The monster truck arrives at the nativity. Again. The two boys, now ages eight and six, brake their monster truck to a stop, sideslipping in a somewhat controlled fashion but not before careening into what had been a beautifully hand-carved, lovingly displayed, nativity complete with angels, shepherds, and kings. But not sheep. Or donkey either. […]
Letter: Turning The Page
The Book of Judges in biblical history is a long period of time in which the nation of Israel would repeatedly need deliverance, albeit temporary. The Book of Ruth in stark contrast to the scenes of so much strife that characterize the preceding pages, is one of great love and devotion. The two books are […]
Letter: “Are You Coming Grandpa?”
She wanted me to see, to take her little hand – or not, as currently they were stuffed in her pockets – but to be there, to stand on the porch in the sunshine with her, maybe go for a walk together. For a moment, the sun was so bright it cast shadows so long […]
Letter: On Getting Where We Need To Go
The windshield wipers could not keep up. A sideways-borne torrent of a gully-washer rain beat against the glass almost obscuring even the huge hulking shape of the semi behind which my little Super Beetle huddled as we splashed our way slowly forward. ‘Not even a day for ducks,’ I muttered, pulling my sleeve over my […]
Letter: Deliver
It is said that there are three phases to life that are difficult: Start-up, Keep-up, and Give-up. Start-up is hard. Remember those days when you were so few in number anybody who raised their hand there in that first-grade classroom was on the team? And in life, as in baseball, keeping up is harder. It […]
Letter: I Will Remember
When I can’t see the forest for the trees, I will remember. “When sorrows,” as Horatio Spafford wrote, “like sea billows roll,” I will remember. When tears cloud my vision like rain borne sideways against the windshield, obscuring the road ahead, off to the side of the road I will go, and there I will […]
Letter: Before The Lights Go Out
Shortly after 5 a.m. this morning a truck hit a light pole and our community was instantly dark. No street lights, no neighbor’s lights and, in our own home, no wall night lights. There was coffee though. Set to perk at 5 a.m., the pot preempted the pending predicament by enough minutes for me to […]
Letter: Tomatoes – Harbingers of Hope
We lost everything. Very early in the morning this past April 3, the phone rang. Our place of business was on fire. It’s the call you never want to receive. A police officer approached where I stood watching the flames rage against the dark sky. And over the roar of the inferno he said, “There’s no easy […]
Letter: “Rare and Beautiful Treasures”
There’s a proverb, according to the Aramaic translation, which reads: “A house is built by wisdom and by understanding it is entirely put in good order. And the inner chambers are filled by knowledge with every possession, honor, and delight.” But it’s not brick and motor, cabinets and furniture, or trinkets of one kind or […]