Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 12, 2023
- The back and forth with Amarillo friends has continued in all good ways. Emails, texts, and notes of good wishes, encouragement and even a book order has been emotionally supportive and restoring. I understand not all “go backs” are rewarding. If SL readers have had a positive return experience, please share, and if not positive share that experience also, Thank you Amarillo!
** I recently had the opportunity to talk with two nonprofit Exec. Directors, one in-person in Amarillo and one by cell in Santa Fe. We three are always interested in the best, most effective way to lead an agency or direct a program. Our question as we talked was about our leadership style when: 1) we had reasonable time for staff or board discussion, VERSUS 2) those times when a critical decision is required, under pressure of limited time for consideration or discussion. Different leadership skills are required in both situations. For me, I was comfortable in the second leadership situation. Good people. Good discussion. For SL readers, in which situation are you most comfortable?
- Trees of all kinds are beginning to bud out in our moderate Ft. Worth temperatures. We want our trees to hear our shouting “Wait, wait….there is still winter to come. It is not your season yet.” Spring is not far away by the calendar. Cold weather returns Monday evening. Hang in there dear trees.
** The Folk Mass at Trinity Episcopel had guitars and enjoyable music. Most elements of a traditional Mass were also present: Readings, traditional sermon, the Eucharist. The service closed with the enthusiastic song “Amen” which closed many of the St. Francis house church services where Beth and I met in the spring of 1977.
- Richard gifted me with a commentary on Charles Taylor 2007 classic A Secular Age. Taylor writes of a modern world searching for significance, not bothered by the questions of the divine or transcendence. He asks what it is to be faithful in a secular world. A good and still relevant question.
** Several SL readers have recently experienced the death of long-time pets. Why did the Creator determine a dog’s life span to be 10 to 16 years. James’s had his favorite horse 34 years, some turtles 70 to 100+ years. Jazz, age 13, will have surgery Tuesday to remove two problem growths. This is what we pet owners do for the ongoing presence and health of our pet partners.
Roy, with restored energy and renewed spirit.
Have you seen The Antidote? The City of Fort Worth showed it at its Movies That Matter series this week. A portion of the movie described a successful program at Amarillo College that increased its graduation rate by aiding students who had barriers such as child care. Such an encouraging movie!
A new one for me….Ik will find it. facing barriers, removing barriers the right past. I know you havee barriers different than we 2, We face each together. Keep us in touch with your days….all teh best, always
Have had many rewarding.returns! Lived in Europe for over 6 years and still have warm friendships there when returning. Will visit friends of 40 years in April.
One rewarding one was returning to my alma mater UW-Madison to speak to undergrad scholarship awardees. My topic was Learning, Earning and Returning…about living a fulfilling life. A whole other story…
I believe a rewarding returning begins with an open mind and heart.
My first boss, vocational mentor died several yrs aggo. I said and worte, “There is no Roy Bowen without James Y. Greene.”
Your friends of 40 yrs have been and always will be a true part of you.
I was recently on a zoom here in a FW discusson group. One face of the screen, “I know thatguy.” Turned out we wwre on ccollege golf team 1965, We are now connected … amazing.
Glad you are returning. New stories to be addeed to ones of heritage. Good for you!!
Hey Roy – can you put your letter in bigger and bolder print? – Some of us also have “old” eyes.
I have asked before, I will ask again….ME TOO!
Roy, I’m sorry to hear about Jazz. I hope the surgery goes well and it’s a quick recovery. ❤️🐕
Minor removal. Just has to be done. Having to wear the head piece when dischargd no fun.
Take all this in stride
Sidee note: I am making a jot dowwn list of who/what I have or still need to “Let Go Of.”
To me, important for the next steps, not dragging what is gone, not reeturnng behind me
Best you way.Wednesday zoom good forme 2/15