Dearest Rachel – I’ve been showing your ring around to certain people lately (in fairness, I’m not sure that photographs, despite being able to show it at a magnified level, can do the image justice, so as many as can see it in person, the better). Most of them are reasonably impressed by it, butContinue reading “Jealous Of Your Ghost”
Author Archives: randy@letters-to-rachel.memorial
But Why Are They Starting to Notice?
Dearest Rachel – After nearly a year and a half of keeping track, and doing this thing or that to try to determine what might best assist me in my efforts to lose weight, it would seem that the process is starting to bear fruit. People are noticing. When I arrived at the folks’ lastContinue reading “But Why Are They Starting to Notice?”
The Effects of Bingeing
Dearest Rachel – I think I’ve filled you in several times already about my new tradition of fasting on Sunday on the weekends when I’m working in the booth. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if you’ve gotten tired of hearing about it; there are times when I get tired of describing what I haveContinue reading “The Effects of Bingeing”
from Rachel: To Be a Bride
Practice scripture memory by writing Isaiah 61:3 in the margin. “‘And provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty, instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, aContinue reading “from Rachel: To Be a Bride”
Busman’s Friday Evening
Dearest Rachel – The girls came over last night (well, as Meatloaf once put it, “two out of three ain’t bad”), in emulation of those days gone by when we would get together to play games and the like. Those days, unfortunately, have been much fewer and further between – and also decidedly much shorter.Continue reading “Busman’s Friday Evening”
Failed Discipline
Dearest Rachel – In the past few years – especially in the last thousand days, for fairly obvious reasons – I’ve been constantly trying to add this thing or that to my ‘routine,’ such as it is. Some have stuck, at least thus far – these letters in and of themselves, for example, but alsoContinue reading “Failed Discipline”
The Course of a Thousand Days
Dearest Rachel – It’s not as obvious as looking on the calendar and seeing a “23” on it, as happens every month. It probably would have even passed my notice if it weren’t for the fact that I’ve been sending “a line a day when you’re far away,” and the site keeps tabs of howContinue reading “The Course of a Thousand Days”
What it Means to be Home
Dearest Rachel – I’ve told you before about how I’ve been trying to expand the assortment of music I’m exposed to, if for no other reason than that to dilute the frequency I have to deal with songs that we would have considered ‘ours,’ whether or not they were part of our mix tape collectionContinue reading “What it Means to be Home”
The Second Side of Solomon
Dearest Rachel – I wonder if, after my letter from just the other day touching on the subject, my change in attitude is likely to give you a touch of whiplash. At the same time, for all your own emotional stability in general, you were acquainted with the caprice of mood from time to time,Continue reading “The Second Side of Solomon”
Creating Unnecessary Chaos
Dearest Rachel – I think I might have told you about how I couldn’t figure out how to get the wall-mounted space heater in our bedroom to fire up and run as this season has grown colder; if I haven’t, I guess I’m telling you now. There’s a pull chain underneath it that would seemContinue reading “Creating Unnecessary Chaos”
Snogging in Church
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned recently that we’re in the middle of a series on the Beatitudes at church. This past weekend’s topic was on hungering and thirsting for righteousness. It was pointed out that, just as in the real, physical world, there is healthy food, and there is junk food that we find ourselvesContinue reading “Snogging in Church”
Not Instant, But Gratifying
Dearest Rachel – Setting aside the fact that I’ve explicitly told you numerous times over the course of the last thousand days, I’m sure you could figure out on your own that I don’t enjoy any aspect involved in what I often refer to as my ‘weight loss journey.’ Between the exertions of my workoutContinue reading “Not Instant, But Gratifying”
from Rachel: Ashes Instead of Honor
This week’s memory verse is Isaiah 61:3 “‘And provide for those who grieve in Zion to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of theContinue reading “from Rachel: Ashes Instead of Honor”
“That Guy” in a Panic
