Stories & Blogs

Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 9, 2024

Sunday, June 16, is Father’s Day. I am posting a Father’s Day thought, early, to promote connections within a family, a call, maybe sharing food and a memory or two. If not near, slow mail a personal note. Mostly, pay attention and allow a special weekend to not slip past. We may go to the…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 2, 2024

A calendar turned my page to 80 on Friday. Grateful for Beth’s grace, memories, the giving of herself with others by her caring, art, and meditations. Alongside photos of younger days, I am curious about my tomorrows. I know I/we are not through. Our determined efforts today are focused on eating better environmentally friendly foods,…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 26, 2024

** In his 500-page print book “UNDO IT,” Dean Ornish, MD, summarizes his Lifestyle Medicine Plan this way: 1) A whole foods, plant-based diet 2) Moderate exercise including flexibility, walking, & strengthening 3) Stress management including meditation, Tai Chi, pauses, and 4) Social connections and support, and healthy relationships. Ornish believes Lifestyle Medicine is less…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 19, 2024

Last week the most responses and comments resulted from the concept of Pocket Forests. I learned that many of us do have Pockets of joy…maybe in the garden, a nature walks and lunches with family and friends. Maybe the next time I reach into my pocket for my keys, I will remember to include a…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 12, 2024

** White bison calves are rare, 1 in 10 million. Two white bison calves were recently birthed, one in Kansas and one in Texas. Lakota and other native tribes see the white bison as a sign of better times to come, of hope for improved relationships with Mother Earth for all of us, and the…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 5, 2024

** The Jerusalem Youth Chorus was formed in 2012, with youth from East and West Jerusalem. Youth of Jewish, Muslem and Christain, representing both Palestine and Israel all together in one choir. The mission and purpose of the chorus is to promote dialogue and mutual understanding through music. An additional benefit is the entertaining and…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 28,2024

** Monday was Earth Day; HBO gave us the documentary “Trees and Other Entanglements” (1hr. 22 minutes). This film shows our sad, poor treatment of trees as a product, and today’s partnership respecting and valuing trees. Trees play an essential role in cooling and protecting our climate. The HBO documentary teaches, encourages me to take…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 21, 2024

**A SL reader recommended the Homeless Soccer World Cup, and the Cup inspired Netflix film “The Beautiful Game,” with British actor Bill Nighy is England’s team coach. The Homeless World Cup was first held in Graz, Austria in 2003. The 2024 Cup will be in Seoul, South Korea with 68 member countries. Soccer is played…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 14, 2024

** Millions in the US, and around the world, viewed Monday’s Eclipse either through approved eye wear, television or other safe ways. The anticipation of the sun’s eclipse grew from cities gatherings from to the south the to north. Children, families, and seniors rose, shouted, were silent and as the four minutes of darkness passed…

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Roy’s Subday Letter for April, 7, 2024

** This week my thoughts were on those around me who seem to primarily see events and interactions with others as a transaction. I also know people who primarily see events and interactions as relational. The results can be positive by accepting the strengths of both or perhaps, help us understand when events and interactions…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 12, 2025

WHO WOULD YOU INVITE TO YOUR TABLE? A Netflix favorite is “Somebody Feed Phil.” This popular food and people show introduces the culture of food, chefs, and cities nationally and internationally. Each episode ends with Phil inviting 6 to 8 food guides and chefs of that episode to share and enjoy a table and meal…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 5, 2025

WISDOM THAT TEACHES, COMFORTS, & CHALLENGES One of Beth’s life enjoyments is finding and copying wisdom quotes and sayings into one of her now five journals. I have lifted today’s writings from one of her journals. I am confident SL readers will find favorites to read more than once, perhaps to write into your own…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 28, 2025

THOUGHTS ON FAITH – THEN AND NOW This week’s letter is the third in a series…recent Sunday Letters have been about Crosses, Prayers and Meditation. Faith is the focus for the third in the series. I chose Faith last as it continues to evolve even now as an elder. We are all pilgrims in this…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter For September 21, 2025

THOUGTHS AND WRITINGS ON PRAYER AND MEDITATION Most of us, perhaps all of us, seek the best way to live our lives with wisdom, kindness, and joy. Two widely accepted practices to do so are prayer and meditation. Each bring us closer to God, the Divine within our Souls, our family and friends and our…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter For September 14, 2025

This Sunday, I invite you to take a deep dive into the Number 3. There are religious, cultural, and scientific research that indicates the significance of the Number 3 in many societies and countries. The Number 3 is mentioned 485 times in the Bible, 75 of these in the New Testament. What are 3 books…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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