GETTYSBURG

Next time you visit go alone.
.
Go there empty-handed
leave the battlefield map in the car
Go there as the sun is setting

Get out and walk

Listen

You may hear faint cries
or even loud ones

    water for Christ's sake water
    God damn this God damned war
    Where are you? Ben? Ben?

All of them in their own way
prayers

Next time you visit --
if you are brave enough --
go alone

A PERSONAL WORD

To those of you who visited my blog and were looking for my usual Wednesday post -- my apologies for no posting.

I do have a pretty good excuse. Last Friday, August 3, I was taken to the Camp Hill Hospital with a diagnosis of pneumonia. After a six day stay (not the most pleasant experience of my life, to say the least), I returned home late this afternoon. It looks as if my recovery will be fairly long and slow. In any case, I plan to return to my regular posting schedule next week. So look for it next Wednesday, August 15.

Ken G.

PRE-MARITAL SESSION

Her voice on the phone was breathy, pitched higher than I remembered from the two Sunday mornings when I met them at the door. And this is my boy friend Tom she had said. His handshake was a bone-crusher, his grin goofy.

    The reason I'm calling, pastor, is we'd like to come and talk to your about our wedding.
Oh, I see.

    You know, I've always had my heart set on a church wedding. You know, in one like yours. Tom -- 
    he's my boy fr. . . my fiancé . . . says he'll go along with it if I really want it.

I see.

    So anyways, we could come this Sunday night. Around seven?

Well, I think that . . .

    It couldn't be until after the football game. Tom's a big, big Redskins fan. He says he has his heart 
   set on having "Hail to the Redskins" for the music when we walk down the aisle.
Yes, well . . .

    So. Sunday night at seven? For our talk?

Yes. I suppose so.  I . . . I think we'll have a number of things we'll need to talk about.