Thank you, John. This is beautiful. I’m much older than you, so when I was in high school, we were called “theater people” and the band geeks were in our shade. It helped that our drama teacher (who also taught English) was considered the coolest teacher in school. You didn’t mention RBG, but she’s there in the unwritten context.

I imagine that, like me, you’ve been trying not to think about the fiendish glee some people are reveling in right now. Yesterday, I watched hours of the Graham Norton Show on YouTube to avoid sinking into despair. Laughter helps us cope with tragedy.

What I especially loved about your story is that, in spite of the issues you may have with the Catholic church, its central message has taken root in your heart and helped you be kind and compassionate: we are called to love in spite of all else.

“Harden not our hearts” is one of my big takeaways from my Catholic upbringing. There’s great scorn for religion in general these days, not because the basic message is wrong, but because humans have expanded and interpreted it to serve masters other than God, most especially themselves.

There’s good in everyone and everything. We only must be willing to look for it. Your story is a bridge I hope many people will cross.