`mediplex' Plaza To Remedy Eyesore 
Waterfront Professional 
Park Scheduled To Open In July

3 Sought In Abduction Of Shickshinny Man

Tuesday, January 07, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





Vision sets a challenge &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On the morning of Jesus' birthday, I chugged a tall glass of fresh-squeezed
orange juice, put on my sandals and drove across the bridge to see the &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Savior's momWhen I got to the crossroads of U.S. Route 19 and Drew Street
in Clearwater, Fla., the Blessed Mother was standing in the window of the
Seminole Finance Company. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Actually, "She" was standing in nine panes of glass that reflected reality
with the bullet-like accuracy of a thousand Southern state trooper snipers
wearing mirror sunglasses. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Morning sunlight bathed "Her" visage in a rainbow parfait. Red matched the
crimson leaves of hundreds of poinsettia plants that the faithful had placed
at the base of Her image. Green glowed as sharply as fresh pine boughs in a
Christmas creche. Orange and yellow whispered like sunset over the Gulf of
Mexico. Purple pulsed pure pious passion. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The blues, however, trembled most brilliantly: pale, soft and stunning in
the modest Mary-like mirage. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Christmas morning, police in fluorescent vests herded packs of people
across an intersection notorious for being Clearwater's most dangerous. Dubbed
"believers" by the press, up to 30 at a time paraded between a car wash
selling I-seen-the-light T-shirts and a gigantic billboard advertising
surgical tattoo removal. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Call it what you will, but the vision impressed me. As an ex-Catholic, I
mean that as a compliment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But, as in any church on Christmas Day, not all the throngs sparkled with
sanctity. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A couple of radio station carpers showed up to berate theology in general
and a fundamentalist Protestant pastor made an appearance to admonish
Catholics for worshipping an idol that conflicts with authentic fire and
brimstone. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Yet, other than some wretch running off with a plate full of collection
offerings, peace mostly prevailed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Still, my faith in advancing the common good is based on disciplined action
rather than the symbolic promise of what some people say is little more than a
water stain caused by the sun. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Welfare mothers likely will be no better off this year in Clearwater due to
holy Mary's presence. Republicans there also will tolerate Her conception as
long as She doesn't ask for food stamps. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This, of course, is the real challenge for the faithful who view the
multicolored icon as a Christian sign from heaven. Are they willing to do more
than beat their breasts in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I doubt it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hanover Township is no better off since She appeared in a streetlight image
cast on a garage door in the Buttonwood section about 10 years ago. Has
Wilkes-Barre advanced in all the years She has graced the grotto on North
Street, just a halo's throw from the evil deeds of a courthouse full of
felons? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 All I saw in Clearwater was the same common desperation etched on the faces
of the same kind of people I see at home every day. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There were just more of them in one place. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Christmas morning, a grizzled young man wearing a Cat in the Hat
stovepipe and a black leather biker jacket stared into the kaleidoscope of
mysterious colors. An Asian woman wearing a white wedding dress marveled as
well. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 What did we see? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The good, the bad and the blessed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 About a half-million people have made the pilgrimage since Dec. 17, when
the multitudes first began assembling in the finance company parking lot. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 People aching for a break have put faith in Her message. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Destitute people left letters pleading for love. A child left a tattered
piece of cardboard upon which someone had written "My Daddy is in jail (and)
does not belong there." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 All their wishes deserve to be granted. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Steve Corbett's column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. E-mail Corbett
at stevec@abc.com &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Vision Sets A Challenge 
On The Morning Of Jesus' Birthday, I Chugged A Tall Glass Of Fresh-squeezed 
Orange Juice, Put On My Sandals And Drove Across The Bridge To See The 
Savior's Mom.

Vision Sets A Challenge On The Morning Of Jesus' Birthday, I Chugged A Tall Glass Of Fresh-squeezed Orange Juice, Put On My Sandals And Drove Across The Bridge To See The Savior's Mom.