Dearest Rachel – A trip to the grocery store after dinner with the folks, while unusual in and of itself (most of the time, we just go home, and Daniel joins Logan in the family room to watch this or that anime that he has already in progress), isn’t entirely unsurprising. Sometimes things need toContinue reading “For What May Never Come”
Monthly Archives: October 2025
A Chance to Hit the Town
Dearest Rachel – For all that, when I’m wandering around some foreign land (or even just another city here in the States – the last time I caught myself saying this was when Daniel and I were crisscrossing Boston), I find myself thinking that I should devote a little more attention to the sights ofContinue reading “A Chance to Hit the Town”
That’s No Moon…
Dearest Rachel – It seems that, far too often for my liking, I’m up at a ridiculous hour of the morning these days. It probably comes with the territory that is aging, to be honest. The last chapter of Ecclesiastes talks about how one will “rise at the sound of a bird” despite hardly beingContinue reading “That’s No Moon…”
Embedded With the Enemy
Dearest Rachel – Well; that was a real pippin of a dream, to borrow a phrase from your beloved Jo Grant. I suspect that my mind, knowing that I was going to be meeting up with Lars today, knew I would be hard-pressed for topics to write you about (since I’ve told you most ofContinue reading “Embedded With the Enemy”
Outed
Dearest Rachel – You would have found it amusing on Friday evening as we were setting things up for the Family Fest at church. As I have no work schedule to speak of (in fact, I’d taken the day off for the express purpose of making sure I was home to pay Kris as soonContinue reading “Outed”
from Rachel: Antiochus III the Great
Remember, [the] conflict is biblically significant because a very important piece of land was between Syria and Egypt. What was it? “Israel” Quick review: Whose dynasty is reflected by the kings of the:North – “Seleucus” South – “Ptolemy” Now let’s read Daniel 11:10-19. According to the chart, what two Seleucid kings (of the North) areContinue reading “from Rachel: Antiochus III the Great”
For Me, A Costume
Dearest Rachel – It feels like it was so long ago – and it was, a good year and a half before your departure – that dress shirts and ties were de rigueur attire for me, as a member of the white collar work farce. You might also remember that I loathed it, especially theContinue reading “For Me, A Costume”
Dancing Around Another Line
Dearest Rachel – It’s been a little over a year now – more like thirteen or fourteen months, in fact – since I managed to drop myself down below two hundred and twenty pounds, seemingly never to rise from it again. Why, barely a month after crossing that line, I was coming dangerously close (inContinue reading “Dancing Around Another Line”
One Twelfth of My Life
Dearest Rachel – It starts with the incongruous admonition about eating with a dignitary, and the need to control ones appetite in front of one. Which probably meant more back in the day, when a ruler’s favor (or lack thereof) toward you could mean the difference between life and death. Granted, I’ve heard stories aboutContinue reading “One Twelfth of My Life”
Putting Words in Your Mouth
Dearest Rachel – I’ll be honest, I’m actually falling behind the curve at this point when it comes to AI-generated material these days. Over this past year, I’ve seen some really impressive stuff in terms of videos and the like; mostly as quasi-political cartoons (which have now been democratized to the point where anybody withContinue reading “Putting Words in Your Mouth”
The Haunting I Wish For; the Haunting that Comes
Dearest Rachel – As much as it seems frivolous to do so, we did spend a lot of time together as a family in front of the television (either in its original capacity or as a computer monitor), so I suppose it’s appropriate that this letter has to do with a video Daniel and IContinue reading “The Haunting I Wish For; the Haunting that Comes”
Maybe A Little Too Casual
Dearest Rachel – I’ve mentioned before how someday, I’d like to get so accustomed to traveling that it could be done practically on a whim. I’ve joked about how calling Kerry (my travel agent) up out of the blue and telling her to “book me something before I change my mind,” but it still hasContinue reading “Maybe A Little Too Casual”
from Rachel: Allies and Enemies
…the only women we’ve seen so far were Belshazzar’s wives and concubines, and they contributed little to the character of our gender. “(The queen mother was wise and helpful 5:10)” What does Daniel 11:59 tell you about this woman? “She is the daughter of the king of the South.” Let’s have a quick review andContinue reading “from Rachel: Allies and Enemies”
The Latest Bit of Family Slang
Dearest Rachel – I honestly can’t remember when I last visited our village public library, despite the fact that it’s supposedly one of the largest in the state (although obviously superseded by that of Chicago itself, I don’t think there are too many others that are larger). Sometimes, if I think about it, I assumeContinue reading “The Latest Bit of Family Slang”
Options and Add-Ons
Dearest Rachel – So, this is a weird situation to be in where, after decades of telling ourselves we would be going to Japan and taking Daniel with us, to show him a little bit of what each of us individually and separately fell in love with (and these encounters long before otaku culture wasContinue reading “Options and Add-Ons”
Not As Faithful As Some
