picking each piece up and putting it down. I did not take a sample and I hope no one else did either!

What do you do when something odd and possibly frightening happens? When you realize that in this day and age there are crazy people ready to do harm.? I was waiting at the side entrance at the Shrine of St. Anne so that I could take a picture the relic displayed inside. The 12:30 mass was in session. A scruffy man with a backpack was also waiting. This is the conversation that followed between me and the man.

He: I am waiting to receive communion.
Me: Maybe you should go inside to the mass.
He:  I already went to mass but the polish priest did not give me communion.
Me: Did he give you a reason?
He: No I put out my hand and he did not put the host into my hand. Do you think that is right?
Me: I always thought that if you were free of mortal sin you could receive communion.
He: Yes, and how would he know if I had a mortal sin? Is he God? Does he think he is God?
Me: Uhmmm.
He: When you hold your hands out and the priest doesn't put the host in your hand, there is something wrong. I intend to talk to that priest! I am going to report him to someone higher than he is. It is not right.

I could tell the man, the more he talked, was becoming agitated. I wondered what he had in his backpack. Too many bad things seem to happen when someone is upset with anything! Could he have something planned like maybe shooting the priest? I did not want to over react but with the way shootings are happening in the United States, I felt I should warn the priest. Heck, I thought, if  his intentions were to shoot someone, I might be the first one he would take out!

He got up and went to the door of the church and looked in. Maybe he was going to see if a different priest would give him communion. I did not wait to find out because the minute he opened the door to the church, I left and hurried to the church office. A CLOSED sign was on the door. I rang the bell two or three times but no one answered though I could hear movement inside. I got on my phone to get the number of the church but couldn't get into Google for the number. I waited for mass to be over and hoped that my imagination was greater than reality. As mass ended I entered the church and looked for the man. He was no where in sight. I did see the priest and explained the conversation I had with the man.

Me: Father, I don't want to alarm you but I just had a conversation with someone who appeared to be angry or hurt. His anger seemed to be directed at you. He said you denied him communion.
Priest: I know exactly who you are talking about. I refused to give him communion because the man smelled of alcohol and he stumbled and almost fell as he entered the church. I told him I would not give him Communion until he sobered up. I never make judgements but since I had already spoken with him I thought he understood I would not give him Communion. I appreciate your telling me and thank you for your concern.

I had a feeling that I had done something good!

I came home and watched the movie Mr. Turner, (aka Joseph  Mallard William Turner) an artist from England. (1775-1851) I had never heard about him but I do like some of his work. He painted many pictures of the sea but one of my favorites is The Pass of St. Gotthard, Switzerland.


So what do I do when things happen to me on a Sunday afternoon? I get ideas for my blog!