assistance – Letters to Rachel

Freedom in a Land of Plenty

Dearest Rachel – This morning, I was just heading out from the gym (and having to turn back after passing the office complex behind the strip mall it’s in because I left my cap there; it was bright and sunny when I left, which caused me to forget that I’d worn it in the drizzleContinue reading “Freedom in a Land of Plenty”

Offering Assistance

Dearest Rachel – I honestly didn’t know whether I’d have time to get in touch with you today. Oh, I’ll have hours in which I’ll be doing nothing but sitting in the passenger seat of a U-Haul bound for your hometown, but I think that may serve a purpose in its own right, which deservesContinue reading “Offering Assistance”

So What’s Holding Me Back?

Dearest Rachel – Ostensibly, one of the great privileges of my semi-retired state is that theoretically, I can pack up and go here and there on a whim, at a moment’s notice. It would please me no end to be able to just cab out to the airport and fly wherever at some point –Continue reading “So What’s Holding Me Back?”

Needing More Rest

Early to bed, and early to riseMakes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack Early to rise, and early to bedMakes a man healthy, but socially dead. Yakko Warner, Animaniacs Dearest Rachel – After a night rehearsing for the Christmas Eve service (and hoping in vain that I could find aContinue reading “Needing More Rest”

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”

Thanks For Your Help

Dearest Rachel – It’s so weird to think that, only a few years ago, I was regularly waking up at five or so in the morning in order to shower, shave, get myself something for breakfast and get a little reading in before heading off to an actual job at an actual office. You’d thinkContinue reading “Thanks For Your Help”

from Rachel: An Advocate

Read 1 John 2:1-2. In what endearing way does John address the reader? My “dear children”. What specific reason does he give for writing at the top of verse 1? “So his readers will not sin.” [John] takes “not sinning” out of the realm of legalism and mindlessly trying to keep the rules for theContinue reading “from Rachel: An Advocate”

A Tight Fist or an Open Palm?

Dearest Rachel – There’s a meme that I think existed when you were still around; whether you’d recognize it or not is debatable. After nineteen months (and no, I haven’t forgotten, but there is more to write to you about today than merely commemorating the passage of time), you may well have forgotten about allContinue reading “A Tight Fist or an Open Palm?”

You’d Always Check In

Dearest Rachel – I have a hard time with the whole “What Would [fill in the blank; it’s usually Jesus, but some people use other names as well where applicable] Do?” question sometimes. Not because I don’t know what they’d do in the given situation, necessarily, but because, with enough rationalization, you can claim justificationContinue reading “You’d Always Check In”

A Fifth Freedom

Dearest Rachel – Many years ago, back during the throes of World War II, Norman Rockwell created a series of paintings entitled ‘The Four Freedoms,’ highlighting the liberties we have as Americans that made this country what it was. And yes, I’m using the past tense, because it seems that everybody and his uncle SamContinue reading “A Fifth Freedom”