Dearest Rachel – Ever since before the weekend, I’ve been retiring early – earlier than used to be typical for me back in the day during my work farce days, and for which you used to tease me about now and then – and, for the most part, waking up early in turn. Sometimes, I’veContinue reading “Not As Faithful As Some”
Not So Fast
Dearest Rachel – Seven in the morning, and you’d think I’d be raring to go, especially after calling it a night at nine last night. You’d think that ten hours of sleep would allow me to recharge my internal batteries to the point where I’d be ready to take on the world first thing inContinue reading “Not So Fast”
Early to the ‘Office’
Dearest Rachel – You were usually asleep on those many weekdays, but you might have been aware of how early they would start on my side of the bed and room. For the most part, though, you seemed to be able to sleep through the sound of the alarm on my side and the noiseContinue reading “Early to the ‘Office’”
Walking Away from the Runners
Dearest Rachel – It feels wrong, almost like cheating, to write to you about something I didn’t do over the past weekend. And yet, there’s been this sense that I owed you (or somebody) an explanation for this choice of activity – or rather, inactivity – this weekend, as I’m not out cheering the runnersContinue reading “Walking Away from the Runners”
from Rachel: Jumping Ahead
Please read the following segments and record God’s obvious point in each one:Isaiah 41:24-24 – “False gods can’t prophesy accurately”Isaiah 44:6-8 – “God is the only true God.” Describe each thing Isaiah 46:10 says God does.“He makes known any part of history He wants. His purpose will stand and He will do what He wants.”Continue reading “from Rachel: Jumping Ahead”
My Own Personal Marathon
Dearest Rachel – It’s kind of ironic; since I’m assigned to the booth this weekend, I won’t be heading downtown to cheer our runners on tomorrow (and I keep mentioning this, because it feels like this should be a topic I ought to go into more detail about to you, but I don’t know ifContinue reading “My Own Personal Marathon”
Who Would Believe It?
Dearest Rachel – We’ve had to get out of the house at ridiculously early hours in the past – flights don’t really concern themselves with the schedules of their individual passengers, for instance – so you know I’m capable of getting up early. And, of course, there are the many work days when I’ve beenContinue reading “Who Would Believe It?”
Starting in the Dark
Dearest Rachel – It’s been decided, at least by me – and when I’m the one driving, that’s basically the one opinion that matters. We’ll be heading downstate one last time on Saturday (although who knows if Ellen will need more help with her mom’s old townhome, as she and her sisters wind up theContinue reading “Starting in the Dark”
The Synthesis
Dearest Rachel – She is a genius. Oh, perhaps not to the extent of that of the professor she works alongside, but certainly a prodigy in her own right. She has an almost uncanny understanding of the neurological network that is the human mind, and with her mentor, she works tirelessly to help him create,Continue reading “The Synthesis”
Fancy Dress Hero
Dearest Rachel – Like most Monday nights, you would have been all over the theme at Sparks last night, having to do with dressing like your favorite superhero. Indeed, you had more than a few pieces to the puzzle that you would have put together to play the part of the ‘superhero’ you would haveContinue reading “Fancy Dress Hero”
Cleaning vs. Coddling
Dearest Rachel – This is the sort of thing I actually feel silly writing to you about. It’s something that never used to get under my skin, if for no other reason than that it wasn’t mine to necessarily concern myself with. And besides, if I did make a complaint about it, it would justContinue reading “Cleaning vs. Coddling”
from Rachel: Set Your Mind
Looking back on your life journey, which season or moment do you most hope God will show you ‘behind the scenes’? “Perhaps the answer to ‘Why me? Why this?’ on various health/accident issues, but I think I’d most like to know about many little moments – brief encounters with people – what became of peopleContinue reading “from Rachel: Set Your Mind”
Text Silence
Dearest Rachel – For all that I’ve told you about the more-than-occasional mad rush of messages I get from folks I meet on dating websites, this story is about the opposite side of the coin. Sometimes, you want to keep things going, just to make sure, but things go silent on the other end ofContinue reading “Text Silence”
Waiting for the House Call
Dearest Rachel – While I may have been a little surprised at his emphatic reaction last year when I’d gone through my first such episode, I kind of understand why Lars refers to this process as a ‘scam,’ even though it’s arranged through our health insurance company and I’m not out of pocket (indeed, I’mContinue reading “Waiting for the House Call”
Insufficient Data
Dearest Rachel – Back in the day, when we would see the phrase I’ve used for the title of today’s letter, we would snicker to each other about how “that’s not what Tasha said.” We weren’t die-hard Trekkies, but you didn’t have to be in order to get the joke back then. And yes, itContinue reading “Insufficient Data”
孝道的限度 (The Limits of Xiào)
Dearest Rachel – I don’t claim to be a student of Confucianism by any stretch of the imagination, but I am passingly familiar with at least one tenet of the philosophy? …religion? I’m not even entirely sure as to which it really is. Both are a means to guide behavior in the present world; whileContinue reading “孝道的限度 (The Limits of Xiào)”
Letters to Rachel 