How are you feeling, man? he asks me.Great, I tell him, and it is purely the truth. Doves clatter up out of a bare tree and turn at the same instant, transforming themselves from steel to silver in the snow-blown light. I know at that moment that the drug is working. Everything before me has become suddenly, radiantly itself. How could Carlton have known this was about to happen? Oh, I whisper. His hand settles on my shoulder.Stay loose, Frisco, he says. There's not a thing in this pretty world to be afraid of. I'm here.I am not afraid. I am astonished. I had not realized until this moment how real everything is. A twig lies on the marble at my feet, bearing a cluster of hard brown berries. The broken-off end is raw, white, fleshly. Trees are alive.I'm here, Carlton says again, and he is.

Now, this is what the Lord says, Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I imagine that the intelligent people are the ones so intelligent that they don't even need or want to look 'intelligent' anymore.

We have joy for the assurance of the promise.

God never fails. No matter how long it takes, the promise will be fulfilled.

Hope is an enthusiastic assurance.