Dearest Rachel – It’s not often that I find myself in the middle of an actual nightmare, particularly one as vivid and engrossing as this. Normally, of course, my worse dreams tend to be muddled and confusing, and those bad ones that are clear leave me wanting to escape them. Which, of course, I eventuallyContinue reading ““That Guy” in a Panic”
Healthcare Priorities
Dearest Rachel – Today’s ‘work’ day is going to be shorter than most, so I figure I ought to get this letter out to you sooner as well. Then again, who knows? There may be certain results from the reason I’m leaving the ‘office’ so soon that I’ll want to tell you about. Let’s seeContinue reading “Healthcare Priorities”
Hardware Upgrade
Dearest Rachel – I hardly need to remind you how, despite having a certain amount of financial privilege by the tail end of your life, each of us came from a certain frugal upbringing. Your parents, despite each being university professors (with salaries commensurate to such a position) never could shake off the effects ofContinue reading “Hardware Upgrade”
For All the Money in the World
Dearest Rachel – I’m not sure what you’re likely to make of this letter; the topic isn’t exactly one of the most interesting to discuss (although it’s certainly one that might come up from time to time between a married couple, I suppose, just like any major expenditure). I’ll try to make it reasonably engaging,Continue reading “For All the Money in the World”
(Not) In the Mood
Dearest Rachel – I woke up this morning to a bedroom as dark as it ever gets, given that it has three walls with windows on them, and the outside light (such as it is) can always seep in. It was earlier than I needed to be awake, that seemed certain; and sure enough, whenContinue reading “(Not) In the Mood”
Thoughts In Recovery
Dearest Rachel – I hope that you’ll forgive me if this morning, my letter turns out to be considerably more fragmented than the last couple I’ve sent you. After committing more than four thousand words to… not paper, exactly… text, I suppose? it shouldn’t come as any surprise that anything I might say now isContinue reading “Thoughts In Recovery”
Catching Up With the Crowd
Dearest Rachel – Twenty-two miles in, and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of Erin – which, if she’s wearing that bright orange kerchief she’d been sporting at church last night as part of her running ensemble (an eminently suitable choice, being both brightly colored and a unique combination), she really ought to be easyContinue reading “Catching Up With the Crowd”
In Pursuit of Those Faster Than Myself
Dearest Rachel – So… it begins again. It’s marathon day, and I’m once again going through the stations of the cheering sections (yes, I know what that sounds like) to offer encouragement to the World Vision team from church. That’s what I’m telling myself, and I’m going to stick to that story for now; certainly,Continue reading “In Pursuit of Those Faster Than Myself”
from Rachel: Hearts Broken by Loss
Have you ever experienced a season when you seemed to face one loss after another? If so, describe when and what it involved. “Thankfully, no, not yet. I do dread the potential approach of one now that Mom has joined Dad in the eighties.” Have you ever experienced feelings of grief that surprised you orContinue reading “from Rachel: Hearts Broken by Loss”
As Long as I’m Up
Dearest Rachel – To be fair, I hadn’t planned for things to happen like this (gosh, that’s become a familiar refrain in my life, now, hasn’t it?). After all, I’d been up until what constituted a late hour for me – eleven o’clock, yes, now stop laughing – working on a new build that mayContinue reading “As Long as I’m Up”
Holding My Hand Again
Dearest Rachel – It’s turning into a rather busy day, despite the fact that I took the day off from the ‘office.’ To be sure, the reasons I did would provide fodder for two whole other letters already. The first, of course, being the fact that we were to sat one final goodbye to Kevin,Continue reading “Holding My Hand Again”
The Final Return
Dearest Rachel – He’s about a month late from his usual schedule, but it would seem that Kevin has made one last trip back up here. This time, however, is not for a visit, but to stay here permanently. The thing is, he was a native son of the area, growing up in the DesContinue reading “The Final Return”
Old Reliable?
Dearest Rachel – There are some days when I don’t have a whole lot to write you about, and way too much time to do so. So I’ll fill a lot of space just complaining about the fact that, for all the things that I may have done in the day, there’s nothing particularly specialContinue reading “Old Reliable?”
