Stories & Blogs

Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 9, 2023

** As part of morning errands, Beth wanted to bring home breakfast burritos. Both a local burrito place and McDonald’s told Beth, “Sorry, we are out of eggs.” This was a surprise and a bit hard to understand. ** How we communicate with our devices in 2023. To Phone: “Hey Siri.” In our car it…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 2, 2023

** My naive 1960’s hope was to change the world, make society better, healthier, safer for all both nationally and internationally. Thus, for elected members of Congress to say, “There is nothing we can do about children being murdered with assault weapons,” it is an individual and institutional sin. I say that because, I truly…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 26, 2023

** I was granted a Master of Theology in May of 1970. I was well prepared to interpret the historical and cultural context of the Bible and to encourage and support a faith experience. Missing in that training were best practices in growing healthy, healing, sustaining organizations, recruiting/training board members, personnel issues, reading financial statements…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 19, 2023

** I am sharing with SL readers a partial list of my favorite sustaining words and phrases: Seeking common ground….Servant Leadership….To Hope, to Care anyway…To be a Witness….To show Mercy and to give Grace….Mystical & Magical…To Create…Never go away…Being present…Listening…Being a Neighbor…I can roller skate in a buffalo herd (Roger Williams)…More words next SL **…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 12, 2023

** Anyone who lives in an urban area can be approached by a panhandler at an intersection. Arlington, TX has taken a unique approach to signage at these same intersections. “It’s OK to say no to panhandlers.” ** Imagine connecting with a friend not seen or known about since 1965. (And yes, I realize there…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 5, 2023

** News Movement is a new, developing online news service for young people. The average age of their reporters is 25. News sources include Tik Tok, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. Traditional 5:30 pm network news ads have aged into dentures, and medications. ** National and state news this week was more about who to exclude,…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 26, 2023

** Beth and I replaced our 10 yr. old IPhone 7’s with IPhone 12’s. The technology changes are a challenge for me, the slower “to get it” of the two. ** From President Jimmy Carter, age 98: “America did not invent human rights. In a very real sense, human rights invented America. “ ** Following…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 19, 2023

** Most of us know the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl. What you may not have noticed is the back of their helmets. Many players have messages of hope. Several I noticed are: Inspire Stop Hate Together Seek Love Imagine Unity ** From my current morning Fiction: “Give me coffee to change the…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 12, 2023

** 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)…

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ROY’S SUNDAY LETTER FOR FEBRUARY 5, 2023

It is now Saturday evening, and we are home from a week in Amarillo. Beth and I left FW on Monday morning 9:30 just before sleet and freezing rain shut down Dallas/Ft Worth and then moved down to Austin. We drove through sleet and frozen rain for 3.5 hours before clearer roads and weather on…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for November 8, 2026

My intent was to write about grandparents and grandchildren this Sunday. The national, state, and local elections, those who made us Dream, Hope, and Act have defined the week for me, for all of us. Grandparents and grandchildren next Sunday. Dreamers, Heroes, and Those Who Acted on their Dreams When I graduated, 1968, I was…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for November 1, 2026

Friends And Friendship My boyhood friendships began on the playground and the playing of games. These initial friendships began mostly with boys, formed through clubs, hobbies, sharing the secrets of youth, and growing up together in a slower, safer time. Through my school years, it was these broadening friendships that taught me about resolving conflicts,…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 25, 2026

A favorite song of Merle Haggard was “My Favorite Memory.” A song of the memory of good times and long-time love. What would be one of your favorite memories of places, family, friends, and events? We also learn from memories that may be painful. This Sunday Letter is about our short-term and long-term memories, which…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 18, 2026

The millions of prayers for Pope Leo and his surgery, along with the Bend school shooting and the too familiar gathering of parents and children asking for prayers, brought forward thoughts of Prayers and Praying for this Sunday Letter. Prayer as an Individual, Family, Community Ritual and Practice For many, prayers are about strengthening heart…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 11, 2026

A Sunday Letter reader suggested, I find a way to address death. I chose a story to present the experience and response to the death of a friend or family member, whatever the age or life stage. Leave your Comment following the story. By your sharing, we learn together. Talking To Dirt Charley and Mattie…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 4, 2026

Between the Wet & the Dry These are the long-awaited days of seasonal rains washing away the dust of a summer of 107’s, burning grasslands and brown without the seasonal green. What do we do, how do we act when our spirit becomes dry, not replenished by a mentor, events, or experiences. Where do we…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 27, 2026

The First of Everything I had given thought to writing about the “what was” of a youth baseball glove and garage golf clubs. However, Sunday readers enjoyed a recent Sunday Fiction, so I offer a second story for your enjoyment as we learn and share the challenges and joys of daily life. Ellie burst through…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 20, 2026

Noble Truths & Sunday Life Lessons Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Jewish practices share the common heritage of Noble Truths and Wisdom Sayings. I have been fortunate to read, listen and learn over a lifetime. I have gathered an informal backpack of truths, not Noble Truths, but representing what I have seen and believe to be…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 13, 2026

Something new, different this Sunday. I am sending forth a writing about a sister, a dog, and an unexpected, surprising part of life. Again new, different, a try out…let me know if this works or does not work for you. Henri, Not My Dog I stared at my sister’s coffin…it just can’t be. When I…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 6, 2026

Living Beyond Our Heroes The recent deaths of Dolly Parton (80) and Wendell Berry (92) have given me a reflective pause and also inspired me to write about Heroes this Sunday. Dolly gave of her talents, loving heart, and economy capacity to make life better for individuals, families, here in America and to international cultures…

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