Re-Telling An Old Story

"There's a new book coming out. Paul Bogaards of Knopf says it's a compelling call to do something on behalf of others."

"Ah, sure and that's the New Testament you'd be referring to."

"No, this book is called Giving and it was written by former President Clinton."

"Did he attend Catholic school, so? Didn't the sisters drill such things into our heads? How many black babies did you buy?"

"I gave my pennies to the Missions so that the starving children in Africa could eat and find God, same as everyone. The loose change in the pocket? Went into the St. Vincent DePaul collection box at the back of the church. We did what we could. But Mr. Clinton's book is so inspiring that you can't read it without wanting to act in some way, shape or form."

"And you swear he's not regurgitating what the nuns and priests were preaching day in and day out?"

"This book is said to be so phenomenal that it's not just a publishing event. It could become a movement."

"It's been done. We call it the Catholic Church. Jesus started it."

"You know what they say about books. All the stories have been written before, so you have to present the plot in a fresh way and no one can tell it's already been done."

"Isn't that the truth? Especially when you take such an old plot. Be of service to others, St. Ignatius Loyola said, and now we've got the likes of Bill Clinton saying the same thing with different words."

"Sorry, but I can't quite put Clinton in the same room as St. Ignatius."

"You're right there. St. Ignatius founded the Jesuits and he didn't make anything off the book rights."

"Will you buy the book?"

"No. Better that I pick up a copy of The Spiritual Exercises."