If This Be Treason…
Dearest Rachel – When you come down to it, this is probably one of those stories that I don’t really have the right to tell, since it’s not exactly mine. I may participate in it, to be sure, but my perspective on the event is merely from the periphery. At the same time, it’s notContinue reading “If This Be Treason…”
Fitful
Dearest Rachel – There’s really no other way to characterize last night’s attempt at a decent night’s sleep. From about three-thirty onwards, there barely seemed to be a moment when I wasn’t aware (I hesitate to say ‘conscious,’ as that’s a little too on the nose) of lying in bed, hoping for sleep to comeContinue reading “Fitful”
Laundry Morning
Dearest Rachel – As with a number of mornings, I don’t really have anything in the way of a coherent story to tell you about today. No weird dreams, apart from a scene or two of the two of us competing in a old-school video game tournament against a number of other individuals and teamsContinue reading “Laundry Morning”
from Rachel: Hearts Broken by Betrayal
Write your own paraphrase of Psalm 119:92. “If I hadn’t had Your Word to cling to, my troubles would’ve been the death of me.” Read Psalm 55:1-11. How would you describe David’s frame of mind at this point in his life? “Beleaguered; overwhelmed by feelings of fear and of castigation by everyone around him” WithoutContinue reading “from Rachel: Hearts Broken by Betrayal”
If Things Had Been Different
Dearest Rachel – To a certain extent, I suspect you might be the slightest bit disappointed in me. With the new church tradition of holding separate women’s and men’s weekend retreats at the camp, I’m sure that you would enthusiastically embrace the former and strongly encourage me (and Daniel, I shouldn’t wonder) to go upContinue reading “If Things Had Been Different”
Sudden Deadlines
Dearest Rachel – Obviously, this title is a misnomer; there’s rarely such a thing as an unexpected deadline. It’s just that we go so long ignoring them, that once they finally loom in the near distance, we find ourselves agog, wondering “Wait… where did that come from?” I know you understand where I’m coming from;Continue reading “Sudden Deadlines”
Sinking Leadership
Dearest Rachel – This is not a topic that would come up between us very often, but I know we would occasionally discuss the phenomenon when it would happen to us individually (and it usually did happen to us on an individual basis; as I describe it, you’ll understand why). We would be reading aContinue reading “Sinking Leadership”
Uncle Mamo
Dearest Rachel – I was planning to make this an epilogue to an earlier letter to you, but that one started to get out of hand, so I decided to create this as a separate one instead. Who knows? Maybe I lost the original thread when I walked away from it for a few hours.Continue reading “Uncle Mamo”
A Man With a Plan
Dearest Rachel – In his (posthumous) Oscar-winning turn as the Joker in The Dark Knight, Heath Ledger utters the line to Aaron Eckhart’s Harvey Dent, “Do I really look like a guy with a plan?” The implication behind the question is that Dent is supposed to conclude that of course not; the Joker is tooContinue reading “A Man With a Plan”
Indulgences
Dearest Rachel – This past weekend has been the first – and consequently, the only – one this month in which I wasn’t working in the booth at church. This meant that Daniel and I could go to church together – and therefore, since I was the one responsible for getting him there and backContinue reading “Indulgences”
from Rachel: Hearts Mended by Truth
Children are… “the apple of Christ’s eye” Children are uniquely… “accompanied by Christ” Abuses to children may as well have been… “personally applied to Christ” Christ is never… “the author of abuse” Paraphrase Lamentations 3:58-59 in your own words. “Oh, Lord, you are my Counselor and my Savior. You are also a witness to theContinue reading “from Rachel: Hearts Mended by Truth”
Skin for Skin
Dearest Rachel – You probably remember that I try to read a few Bible chapters each day – one from Proverbs (corresponding to the day of the month for easy reference, which allows me to skip yours as often as not), one Psalm (which is a little harder to keep track of), and three othersContinue reading “Skin for Skin”
Trying to Get in Touch
Dearest Rachel – If it really was you last night, and not just the product of my hyperactive imagination, I want to let you know how much I appreciate your persistence. At the same time, I probably also need to apologize profusely for constantly breaking the spell, whatever it might have been. It had toContinue reading “Trying to Get in Touch”
つづく (To Be Continued)
Dearest Rachel – Well, honey, I did say I was going to have to continue the story I began telling you about on Tuesday, as I wasn’t able to get you over to the jewelers’ that day. It’s a fairly short story, though – at least, for now. But first, I think I need toContinue reading “つづく (To Be Continued)”
Why Would She Think That? Why Would I Do That?
