Up@dawn 2.0

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Thinking about it

Comfort

by Terence Winch

Father Ray Byrne quickly became 
a star. He played sports, danced,
sang, told jokes. He was a man
of the people, and we loved him
for that. He came to our apartments
and brought us comfort.

He even came to a high school graduation
party one night. I was a little drunk.
Father Byrne came up to me and asked
"Are you thinking about it?" I panicked.
What did he mean? Sex? Booze? Basketball?
Could he read my mind? Then I realized 
his tone wasn't accusatory, so I said,
"Yeah, I'm thinking about it," not having 
any idea what he was talking about.

"That's great," he said, "I can always
tell when a young man is thinking about 
it. Just let me know if I can be of any help."
Now I was positive he wasn't talking about 
sex or money or any of the things I actually 
did have on my mind. Father Byrne thought
I might have a vocation.

But I wasn't considering the priesthood. 
I didn't even think professional basketball
was a possibility any more. God had walked 
out the door about a year before,
when I was sixteen, and never looked back,
even though I begged him not 
to leave me, alone and weeping 
in this valley of tears.

"Comfort" by Terence Winch from Boy Drinkers. © Hanging Loose Press, 2007. Reprinted with permission.

https://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php%3Fdate=2008%252F08%252F23.html

Thursday, August 21, 2025

The Wall Between Church & State is Crumbling

Establishment Clause The Establishment Clause was supposed to prevent the government from imposing religion on its people. In 2025, however, religious nationalism is creeping into lawmaking at every level. Policies on education, healthcare, and civil rights are increasingly justified with scripture instead of constitutional principle. This erosion threatens both believers and non-believers alike, because once the government can enforce one faith's rules, it can enforce any...

Jayne Converse
https://substack.com/inbox/post/171574387?publication_id=5340204&play_audio=true&utm_content=watch_now_button&triedRedirect=true