Stories & Blogs

Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 5, 2026

This Easter weekend Beth & I walked our neighborhood block of 16 homes. Beth had prepared a gift bag for each neighbor with Zucchini bread, a card with her original art on the front and contact information. Both Jesus and Mr. Rogers spoke about neighbors. By knocking on 16 doors, we extended the hand of…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 29, 2026

Neighbors and Neighborhoods 2026 I am writing this week about the ways both neighbors and neighborhoods have changed, never to return to the days of images and memories of our experiences often reflected in a TV series or movie. Beth and I live on a traditional block of 16 homes. In my youth I grew-up…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 22, 2026

Being Safe, Prayers All Will Be Safe Where was your safe place as a child and later as a teen? Who were the individuals or groups who taught you about safety and provide you safety as a child…as a teen. Today, who are you teaching about safety and being free from harm? In what ways…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for Match 15, 2026

A Writing About Balancing The Quiet & The Noise A writer of people’s stories placed a recording microphone in a city park. His sign, asked a simple question, Who Inspired You? The resulting stories were of teachers, grandparents and the encouragement of others. I would add these similar signs: Who Gave You Comfort? Who Listened…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 8, 2026

Meaningful Insights of the Week This week’s Sunday Letter will highlight several insights, words and phrases I have read or heard this week. Friends and family members who give us support continue to change, shift as illness, relocations, death, and lifestyle preferences reshape our circle of relationships. Hopefully, we are adding and inviting new friends,…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 1, 2026

The Unfolding of Life and Faith My parents attended a neighborhood church which meant early Sunday morning, Sunday school and back again for evening Training Union. I accepted a youthful Faith as taught to me by caring adults I knew and trusted. As I grew physically, my early faith carried me through my teen years…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 22, 2026

A Reflection and Summary of Our Monks 110 Day Journey & Their Now Return Our local Monks, now with national and international followers, have returned to their home Temple grounds from their 110 day Walk for Peace. I humbly add my thoughts to the writers who know more and better described the people, events and…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 15, 2026

Practice For Lives Well Lived There have been two large events taking over my notepad and content of this week’s Sunday Letter. The first and most significant was the returning home of Ft. Worth’s own Buddhist Monks. On Saturday, Beth and I joined thousands of others in anticipating the final miles of their so very…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 8, 2026

Continuing To Encourage Believers to Believe Yes, these are confusing days with news breaks, headlines and decisions that do not encourage an active life of hope or support for many. And yet, this is the very time when the strengthening of relationships and community connections is so important. I offer these notes as our week…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 1, 2026

Life Stages Of 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and 80.s Reels and Google easily present “What you need to know” about you or someone close to you in individual life stages. I was still achieving in my 50’s and 60’s mind set and work style. I paid little attention to what would have been helpful for me…

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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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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….

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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