Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 6, 2025
SMALL PATCHES BECOME A QUILT
Beth and I recently experienced something wonderful, exciting, and yes, even inspirational. Eight of “We” mid-age, elder age individuals who gathered weekly to meditate, were joined by forty middle and high school Black teen girls who were at the church for a day camp. Diane talked with the girls about the heritage of meditation, led us all in a short practice, answered questions, and we talked together about family, school, and friends. A memory day! www.flygirlzacademy.com
- The Sunday letter began in 2020 as a traditional email to 15 persons. I did not use titles until 2023. Several titles I like best: The What, When, and Why of Work — Stretching Just to Stay Up— I Am More Than a Month — McDonald’s Drive Thru.
Eleven days ago, there was a 6 Alarm fire on the roof of one of the cluster construction of hundreds of apartments. 834 individuals, young families, and pets lost their homes, the most being18 – 32 of age, few had insurance. 150 firefighters responded to the fire several days. The city of Fort Worth, United Way, and others have networked on behalf of those now unexpectantly homeless. These massive clusters of apartments raise, once more, the questions of who your neighbor is, and what is a neighborhood in 2025.
- Beth and I join millions in cities of the world in praise for Phil Rosenthal and the Netflix show “Somebody Feed Phil.” He is not a chef. Phil is a lover of foods and the people who prepare and serve…whether a food court in Hong Kong, a family table in Croatia, or a diner in Boston. Phil’s happy dance over soup or pizza shows me a part of me I wish to increase, enthusiasm. Phil closes each episode by bring all who were guides, chefs, and creators of dishes together to share a meal. The surprises and pleasure of food, to laugh, applaud and appreciate each other is amazing. Perhaps a reach, but I am reminded of Jesus bringing the disciples together at a simple table, to have drink, food, and the valuing of being together.
FW has had a wet spring lasting now into July. While enjoying a rainy Saturday morning, I posted on Facebook about the pleasure and delight of rain for trees, gardens, birds, animals and all as well. Then, in the same Saturday morning, I am given the awareness of the sudden swollen rivers and flooding of central Texas. Massive destruction, loss of lives, and especially the 27 children of Mystic Camp, and parents hoping, dreading the next rescue report. Somehow, we live with both the pleasure of one and the extreme sadness of sudden loss of who are so precious, and their families.
Lord, be present in our spirit, in the sacred parts of life this day and the days ahead……..Roy
The Clark’s granddaughter, Hannah and Beau’s oldest was at Camp Mystic. There were several hours when they didn’t know if she was safe. There was overwhelming relief when they heard she was. They are all people of Faith so they leaned on that Faith to get them through the tense hours. They were reunited with Eleanor and made their way home yesterday. So many parents were not that fortunate. We need to remember all of them. The trauma those precious girls faced will be with them for many years. Thank you for mentioning them.
Roy, you continue to amaze me with the depth of the humanity you bring to my Sunday mornings. Roy, thank you. Nurturing each other as well as caring for our Mother Earth seems to now be especially important now. Science has been advising us that we need to “walk gently” to keep our fragile earth in a healthy balance. As a community and as individuals perhaps we also have a loving responsibility to care for one another through our individually unique nurturing activities that help bring healing or direction to those in need. Acts of kindness seem to have the ability contain quite powerlful healthy responses. We all have our own unique powerful gifts to share with one another.
I could have as guest SL some week. WEll written and clear.
The time of world care is running out, not that maga’s care (they do not).
The next Rally is August 17.
You are certainly part of the answers we need
Enjoy the lake walk and your true partner.
Roy
High stress, worry, and anxiety.
Glad all in family safe and now home.
Many, many are not.
Beyond sad both today and days ahead.
Good update to receive from you.
Be safe … Know joy….offer forgiveness…..accept friendships.
Roy/Beth
Your line on wishing to increase the enthusiasm struck a cord. I started today and immediately felt better. Thank you, sometimes it’s easy to forget a simple things that make life worthwhile.
Yes, we all the better with those who remind us…..as you have with me.
I encourage your watching Somebody Feed Phil…..not only enjoy but Phil’s zest for both food and relationships wonderous.
Enjoy it all!!!
nice letter Roy.
beware the blanket statements.. please..
and they would be????
A couple evenings ago I listened to a long-overlooked recording of Betthoven’s Ninth Symphony. Wonderful, soaring music culminating in the choral Ode to Joy. It enluvened – and, yes, – brought joy to every cell in my body. Joy to you all, a foundational experience.
You and the Joy uplift now on my lean back, close eyes, and listen and feel, and learn this week, maybe even this Sunday afternoon………..& thank you for the uplist.