Dearest Rachel – Last night’s dream was more firmly grounded in reality than most tend to be – so in some respects, it might not be as truly interesting to hear about simply because of that – but it did operate along certain lines that wouldn’t make sense in real life. Besides, it brings upContinue reading “Why Would She Think That? Why Would I Do That?”
So Out of Character For You
Dearest Rachel – I was going to start this letter off by talking about how, thirty-one years ago today, we were preparing to pack up and head back from our honeymoon. The folks from the diamond-making place referred to this trip as your ‘homecoming,’ you see, and it seemed appropriate to juxtapose today with anContinue reading “So Out of Character For You”
Six Pounds of Scattered Thoughts
Dearest Rachel – Once again, I begin a morning – and a week – with no single, coherent topic to discuss with you today. So I hope that you’ll forgive me for just throwing out a couple of paragraphs here and there as I splash through my stream of consciousness; try not to get tooContinue reading “Six Pounds of Scattered Thoughts”
from Rachel: Hearts Broken in Childhood
List every piece of evidence you can find to support the statement: “Christ loves children” He called a little child to stand among them. He said we must become like them to enter heaven. He said those humble like children are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. If we welcome a little child inContinue reading “from Rachel: Hearts Broken in Childhood”
Seeing The Resemblance
Dearest Rachel – So, last night, the girls were over for what felt like the first time in a long time. Yes, we’d gotten together just last week – hadn’t we? It somehow feels longer than that – but it’s been ages since we just assembled at the house to eat and watch stuff togetherContinue reading “Seeing The Resemblance”
Picking the Lyrics Apart
Dearest Rachel – I want you to know that I’m not trying to avoid your memory – heck, if I was, would I be writing to you every day like this? – but there’s only so much I can take of going through my offline music library, where I’m guaranteed to encounter one of ‘our’Continue reading “Picking the Lyrics Apart”
Random Bits
Dearest Rachel – You know, I have a couple of letters that I’m currently working on to send you, but they aren’t exactly talking about things that are happening to me at any given moment; they’re more just ongoing stuff. So I’m carefully assembling those still, hoping to release them to you when I haveContinue reading “Random Bits”
Scheduled Start-ups
Dearest Rachel – I woke up this morning, feeling a little dismayed. Not because it was too late to get up and out of the house right when the gym was opening. Sure, I could always stand to do that, especially since I’m two pounds heavier this morning than yesterday, despite having had little moreContinue reading “Scheduled Start-ups”
Ice Cream Anniversary
Dearest Rachel – Well… happy anniversary, honey. This is the third one I’ve had to live through without you, and while it doesn’t really get any easier, there’s this feeling like I’m slowly getting inured to the sensation. Of course, I can guarantee that I’m never going to forget the date, coming as it doesContinue reading “Ice Cream Anniversary”
Funnier in My Head
Dearest Rachel – In some ways, last night had to have involved one of the more stereotypical dreams that I’ve ever had; it involved getting up in front of a crowd and speaking. but once you get into the details, it gets a little bit less conventional. That’s because I had been asked to doContinue reading “Funnier in My Head”
from Rachel: Straight to the Heart
What was your first real heartbreak in life? “The only one I can recall was being rejected by all five sorority houses.” In the following passages, record the circumstances involved, and how God bound up the brokenhearted. Reference: Genesis 16:1-13Circumstances: “Hagar, a maidservant (slave?), was forced to carry the baby of her mistress’ husband. UnderContinue reading “from Rachel: Straight to the Heart”
Chasing the Robot
Dearest Rachel – So, last night we went out to that conveyor belt sushi place that’s not the Station – the one out by Woodfield – to belatedly celebrate Logan’s birthday. In a way, he’s become rather a part of the family, complete with me having to nag him about getting his finances in orderContinue reading “Chasing the Robot”
Ookie…
Dearest Rachel – Considering that it’s likely to be a busy day once it actually gets started – I’ve reconciliations to do for the church regarding their bank statements, I’ll be meeting Lars for our customary walk (although yes, it’s later in the week, and the day, than usual), and with any luck, we shouldContinue reading “Ookie…”
