Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 17, 2023

September 17 is 3rd Sunday for the Sunday Letter. Remember 1st and 3rd Sunday Letters in 2023.

• The traditional Lord’s Prayer begins, “Our Father, who art in heaven.” I am broadening the Lord’s heaven to include wildfires in Canada…the destruction of lives, homes, and businesses in Maui….earthquakes and deaths in Morocco….and now the coastal floods, destruction, and deaths in Libya. The Lord’s presence, and Mother Earth’s too, is called upon to bring all of heaven possible to these people, their land, and their tomorrows to come.

** Daily life in the Southwest is not always easy. We learned a new weather term, Heat Dome bringing 4 months of high heat and dry land. This week fall rains and overcast skies have many people smiling, moving around, and eager to return to fall colors and the outdoors….me too.

• Isn’t this Great: As I entered my branch library, a mom was helping her 4-year-old son return his books. As he stood on a provided library step for children, I listened as he whispered a soft “Thank You” to each book before pacing the book in the return. Bless the children!

** On Face Books, online interviews, and news panels, I am beginning to gain a sense of the value of saying and remembering what we as a divided, noisy American public have in common, what we together believe and act on, rather than the tiring, draining reporting of ongoing mistrust, blaming, and disrespect of other Americans.

• Millennials (1981-1994/6) have changed our communications, shopping and marketing, prioritizing the climate, and now AI. From my reading and observations, what millennials are not interested in is our geriatric, inadequate, and unresponsive political non-system. Good, I’m with the young ones!

** Two new nonprofits caught my attention: 1) Under The Bridge volunteers provide food, comfort, and fellowship to those living under the interstate bridges in east Ft. Worth. 2) Hope Squad provides support and personal and group problem-solving skills for enrolled high schools in FWISD. There have been 12 suicide deaths in Fort Worth for ages under 18 in 2023.

• What Would You Have Replied? I have a hat with a red “I Read Books” pin. At the check-out at our pet store, while entering my PIN, the young woman assisting me said, “I like your I Read Books pin. I have never read a whole book in my life. What book would you recommend?” (long pause while 50 titles whirl). I chose to remind her of a library branch 2 blocks away, then recommended my own book of short (2 – 3 pages) stories and gave her my card. Now, more customers behind me. I will go by and see if she is in the store for follow-up. You meet the most interesting people in this life that give you opportunities.

** Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.” Helen Keller. Making and keeping connections deduces stranger danger, builds a sense of community, wellness, and health. In either darkness or light, with a friend you are not alone.

Roy, we are friends together