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There are times when I’m not really sure why I write this column. Surely there are some who might say ”Neither do we!”

Now that, I get. And, as a really gifted writer would often say, “So it goes.”

And so it does.

Moving on, to yet another unsought thought, one that won’t exactly be the most compellingly interesting thing you will encounter today.

Which is, at least to me, an interesting confluence of coincidences.

Now, we all know that Pope Francis recently was called home. We also all know that his successor, who took the name of Pope Leo XIV, was Robert Francis Prevost. An American.

Yet most probably don’t know that my first name is Francis. Nor do they know that I went to Saint Agnes Catholic School here in the early years of my education journey.

Am I, was I, a Catholic? No. Yet, something there is that makes me proud to bear the name Francis. All of which is of little or no interest to anyone but me.

As I said, a confluence of (perceived, at least on my part) coincidences.

Topic change, this one inexplicable to me. It came about while I was sitting in my recliner in our bedroom, and drifted away for a bit. As one who does not sleep long at a time ever, I am grateful for such moments.

During this retreat from sleeplessness I heard a specific verse being sung from a much beloved hymn. I may have been singing along, in my mini-dream.

The verse was “When I rise, from worlds unknown/And behold Thee on Thy throne . . .” ( from “ Rock of Ages.”)

Why that hymn? Why that portion of a verse? Perhaps one far more educated in that realm of the mind than I could explain it. I surely can’t.

When I emerged into more or less full wakefulness, I had this strong emotion of wanting to cry. Guess I’m not a real macho-man.

Since I’m in this lane, let me wrap up this week’s endeavor with my memory of my time as a part of the post’s chapel activities, choir centered, where I was stationed in Germany.

Although there’s almost always a state of flux, of change, with military personnel and families, I really became close to the chaplain and his family. We even visited with one another later back in the states.

Also, I was blessed with a special affiliation with the youth I coached and interacted with who made up the AYA (American Youth Activities), which involved baseball, basketball, and social activities for children of Army families.

Good memories. Special memories.