Stories & Blogs
Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 7, 2025
SEPTEMBER IS MORE THAN A TURN OF THE CALENDAR The earlier wintering months gave way to the greening and garden hope of spring. September lifts our spirits from the heat dome of a Southwestern summer. September reminds us there is coolness and rain showers with the turn of calendar pages. September is also a check…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 31, 2025
A LIFETIME OF MUSIC SHAPING and HELPING US GROW UP Music of my growing up years came to me through the social injustice, national protests, marches and all led by the televised forever images, sounds, and words of Pete Seeger, Odetta, Peter, Paul, & Mary, and Joan Baez. The home and car radio were always…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 24, 2025
CROSSES AND CRIFIXICS OF FAITH I received my first cross from a graduating seminary friend in 1969. Beth added her own crosses as we married and purchased our first home. Through travel, art fairs and conferences we have added diverse crosses of wood, metal, New Mexico mortar and wire. Crosses and crucifixes are worn as…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 17, 2025
ARE INSPIRING PERSONS AND CAUSES STILL IMPORTANT TO TOU, YOUR FAMILY, OUR COUNTRY? The ongoing daily news/events of local, national and the wider world can drain energy or a sense of wonder for a better tomorrow. For all of that to not be my only reality, I choose to filter and search for the balancing…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 10, 2025
WAYS YOU CAN AND WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH OTHERS, AND PERHAPS THE WIDER WORLD My world, your world, is a fast-moving, ever-changing collection of stories, decisions, and events. And yet, many of us want to find an edge or small ways we can and will improve living or working conditions of other persons, animals,…
Roy’s Sunday Letter fot August 3, 2025
One of Fifty Two It has been a long time since I have written something with a due date. I usually dreaded writing assignment as a student and would often wait till the last minute to complete the assignment. This opportunity has taken me on an adventure, and it all began with our dog, Jazz….
Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 27, 2025
BODY MIND & SOUL The personal and professional training I received placed an emphasis on strengthening the connection between the body – mind -soul. Each one of us has positive individual characteristics. It is when we have a lifestyle of all three, balanced and coordinated, we are at our most healthy and well selves. And…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 20, 2025
FINDING OUR BEST, MOST ENJOYABLE WAY Beth and I had a delightful day trip to Granbury with our dear friend Elizabeth (101 years young). We had not been to Granbury in 35+ years. We found the small shops around the courthouse square flourishing and representing the culture of Granbury in the best of ways. We…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 13, 2025
HEALING STORIES IN TROUBLED TIMES Recently PBS and local KERA filmed an Arts & Culture series by bringing together Santa Fe high school students, from area schools. Each were asked to write about themselves or a news topic. The students then shared their writing with another student. These Santa Fe students took the risk of…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 30, 2026
Beginnings and Continuings Beginnings: What have you begun in 2026 or have considered beginning? What interests your current focus and energy? There is a tendency, especially as we age, to lessen or embrace of the new or different. A new adventure, cause, music or craft provides an uplift of our eyes, energy and spirit. In…