November 14, 2004

My cousins Betty Ann and Ted visited me recently, and we had a wonderful long meeting. Betty Ann made the point that a great deal of good had come from my serious run-in with a car last January. I had been vaguely aware of this, but she made it very clear to me. They both reviewed all the people who had prayed for me, and we talked of the 50,000 e-mails and thousands of cards I had received, assuring me of prayers from so many. That’s something very good. It was good of those people, generous and kind of them, and it was good for me.
Prayers and greetings came to me not only from Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians, but also from Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and even one congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It was altogether amazing. In that respect it did some good. The old saying that God writes straight with crooked lines has always been one of my favorites. I am prepared now to say that God writes very straight with very crooked lines if we give Him a little while. It often takes the perspective of time to look back over the past to see how something good came out of what at first appeared to be a catastrophe.
Right now I am busily praying for all those who prayed for me and helped me in my recovery. I am by no means completely well, but I am getting by. If you have seen me on television, you probably have the illusion that I am in better shape than I am, because I try to look my best on TV (So who doesn’t?). However, I am keeping extremely busy. I have found that as a result of enduring this catastrophe, I have much better understanding of other people and their sufferings and a much better perspective on life, which has its ultimate significance only in eternity.

— Father Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R.
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