More Time At the Office
No one on his deathbed ever said, ‘I wish I had spent more time at the office.’ Arnold M. Zack, labor and management arbitrator Dearest Rachel – Well, this is certainly one quote that I never needed to learn through experience. Even going back before turning into the worker drone that society expected me toContinue reading “More Time At the Office”
Pound Foolish?
Dearest Rachel – I’m sure this is something that, under other circumstances, one might actually expect of a man my age. After all, isn’t it almost cliché for a man in his fifties to deal with a midlife crisis by quitting his job, finding himself a new woman, and getting himself a sporty new setContinue reading “Pound Foolish?”
Caught Unprepared
Dearest Rachel – So last night was the annual meeting of the volunteer leaders in preparation for this year’s Awana Sparks club. Lots of heartening news; including the fact that we have enough volunteers for each team to have four or five leaders, while at the same time, we have enough kids already registered suchContinue reading “Caught Unprepared”
Six-and-a-Half
The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself. Mary Schmich, “Advice, like youth, is wasted on the young,” Chicago Tribune, June 1, 1997 Dearest Rachel – In this case, the epigraph is only half right. Sure, the race that is life is a bit of a marathon, but in the incrementContinue reading “Six-and-a-Half”
A Few More Drops Into the Deeps
Dearest Rachel – I’m sure you’d heard the phrases ‘dark web’ and ‘deep web’ from time to time before your departure; after all, you had majored in the computer sciences and we as a family tended to be more online than most people I know. Equally likely, you’d probably heard tell that those two concepts,Continue reading “A Few More Drops Into the Deeps”
Scamming God Himself
Dearest Rachel – Things have been rather quiet on the dating front these days; it’s been over a month since Grace and I went to church together, and while I’ve had a couple of conversations with others since then, nothing has really come of any of it. Obviously, this isn’t an ideal situation – I’mContinue reading “Scamming God Himself”
from Rachel: The Ancient of Days
Satan can do nothing about our salvation once we have received Christ, so he hopes to handicap us so we won’t be a threat. Based on God’s priority in our lives, what might be Satan’s priority in terms of the lives of people who are already Christians? “Pretty high because Christians are the most likelyContinue reading “from Rachel: The Ancient of Days”
Don’t Try to Solve Your Problems
Dearest Rachel – I won’t call what I woke up with this morning a dream, as such. There’s no particular story to tell you about, exactly. But in going over the situation as I see it from a distance, there’s a moral to be grasped from it all; not a particularly uplifting or encouraging one,Continue reading “Don’t Try to Solve Your Problems”
Picking Up After Him
Dearest Rachel – Another morning of waking up to a dark room. Even as I realize that it’s now September, I’m still pretty sure that it shouldn’t be this dark when I’m waking up. Sure enough, it’s not even five o’clock yet. My subconscious superego chirps that it’s an opportune moment to prepare to goContinue reading “Picking Up After Him”
Nineteen-Twenty-Three
Dearest Rachel – I had a dream, it was a mysteryI dreamed of science and of history iDeoLa (Mark Heard), “Is It Any Wonder?” from Tribal Opera (1987) There is a certain item of presidential lore that tells of letters written at some point in time between Election Day and Inauguration Day by the outgoingContinue reading “Nineteen-Twenty-Three”
Dangerous Race
Dearest Rachel – I need to get this written down quickly, as the details – such as there were – are already starting to fade from my memory. That’s the trouble with dreams; trying to put them into a story form is like trying to get a soap bubble to hold still so you canContinue reading “Dangerous Race”
Preservation Priorities
Dearest Rachel – I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned the story in passing before, but I might as well retell it here and now; I’ll get to the ‘why’ in a moment. Your family, if I remember the story correctly, were among the first to get their hands on a video cassette recorder, back in theContinue reading “Preservation Priorities”
The Deals I Make with Myself
