Don't Know If I Have The Words For This...

Sit back, this might take a minute - - and you may not believe me - and I may not be able to paint the picture...Yesterday, Eileen, Frank and I were going to stop by the fair for some fair food. (That is the best part of the fair - JO's JO's hot sausage and Frenchy's Fried Dough) We decided to meet at Elm St. - Where Patty,  Eileen's sister works, leave one car there and drive one car to the fair - our plan was to get down, get our food and get out before the crowds (Uncle Kracker was playing, don't ask me who he is I don't know but he was going to draw a crowd) Patty likes fried dough so we were also going to see if she wanted one and bring it back for her. Patty was on her way to a raccoon rescue - she does this, she is a certified raccoon rescuer, a raccoon was caught in a leg trap in a shed on Amsden St. For those of you not familiar with Malone, Amsden St. is on the other side of the tracks (literally it is on the other side of the tracks) Upon arriving at the Amsden St. house we find a group of people sitting under an umbrella, which did not stop the rain, drinking some Miller High Life, they were all pretty lit - the place was run down - really run down - the raccoon was caught in a leg trap, and had taken refuge in this shed buried behind 20 years worth of junk. (personally, I was concerned the whole shed was going to fall down) One fellow, maybe having had too much to drink, was crying - he did not like to see animals suffer. The matriarch, she was a tough nail and she did not set traps for animals - these folks truly did not want the animal to suffer, they did want it out of their shed. Patty, bless her, was trying to get the coon into a cage - Frank, bless him was helping her -I was trying to keep the folks away from the shed, Eileen was entertaining and distracting the troops - When it became obvious the coon was badly injured and the only humane thing to do would be to put it down we called the village police - The family had called the police earlier who came down and offered to shoot the coon but at that time the family did not want to do that. I called the village police back, explained the situation - it is fair week and the village police are busy - they could come back but it was going to be a while - a debate began regarding whether to go ahead and shoot the coon, even though discharging a gun in village limits is illegal - the animal was suffering and no one wanted it to suffer - could not get the animal into the cage so it could be removed from the village limits, the phone rings - the village police have called back; they cannot come and shoot the raccoon; Do you want to know what the officer suggested as a humane way to kill an injured animal? Hit it in the head with a shovel! Even when I write that I shake my head - hit it in the head with a shovel - that is humane - Unbelievable - The ruckus was growing greater - Patty just wanted to let that poor coon have a peaceful end to his suffering - She sat on the floor of this falling down shed, which smelled - well, something between liquid manure, urine, and mold - Patty began to pray out loud, and some how that coon got in the kennel - I know that seems made up but it isn't, and I also know not all people believe in prayer or have the same depth of faith - I also know sometimes things happen and without any other explanation we can believe in the higher power - whatever higher power you look to when there is no hope or your pain is so great - Frank said he would take the coon out of town and put it down in a humane manner. Not that all the folks at the house would not do the same - just they were a few sheets to the wind; They were all well meaning, but well meaning and alcohol are not good mixers - While Frank is out in the woods to put down the coon I was saying a prayer for him - it is a hard thing to look an animal in the eye and shoot it - though it is the humane thing, dang that is really hard - I admire him for the strength he has  and his courage - As I stand there saying a prayer for Frank - I said out loud; "His name is Francis." Eileen asked me what I had said. "His name is Francis." I repeated - that was it;  Frank's name is Francis and St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals - while it is not a calling one might want - it is Frank's calling as Francis, it is where he finds the courage and strength to do what is right and humane. I am not saying God spoke to me, my head just thought something I didn't know it was thinking - As I prayed for Frank I found an insight - I do believe God speaks to us, not that we are always able to hear him or even open to what we mayou feel sad, there was a little girl there, standing in the rain, soaking wet - ignored - the sadness expressed on her face as she sought out a bit of attention from strangers - if you pray - say a prayer for Mary, that little girl for her road is a long one - Yesterday was a day not soon forgotten, I know my words do not even begin to convey what took place - all I know is Patty has a lot of courage and a great big heart, Frank has a lot of courage and a great big heart, I know for those of us who think we grew up poor, we didn't, poor is not having an opportunity to know faith, all those Sundays being brought to church, thank you Daddy Pat - sorry I was such a pain about going - Sometimes, we can remember the power of something greater than us - however you view that - and sometimes; circumstance places you in a situation where you feel both completely helpless and lost - yet completely empowered and found. Is this faith?