Stories & Blogs

Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 25, 2024

** Habitat For Humanity (Ft. Worth) has city approval to construct a “tiny house community” for seniors. Habitat will build 31 one-bedroom homes of 465 sq. feet and 8 two-bedroom homes of 835 sq. feet, along with a pavilion, pond, and walking trails. Any future sell by a homeowner will have to meet age and…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 18, 2024

** CNN’s Good Stuff brings us inspiration and encouragement. In Gothenburg, Sweden, an orchestra has come together involving 300 players with different backgrounds, languages, voices, and musical talent, including Ron Davis, conductor. Members are refugees, immigrants, and others searching for a safe place to live, play and be a part of something special, thus, The…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 11, 2024

“ Opinions do not strengthen connections; Opinions do not carry the power to heal divisions nor hearts. The sharing of our Stories is how we connect; by listening to the stories of others, and telling our own story, divisions are healed, as are our hearts.” Roy Bowen – 2024 ** Multiple internet sites provide reasons…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 4, 2024

** The word Community has been heard often this week. The Paris Olympics have encouraged Community across borders, language, and teams to form International Communities. Toyota ads promote joining the “Toyota Community.” The rapid growth of online global Communities provides everyone, whether urban or rural, a way and place to belong. My heritage and understanding…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 28, 2024

Last week’s Sunday Letter described the importance of uniforms to student for improving academic achievement and consistent attendance. I have now learned the members of our local University Christian Church, provided 6,897 shirts, jeans, and shorts to Fort Worth girls and boys during the 2023-24 school year. I am sure UCC would welcome your contribution…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 21, 2024

** Each Monday, I begin with a blank pad of paper following the sending forth of the Sunday Letter. The process seems to include notes on a news item, a quote on keeping the seams together of society, climate, faith and perhaps a personal sharing begins the slow move from pad to screen. When the…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 14, 2024

** As you know, Public Libraries have always been my safe place. My mother took me to the Fort Worth library for my 1st library card when I was 7 or 8. The library encouraged me to be curious, to explore and to learn. In 2024, (rural and urban) libraries are still community hubs for…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 7, 2024

** Sunday Letter readers live coast to coast. Each of you bring a unique perspective and background to your comments and email follow-ups. One observant reader responded via email: “There are Land people and there are Ocean people.” It seems to me that Ocean people see different colors of green, brown, ocean and sky blues,…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 30, 2024

Nature report from Pershing: Our street is blessed with an abundance of trees, and birds. Two Common Flicker Woodpeckers come daily to the suet basket on our front yard Red Oak. A Red Headed Woodpecker, my first, is finding food in our neighbor’s large but aging tree…Stunning! A neighbor joined us in taking down their…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for Jun3 23, 2024

I am writing about fathers for a 3rd Sunday, as I have truly reflected on your comments. Many readers wrote about the teachings, love, and importance of fathers. I was also taken by readers comments about the missing of a father due to an early death, divorce, or addictions. This missing was supported by the…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 1, 2025

ROY AT 81 YEARS Somewhere, I have a copy of 1944 “Shore to Ship” cable to my Navy Officer father, on a ship somewhere off Normandy. The cable announced my birth. My mother was living with her parents on their east Texas farm in Gladewater. And yes, 81 is just a number, but also a…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 25, 2025

ALL ABOUT FRIENDS AND FRIENDSHIPS Richard left a brief voice mail as Wendi and he were driving back to North Carolina after visiting nearby family. When I connected with Richard his words defined long term friendship for us all. “I just wanted to hear your voice.” I treasure Richard’s words, as I consider the voices…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 18, 2025

PAGES FROM A FULL NOTEBOOK Each week I make notes of what might be included in the Sunday Letter. Here are the ones thar made the selection from notebook to screen. ** It is not with joy; I share Fort Worth has reached a citizenship of one million. I am not confident in the positive…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 11, 2025

BEING AWARE BUT NOT OVER-WHELMED BY ALL THINGS MONEY The 2021 online movie “Saving Paradise” portrays the role and the power of money in the lives of individuals, families, small businesses and communities. The founding owner of a small-town wooden pencil business dies suddenly. His son, a New York corporate raider, must decide to sell…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 4, 2025

AN ANCIENT BUDDHIST TEACHING, THE NOBLE EIGHTFUL PATH, UPDATED FOR 2025 The Eightfold Path teaches Right Understanding, Right Intent, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, and Right Mindfulness. In full and humble respect for ancient teachers and teachings, I offer this Sunday Letter with words and meaning to bring these truths forward into…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 27, 2025

NAVIGATING THE PATH TO AGING WELL #1 I am surprised to now find myself an elder of 80, and in May 81. All of this too fast and too soon. I need more time to prepare, to be ready for the physical, emotional, economic, and spiritual changes, challenges. As I lift my eyes and heart…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 20, 2025

ALL THE GOOD WORDS Easter Sunday provides a pause between winter cold and moving quickly into the heat and humidity of the Texas summer. Easter Sunday is the right time to give thought on where we fit in a troubled world as individuals, family, workplace, civic volunteer and with close friends. In this Sunday Letter…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 13, 2025

ON BEING A NEIGHBOR Mr. Rogers began the PBS Children’s Show singing “Won’t you be my neighbor? Could you be my neighbor? I really want a neighbor just like you.” Jesus responded to the question “Who is my neighbor?’ With a story of breaking through walls and the rituals that separate us, that kept us…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 6, 2025

THE SLOW AND THE BLUR OF CHANGE In the mid-1980’s, I decided to sign-up for a Sierra Club hiking trip in the Colorado mountains. Beginning at base camp in Creed, eight of us hiked Colorado mountains and over the Continental Divide. On day three, I sat in a mountain meadow, with Elk nearby, watching river…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 30, 2023

ABOUT TREES “Who plants a tree plants hope” Lucy Larcom “A true meaning of life is planting trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” Nelson Henderson Why write a Sunday Letter about trees? When Beth and I returned to Fort Worth, we experienced the joy of trees of all types, sizes, and…

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