Dearest Rachel – It’s still pitch black when I open my eyes this morning for the first time. Without even looking at the clock on my nightstand, my superego points out that I probably have just enough time to throw on shorts and a t-shirt, and head out to the fitness center for a workout.Continue reading “The Deals I Make with Myself”
Old – And Gone – Before Our Time
Dearest Rachel – Last night, I found myself dreaming about how I needed to make preparations for Kevin to come up here to the Chicago suburbs to see us, as he usually does. It is about that time of year, after all – Labor Day is just a little more than a week away. IContinue reading “Old – And Gone – Before Our Time”
from Rachel: Surveying Ancient Ruins
Please read Ezekiel 18 in its entirety. Write a one-sentence synopsis of this Old Testament chapter. “God explains to the people of Israel that He holds each person accountable for their own sins alone – no one else’s – and He desires that all should repent and be saved” Write your own basic outline ofContinue reading “from Rachel: Surveying Ancient Ruins”
Never the Target Audience
Dearest Rachel – There was another thing that came to mind for a topic to discuss with you yesterday morning as I was working out, but since I had the actual events of the day (and the attitude associated with them) to describe to you already, I set it aside for the time. But sinceContinue reading “Never the Target Audience”
“Let’s Just Get This Over With”
Dearest Rachel – It probably wasn’t the best idea for me to totter off to bed by nine-thirty, but by the time Logan realized we were home from having dinner at the folks’ and joined Daniel to watch anime with him, I was barely able to keep my eyes open. If it weren’t for theContinue reading ““Let’s Just Get This Over With””
Heat
Dearest Rachel – Given its immense breadth – from the depths of absolute zero, where motion stills, even down to the subatomic level, to the eight- and nine-figure temperatures of stellar cores – it’s amazing to think about how little of the range of temperature is comfortable for us humans, or even survivable. With properContinue reading “Heat”
Greetings From the Robinsons
Dearest Rachel – Well, it seems as though my subconscious decided to take the night off last night; I guess I can’t expect it to come up with something to tell you about every night. After all, there are plenty of real-life things I could be telling you about. It’s just that none of themContinue reading “Greetings From the Robinsons”
What I Had to Do
Dearest Rachel – I think my subconscious mind is trying to help me come up with material to tell you about these past few mornings without actually putting together actual dreams as such – I don’t know if it’s being lazy or brilliant. Considering that what it put together is mostly unusable, I’m actually mildlyContinue reading “What I Had to Do”
On Disgust and Fear
Dearest Rachel – There are so many reasons why I wish I could have you back here with me. Most of them are perfectly obvious; I miss all the things we used to do together – and would like to continue to do them with you, rather than do them alone, or try to findContinue reading “On Disgust and Fear”
from Rachel: That Ancient Serpent
How does Revelation12:9 portray Satan? “a dragon, a serpent” What is Satan’s role in every human going astray (Revelation 12:9)? “He leads the way.” What more do you see about Satan in Luke 4:13? “He waits for opportunities when we are vulnerable.” What behavior might you see in your life that you disliked in yourContinue reading “from Rachel: That Ancient Serpent”
Data Wants to Know…
Dearest Rachel – Even at this moment, barely half an hour since waking up, I can only remember the setting, the characters and the subject matter of last night’s dream. So, I’m going to have to reconstruct the script based on what I think might have been logical, which, as you’ll soon see, may proveContinue reading “Data Wants to Know…”
A Reach Beyond My Grasp
Dearest Rachel – Were it not for the fact that I assume that the afterlife you’re experiencing is pleasant beyond expression or comprehension, I could easily imagine a rueful chuckle escaping from your lips every time I write to you about my plans for the future. There’s nothing like having an eternal perspective like yoursContinue reading “A Reach Beyond My Grasp”
Using the Memento
Dearest Rachel – This letter is going to be a little more difficult to write than most, particularly because it’s about a touchy subject – and, since you know me, I have to make it clear that I don’t mean that literally – and I thus, don’t want to name names. But I suspect that,Continue reading “Using the Memento”
“When?”
