Dearest Rachel – In some ways, I don’t know how we managed it back in the day; before you were able to let me retire, we tended to be short on time, because even though I was given five weeks of vacation time after so many years of service, it was hard to squeeze suchContinue reading “Oh, The Places We Didn’t See”
Tag Archives: comparison
Reykjavik
Dearest Rachel – It sort of ties our last port of call with the one we’re arriving at; even when we last visited the place, some twelve years ago, we couldn’t think of this city’s name without recalling Glasgow native Craig Ferguson during his Late Late Show days. About a year or so into hisContinue reading “Reykjavik”
What Has Changed?
Dearest Rachel – Part of me can’t believe it’s been eighteen years since you took this footage as we scoped out the cottage you used to refer to as “Miz Fay’s place” back when your family were still staying at the Bretz cottages a short wade further north. Another part of me can’t believe I’mContinue reading “What Has Changed?”
from Rachel: An Extraordinary Spirit
Read Daniel 5:10-17. Who told Belshazzar about Daniel? “the queen” List all the ways she described Daniel: “① ‘has the spirit of the holy gods in him’;“② has ‘insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods’;“③ was appointed ‘chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners’;“④ the king called him Belteshazzar;“⑤ has ‘aContinue reading “from Rachel: An Extraordinary Spirit”
from Rachel: Taller When Others Bow
Share another example of how something true can be enhanced until it’s a lie. “Raising a hand or hands during song or prayer sometimes starts me focusing on others’ perspectives.” We are so thoroughly indoctrinated in image building that I’m not sure we easily recognize the difference between excelling and self–selling. Offer a few examplesContinue reading “from Rachel: Taller When Others Bow”
Counting Steps
Dearest Rachel – You know, it’s hard for me to get a sense of proportion sometimes, especially when it comes to distances. I try my best to relate the length of the walk between our house and the fitness center to that of, say, the Serenade of the Seas, but I just can’t seem toContinue reading “Counting Steps”
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”
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”
As Normal as the Sky
Dearest Rachel – For all that is said between us as we walk through Harms Wood, the conversations that I have with Lars are generally like whatever happens proverbially in Vegas; everything is meant to stay there, not to be repeated. But when the topic turns to the relationship you and I had – andContinue reading “As Normal as the Sky”
The Benchmark
Dearest Rachel – I’d fill you in about last night’s dream – something about the Incredibles, with the kids more or less grown up, duking it out against a league of supervillains basically representing the Seven Deadly Sins (honestly, what is it about supervillains that compels them to a.) insist on some sort of themeContinue reading “The Benchmark”
Can’t Help But Compare
Dearest Rachel – Waking up ridiculously early this morning isn’t anywhere near as unpleasant as it has been, now that the fan motor has been replaced in the bedroom space heater. Still, without an immediate topic at hand to talk to you about today (since by waking up, I seem to have completely punctured whateverContinue reading “Can’t Help But Compare”
Having the Right
Dearest Rachel – My parents celebrated their sixty-first wedding anniversary last Friday. It’s a difficult number for me to wrap my head around. Of course, they’ve always been married for seven and a half years longer than I’ve been alive, but the longer I live, the larger their number gets, to the point where it’sContinue reading “Having the Right”
Letters to Rachel 