Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 17, 2025
ARE INSPIRING PERSONS AND CAUSES STILL IMPORTANT TO TOU, YOUR FAMILY, OUR COUNTRY?
The ongoing daily news/events of local, national and the wider world can drain energy or a sense of wonder for a better tomorrow. For all of that to not be my only reality, I choose to filter and search for the balancing of children, couples, families and elders being successful in meeting challenges and creating new life opportunities.
Give yourself a moment to gather your memories. What persons, causes, and events inspires or inspired you, gave you a bounce forward, provided spiritual and emotional shock absorbers, encouraged you to continue to not turn away. Maybe a movie or music inspired you. If it has been years since you have been mindful of these persons or events, perhaps a search to refreshen both memory and meaning is due. For me Woodstock, 1969, feeds me energy with a belief in the forever influence of coming together, of the magic that can come forth from the chaotic.
Some 2025 questions to ponder: Who or what cause has inspires you? Is your inspiration still making a difference with this person or cause? Is there someone or a cause…reading with an elementary student; ending food scarcity with time at your local food bank for example. You can contribute your inspiration to the common good of others.
A few of those who have inspired and continue to inspire me today would be: John Lewis, beaten on a Mississippi bridge and a true leader in the US Senate; Woody Guthrie’s forever playing and singing of the power of hope and belief in the goodness of others; Nelson Mandela’s capacity to forgive; Mayor of Ft. Worth Mattie Parker shows up in all zip codes, bridge builder, knows all this is not about her; Bruce Springsteen speaks truth to Trump and still has good energy at 78 to perform on Broadway, tour the world with power and the E Street Band; and Beth’s encouraging all others to enjoy art, openly and warmly include friends new and well known to our home or presence social media.
Roy, Inspired by Comments of Sunday Letter readers
I am inspired by the volunteers that show up weekly at The Children’s Closet. They serve with joy and lovingly fill each bag of clothing for a child that is in need. I am inspired by a church, University Christian, that puts their money where it is needed into Outreach so others in the community benefit. Individuals inspire me by continuing on when a cause is right even when at the time it isn’t the most popular. Friend inspire me all the time to do better, enjoy life, pick a cause and be happy in my life, especially Roy and Beth.
Yes and Applause for those who show-up, serve others without hesitation.
You and your UCC peers have organized and given our community the long serving Closet.
WE join you in seeing the good stuff of daily life while know there is also pain and suffering.
You are a difference maker and a true friend to we both.
“A person is a person, no matter how small.” Dr Seuss, from Horton Hears a Who.
I hear so many people these days tell me they feel so powerless and insignificant. The tiny Who people in Whoville were about to be boiled to death. They joined together chanting, “We are here, we are here, we are here!” Eventually they reached a critical mass and were heard. Horton and the Who in Whoville are inspiring. Let our voices be heard!
Paul, your Comments join those of Whoville in supporting our being presence and our humanity. We are the better for your reminding us of us.
Roy
Decades ago we took our children to Hulen Mall to meet the little dog from the PBS TV show Wishbone. While I waited in the long winding line with the kids, my wife Brenda walked over to the food court and got each of our two kids a cup-o-fries to pacify them during the hours we would wait. Our youngest child (age 5) took her cup and began walking down the line giving each child a French fry. That memory still inspires me today.
Is not our heart moved, made the better by the unexpected, inspiring gifting and sharing of a child, your child?
No doubt one of many.
& thank you are the
comment, making us all better.
Without a doubt Netflix new documentary Sunday Best about Ed Sullivan is tremendously inspiring. He was strong and focused and determined and undaunted. It is fantastic. X/O Linda M
We agree. Too young to really understand, take in all he was and meant…..