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Q: When your readers write about ghosts I always mean to send you my experiences but seem to forget to do so until Halloween approaches.

I had a special bond with my father who passed away in 1998. He was my favorite and I, his. I was devastated by his loss after a long terminal illness. For the last couple of years of his life, he lived with my brother in another state. I received the call when he collapsed and was sent to the ER. As my quickly booked flight took off, I looked out the window while amongst the clouds and felt my father’s presence there, and suddenly burst into tears. I knew he was gone, but didn’t really want to believe it. I looked at my watch for some reason. The woman seated next to me was kind and tried to comfort me when I told her my dad was dying and I was rushing to see him before he did. I think we prayed. Oddly, it turned out we both worked at the same hospital, but didn’t know each other. She was heaven sent. Upon landing, I called my brother who was with my father at his death. He told me the time my father died. It was the same time we took off. I can’t recall how long after my father’s death, (weeks, months?) I was in my car, stopped at a light when again, I felt my father’s presence in front of the car. It felt like I saw him out of the corner of my eye, just missing him. Then another time, while looking out a window in my home, I turned my head to look because I felt his presence once more standing beside me. He was there again, out of the corner of my eye, but I missed him. That’s the last time I felt that. It was not frightening. Thank you for your wonderful column. – (From C)

A: Thank you, dear C, for your remembrance of your father. The main insight you received is the advice I give to all the people who write to me with experiences of spirits/ghosts/presences, “It was not frightening.”

We need to de-spookify ghosts. The fact is that there is some realm between life in this world and life in the next world that is populated by the spirits of our deceased loved ones and even strangers who have some message to share with us by their presence. That message as I have heard many times is that they are gone from life but not gone from us. They are fine and they love us and they do not want us to worry about them. They appear so that we can know that we are not alone. Whatever else is true about ghosts is definitely above my pay grade. Oh and one more thing. I completely agree with you that the woman sitting on the plane next to you was an angel. Angels – at least the kind of angels that visit us – are not ethereal beings with wings and halos. They are completely and thoroughly human but they are delivering a message from God unaware. When that message is delivered they return to their normal lives as un-angelic but holy folk.

Keep those funny church/synagogue/masjid stories coming…

Q: Our beloved minister was on his way into the sanctuary for the morning service but decided to take a detour to the bathroom first. He didn't realize that his microphone was turned on, and so the sound of what was going on was heard by those of us already seated. When he finally did come into the room, we all applauded! Thank you so much for all of your wise words on more serious subjects. Your sense of humor continues to come through, and quite often I will laugh out loud just when I least expect it! Blessings. – (From I in North Palm Beach, FL)

A: Terrific! I would rate this story a number one (or perhaps a number two)

Q: Years ago I was an altar boy serving at Mass. After mass I said to the priest, “Father, how do you make Holy Water?” Now I was only about 12 years old so I took everything to heart. He said, “We put a pail of water on the stove and boil the Hell out of it!” – (From P)

A: Great story. Bad theology. God bless.

(Send ALL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS to The God Squad via email at godsquadquestion@aol.com. Rabbi Gellman is the author of several books, including “Religion for Dummies,” co-written with Fr. Tom Hartman. Also, the new God Squad podcast is now available.)

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