Feeling healthy and strong.  I have been able to do my 4 mile walk most mornings and I bring my rosary beads with me.  The idea came from Danny's blog posting about walking with rosaries after receiving communion.  It almost seems as though the diagnosis might have been a mistake.  Or maybe Jesus, you want me here a little longer.  I was able to continue to work on both the science education course and the virtual environments course.  They are in pretty good shape so I hope others can run them at some of your seminary schools.  There is a great need for education and other parts of the world – and Father Erasto is helping me there – and I hope that Holy Apostles College and Seminary can embrace the virtual reality courses.  After receiving the "good news" from Sloan, I have felt more purposeful about moving forward on those two projects.  I have five weeks left for the sabbatical and I want to use it well, dear Jesus.  I am actually looking forward to returning to work, it makes me feel as though I still have some value in this world.  And I have been able to catch up with family and friends and not feeling sort and under the weather.  Thank you for this time.

I also received a relic yesterday from Danny from Padre Pio.  It is the gauze from around his sacred wounds.  I know this comes from the stigmata that you graced Padre Pio with.  I have had the benefit of so many prayers, intercessions through communions and novenas offered, relics around my house, and my own expanding prayer life.  I feel more and more enveloped in your world, dear Lord.

I am reading another book, recommended by Tasha, about fighting cancer.  This is from a doctor who had cancer himself.  He makes good points about the ways we can behaviorally control our cancers.  His points, I think, stretch the findings that he claims are from science, but I think is advice is solid.  But he only approaches religion, for as far as I've gotten into the book right now, from the perspective of meditation or Buddhism.  It seems everyone is still afraid to speak your name in public, Jesus.  I have been toying with the idea of a book about my own journey that I would call "Unfinished."  Can you guide me as to whether this is something you want me to do with the end of my sabbatical time?  As you well know, I have been keeping notes through this blog and through a note to Darren that will be given to him on my death – or at least I hope it will be.  The I note that writing a book would keep me motivated and upbeat, but is it me or is it you, Jesus?

By the way, I did get to see the CT scan data from Sloan.  I can't understand it all but it does seem that there has been some reduction in the hardening of my pleural lining which I think is good news.  Are you giving me more time?  I am feeling a peace.  For while I was really getting into what I call my "wigs and morphine" phase.  I was projecting out to the end and trying to figure how I could be safe.  Could I save my appearance?  Could I save myself from pain?  Could this saving from pain be done with my mind still somewhat intact?  That seems to be melting with a better news and hopefully with your grace dear Jesus.  I think I will start some of the writing, but will ask for your guidance and direction along the way.  Please let me know if that is from you or from me.

Thank you, Jesus, for the good news about my health.  After coming back from Sloan, I was pleased to know that there is no new pleural effusion and that the CT scan looked good.  Not quite sure where this leaves me but I am clear to go back to work in the fall and will be on schedule for October to see when and if they have to move to the next steps.  It is good news and world we sense.

There is also wonderful news in that Dan and Regina are due to have another baby in march.  It is very early right now so please Lord protect this unborn child with your loving care and providence.  I wish they had a better financial scenario but that must be in your hands dear Lord.  I have been able to listen to more tapes from LightHouse Catholic Media and it is improving my understanding of you and of your planned for the Church.

I have been moving very quickly since I got the good news one week ago.  I if think that you want me to finish up the virtual materials so that Holy Apostle can take over teaching them.  I have also been working with Father Erasto about getting the materials to Africa and hopefully we can run some courses with Africa to in the fall.  I am actually eager about thinking about returning to work; I must work very differently and more efficiently.  I am trying to get the headset and speech recognition to work well.  I have been listening to Father Larry Richards about living in the divine will and according to the way he sees things, if I am serving and loving in the work I do then it must be at least part of your well for me.  I am excited about working on the virtual island today and creating it so that it can be an activity that others can use for their own in making their own islands more quickly.  I don't know if I have been foolish to have invested so much of the past 15 years of my life in working with virtual environments, but Lord, please help me if this is what you want me to do – I think it is.  I am happy to think I may be in your service for a bit longer.  Honestly, I had been looking into what I would do if I went through chemotherapy – what type of wig I would buy – and how I would use morphine to help me through those and times.  Those questions are still out there, but it seems you have given me a reprieve for several months before I must deal with them.

Please help me channel the excitement and I feel about the upcoming baby, about my work and my going back to work, and help me use my time well.