My Brothers and Sisters,

There are many basic human necessities that we all need: shelter, food, clothes and contact with each other. I think contact is the most important one because, without having someone who visits, knows your name, hasn’t forgotten that you are still alive or knows your life story and can reminisce, life feels like a burden. Just go to one of the many personal care homes in the area and you will see how true this is for the residents. When you walk down the hall, most of the residents will look up at you with a smile, hoping that you are there to see them, but you can see the smile start to fade and the light go dim as you walk past.

This is why I – and many other people – have been visiting such places for at least the last 25 years. We hope the residents look forward to our visits. I hope that each person I have spent time with over the past 25 years has enjoyed my visits. Those with family or friends visiting seem to be more alive, more likely to engage with others and even volunteer to help. Those who have no one just seem to slip away.

Now you might wonder why I would choose to write about visiting personal care homes, and the answer is simple. I overheard someone after Mass last weekend lament that summer was over and, "How will I get through this winter?" Maybe the simplest answer is stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about the needs of others. Jesus says repeatedly in scripture that looking after the needs of others, loving our neighbors, is important. If we are to truly love God, then we must learn to seek ways to show that love by reaching out to others. Fall and winter are great times to do just that. We can simply sit on the couch and wish it were already spring or we can make the firm resolve this fall to look for ways to reach out to others. We always need more volunteers to visit the homebound, sick, those in nursing homes or the hospital, to volunteer at Seven Loaves or to just sit with someone in need.

Jesus warns us that, at the last judgement, His angels will go out and separate the sheep from the goats and give those who did for others eternal life. Why wait and take a chance? Let’s do something great today.

P.S.: Don’t let my wife see this letter. She will tell everyone that I complain all winter about the short days.

P.P.S.: I realize that my last letter was about my distaste for winter, but instead of calling me out on that, help me embrace the idea of branching out to help others.

May God Bless,

Deacon Ray