Keep faith, stay strong and watch 'Dead'
10/11/2015 12:00:00 AM I typically reserve this space for the strategic purpose of making folks smile. Those who know me, even in passing, know that I like to make people happy - especially through words. It's true that I love toying with terms and weaving them into clever quips or thought-provoking phrase turns. I love crocheting together a word quilt that covers folks like a nice, soft security blanket. In fact, when someone reaches out to me to say that my column made them laugh or touched them in some other meaningful way; shucks, I'm humbled, honored and super duper glad. Inducing smiles is one of the main reasons I asked my then-editor Guy Coviello - some umpteen years ago - if I could start writing a regular column for the Trib that was, you know, lighter than the average bear and the typical news story. "I just want to give people something a little happy to read," I implored until he relented and voila "My Sentiments Exactly" was born. Smile. Alas, I'm in a bit of a rather anxious brooding place today. Perhaps it's because I, along with um, I don't know, two bazillion other fans, have been patiently awaiting the season debut of my favorite program and it's finally here. Tonight, it returns, the zombie-end-of-the-world fest known as "The Walking Dead." Beyond my huge crush on the show's main character Rick Grimes, played by super cutie patootie Andrew Lincoln, I simply love this series - some might even say I am borderline obsessed with it as evidenced by my rapt review of the TWD marathon on the AMC cable network this past week. Guilty. It's a genuine ironic twist that sunny, chipper PK even likes this show with all its blood and guts and cannibalism and tragedy and murder and mayhem and basic, all-encompassing gross factor (read: zombies feasting on human entrails is something of a show staple). Blech. Yet, for me at least, it's not about the gore - it's about the core. Because the main theme of show is to provoke viewers with the central, critical question: Could you stay true to your beliefs if the unthinkable happened? If the apocalypse happened tomorrow and you somehow survived it initially, how would you conduct yourself from that moment on? Would you continue to be compassionate, kind, giving, charitable. Or would you stab your best friend in the back without blinking to live just one more day yourself? Hmm. That's when it occurred to me that the apocalypse came to Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore., on Oct. 1. For nine innocent people who died and nine others who were wounded, the unthinkable did happen on a seemingly ordinary Thursday when the campus was rocked by a murderous madman who came to the school looking for Christians to kill. By all accounts, he went gunning for anyone who admitted to being a Christian. As I learned of the unspeakable evil this animal wrought, I kept wondering to myself silently - would I have the courage to stand up for my beliefs if I was literally under fire? Something deep inside me repeated over and over again, "I am a Catholic; I am a Catholic" as I pondered it all. I want to believe I would have looked that demon in the face and uttered those words, but I don't know for absolute certain that I could or would until faced with that reality, do I? What I do know for absolute certain is that my God is merciful and forgiving. Always. For the brave souls who spoke their faith aloud and for those whose humanness prevented them from doing so, I truly believe the Lord blesses and keeps them - and all of us. Friends, I honestly feel He will know if we stand against evil; no matter if we falter or fail, so long as we keep trying. Let's all do the only thing we can: pray for peace and healing. And watch Andrew Lincoln every chance we get. Kimerer is a Tribune Chronicle columnist who loves her faith, her family and friends - and Rick Grimes. Contact her via her blog site at www.patriciakimerer.com. "Keep faith, stay strong and watch 'Dead'" Tribune Chronicle 11 Oct 2015: D2
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