Seminary taught me administrative skills, history of the church, and how to put my faith into words. My professors never mentioned squirrels that bite, bird dogs, or chickens named Rhet or Scarlet. No leader of the Church ever cautioned me about rolling pianos or pigs in baby playpens. Several years passed before I realized the importance of slowing down the pace of ministry. Every person I encounter offers a lesson about life. I have learned that listening may be one of the greatest blessings one person can give to another. I have also learned that some individuals hunger for someone, anyone, to simply look them in the eye, acknowledging their existence. The stories within The Red Hot CafA(c) have one common ribbon. They reveal how one boy from Meridian, Mississippi, learned how to love people rather than fearing their differences. aIn His Grip, Dr. Thomas E. Drake