Hey ski...Final 4 picks:
...Louisville and MSU.
On MSU, if they can contain May down low which I think they can, they'll win it. If May gets control then the nod goes to NC.
With the Pope's passing, I'm feel hollowed out a bit so will be spending some time at the Cathedral likely missing some of the games. I am so fortunate to have a rosary blessed by him in front of a private audience 5 years ago. It stays close with me always.
Deep down in all of the hearts of men and women in the most quiet place of who we are, those who rationalize this culture's selfish ways, lifestyles, beliefs, and "personal freedom" excuses know they are wrong in the eyes of God, but continue their ways and rationalizations anyway. They try to live their lives trying to hide that deepest part of them in every way possible, but the truths of life common in all of us are never extinguished no matter how we try to mask them or rationalize our wrong behavior and opinions. Even in the face of failings within the church itself (especially in the US), JPII was the "rock" much like nickname of the first pope, St. Peter. He stood above all in decency, holiness and truth.
JPII spoke the purest truths and embraced every man, woman and child from every corner of this globe. He held those who wept, and openly wept himself in 1999 when he was leaving his homeland of Poland, knowing it would be for the last time.
One person I saw speak about him today echos exactly how I feel. No matter what moral issue he spoke about, he was profound in being exactly right on the human issues in the eyes of God.
I screw up everyday of my life, and it times it feels like it's more than most. Far, far from a perfect soul here. But I'm drawn to a man who is from the homeland of my grandparents on my mother's side, and who by his words and life are a living example of what to believe and how to draw closer to the power above.
All his books are worth reading. They are an entirely different way of thinking about life than anything I have ever read. Further, the snippets over the years you see on TV of him simply celebrating Mass DO NOT come close to touching any part of the topics in his books and his heart. They are all amazing, but I would suggest "Crossing The Threshold of Hope" (Published by ALfred A. Knopf, Inc in 1994) & Covenant Of Love (Published 1985 & 1992 by Ignatius Press), to see exactly what I mean.
I'm sorry to be way off topic and don't mean this as preaching or trying to offend anyone. His is simply a remarkable life that has touched mine deeply. Hundreds of millions share in this same loss that had to come because of his poor health, but will never be replaced.
Anyone under 20, in the week to come please check out his life as pope in his younger days. See how he reached out to the youth and understood them like no one before. See how the youth gathered in the tens and hundreds of thousands and how they responded to him, then you'll have just a small taste of who he was.
Bo