Dearest Rachel – There’s a scene near the beginning of the movie Blazing Saddles which serves as an establishing character moment for Gene Wilder’s Waco Kid. After being offered something for breakfast by Sheriff Bart (and turning it down, claiming “food makes me sick”), he takes yet another long swig from his whiskey bottle, muchContinue reading ““When?””
What We Would Watch
Dearest Rachel – Last night, while occupying my evening with YouTube in the bedroom while the boys were doing likewise in the family room, I was presented with an AdSense question that, at the moment, struck me as rather strange. It was asking me how often I watched horror films and series, with responses rangingContinue reading “What We Would Watch”
An Exercise in Willpower
Dearest Rachel – So, after a day of trying to get Daniel to eat a little more (which turned out to be less than necessary, as he’s more than capable of doing so, if he wants to, and there’s something in front of him) by setting more of an example than I probably ought toContinue reading “An Exercise in Willpower”
from Rachel: The Ancient Boundary Stone
Point 1: Even Christ had a blend of the “negative” and “positive” in His lineage. Point 2: We don’t have to “disinherit or dishonor” our physical lineage to fully “accept and abide in” our spiritual lineage. How did God identify Himself? Complete the verse: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out ofContinue reading “from Rachel: The Ancient Boundary Stone”
Dragged Along in My Wake
Dearest Rachel – Last night, I actually managed to stay up until 10:30 again, despite having first woken up at a little after four (although at that time, I did try to go back to sleep for an hour or so before conceding defeat and writing to you about it) and finding myself painfully awareContinue reading “Dragged Along in My Wake”
Tired
Let’s face it! From the waist down, everything is kaput! “I’m Tired,” Lili von Schtupp (Madeline Kahn), from Blazing Saddles (1974) Dearest Rachel – You might recall, back before we all but officially turned Saturday mornings into “our” time, I would wake up early in the morning, drive to the office, and put in aContinue reading “Tired”
Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Dearest Rachel – Lewis Carroll’s Red Queen claimed that she prided herself on believing “six impossible things before breakfast.” I’m not nearly so ambitious, honey – indeed, I rarely bother to try to believe the impossible at all, let alone so many such things at once – but just for today, it seemed like IContinue reading “Impossible Things Before Breakfast”
DIY Zombie Karaoke
Dearest Rachel – Since I’m meeting with Lars today, and I just got confirmation that everything is a ‘go’ as far as the church books are concerned (which is to say, everything from last month has finally been entered, and I can run the numbers and assemble the reports for the board members), I haveContinue reading “DIY Zombie Karaoke”
Ignored Opportunity
Dearest Rachel – It’s weird to realize that I’m talking to you about a prescription regimen that completely postdates you, but things are starting to get to that point. Logan expressed concern to me just the other about how he hoped that Daniel would be okay after consuming a bowl of instant udon that wasContinue reading “Ignored Opportunity”
Quidditch in Milwaukee
Dearest Rachel – Considering the title, and the fact that it’s barely six o’clock as I’m starting to write you (can you guess that I’m trying to do anything but head off to the gym? At least I’m far enough below that mental threshold – and have been for almost a week, now – thatContinue reading “Quidditch in Milwaukee”
from Rachel: Touring the Ruins
Think about generational strongholds for a moment. Describe why they could be hard to recognize. “Familiarity becomes normalcy; we don’t realize how abnormal certain behaviors, attitudes, schedules, environmental elements, etc., are because they are normal within our family. It is very easy for abnormal to feel normal because it is familiar.” Briefly describe another possibleContinue reading “from Rachel: Touring the Ruins”
Only in Fairy Tales
Dearest Rachel – Every so often, someone tells me that “oh, don’t worry; God has someone out there for you.” And, as much as I like hearing that, and I’d like to believe that, I really don’t dare – and I rather wish they would stop (to be fair, it’s tapered off over time, soContinue reading “Only in Fairy Tales”
Boaz Without Ruth
Dearest Rachel – I considered titling this letter “Boaz Seeks Ruth,” which admittedly sounds like the wording of a traditional personals ad, except that, as I began to type, it occurred to me that he very much wasn’t seeking her – or anyone else, for that matter. In fact, he had very much given upContinue reading “Boaz Without Ruth”
The Desire of Eve
Then God said to the woman, “I will ·cause you to… greatly desire [C the word implies a desire to control] your husband, but he will rule over you.” Genesis 3:16a, c, Expanded Bible Dearest Rachel – I hardly have to tell you that this is going to be (as it always has been) a touchy subject; peopleContinue reading “The Desire of Eve”
Blue Sky and Memory
Dearest Rachel – I don’t exactly have a dream to tell you about this morning, only a piece of music that was running through my head upon waking up at three in the morning. It was a song that I would claim that I’ve never heard before my iTunes algorithm brought it to my attentionContinue reading “Blue Sky and Memory”
Tinted Greys
Dearest Rachel – Much as I like to have it taken care of before I start in on the ‘real work’ of my day, unless I’ve had a dream I simply must tell you about before I forget it, writing you is rarely my first task of the day. And no, ‘tasks’ like opening myContinue reading “Tinted Greys”
Penance
Dearest Rachel – I’m not entirely sure why l’m coming to you with this, as if I was confessing to a priest or something. It’s not that you ever concerned yourself with nagging me about my weight, even though I was twice the individual you were. You probably looked on it as a sort ofContinue reading “Penance”
Side Quests
Dearest Rachel – On what I expect to be my last walk through the corridors of the Hyatt convention center, I found myself pausing at the sight below: It might be a more common sight at an anime convention than most times and places, but it was a new idea on me. I decided thereContinue reading “Side Quests”
from Rachel: The Obstacle of Legalism
Write Isaiah 64:4 from memory (compare 1 Corinthians 2:9): “Since ancient times, no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.” What is Benefit 5? “to enjoy God’s presence” Many elements or conditions can keep us from trulyContinue reading “from Rachel: The Obstacle of Legalism”
Smoke on the Water
The good sleep better at night, but the wicked enjoy their waking hours more Woody Allen (attributed) Dearest Rachel – Well, were you expecting the intense bass guitar riffs of Deep Purple? This isn’t exactly a format that can accommodate that; or rather, I don’t have a .midi file at hand to attach to thisContinue reading “Smoke on the Water”
The Main Events?
Dearest Rachel – Main programming is not where I spend most of my time at an anime convention. To be sure, the largest part is spent in my hotel room – sleeping, of course, but we would also watch stuff (and do other things) there, and these days, I spend time writing you a lotContinue reading “The Main Events?”
The Return of Samurai Dan
Dearest Rachel – For all that I’ve talked about the atmosphere surrounding the convention, I haven’t told you anything about the actual scheduled events. Part of that is because, even when we were attending these things together, we were rarely all that concerned about the panels, the guests, the screenings and all the other scheduledContinue reading “The Return of Samurai Dan”
Letters to Rachel 