Dear Rose Park,
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving” Colossians 4:2
Every Poet Is A Thief
Dear Rose Park,
Have you ever heard the phrase “every poet is a thief”? It essentially means that thoughts, ideas, words, etc. are rarely original; but rather stolen and modified from something else. Rarely, do we reinvent the wheel; perhaps we tweak or repair the wheel but more often than not we are merely adding on to the work of those who did it before us. These letters I write are a great example; I am not reinventing the wheel through these letters. In fact, most of the inspiration for these letters comes from you all. As I’m visiting with you over coffee, saying a prayer with you in the hospital, crossing paths with you at the gas station, or even waving to you while on a run I am inspired by your thoughts, ideas, and words.
Eyes On Me
Dear Rose Park,
Growing up I played three sports throughout the year. I laced up my cleats for the soccer team in the fall, put on my goggles for the swim team in the winter, and broke in my catchers-mitt for the baseball team in the spring. I was most gifted for baseball, less gifted for swimming, and even less gifted for soccer. As an athlete on multiple team sports you become accustom to hearing the language of coaches. One of those commonly used phrases is “eyes on me.”
This Is For You
Dear Rose Park,
Simon started swim lessons this past week. From 5:30pm - 6:00pm Monday through Thursday for two weeks, Simon and I drive to the Holland Aquatic Center. It’s only been three days and he’s already having the time of his life; he loves to jump off the edge into the instructors arms, he loves to blow bubbles, and he loves to kick and splash.
The Church Library
Dear Rose Park,
Did you know that we have a church library? Did you know that it’s tucked away in the basement? Do you know we have a basement? In any case, we have a library worth of Christian resources. Sure, some of those resources are a bit out of date; I found a lot of curriculum-based resources dated in the mid-60’s and to be honest I think we still have some VHS tapes. Regardless, we have an entire room filled with the words and wisdom of fellow Christians. Some of those voices are from decades, even centuries ago and others are still alive today.
God is Here and He's Awake
Dear Rose Park,
This letter comes from the desk of our beloved elder Joe DeVette…
Do you feel like God was absent from your life, and maybe the whole world, last year? The joy of Christmas is over (hopefully you did find the joy) and the new year has begun. And, if you’re like me, you’re looking forward not only to a new year, but a better year as well. I can’t imagine that 2020 was a banner year for any of us (throughout the whole world). Where was God?
A Simple, Yet Profound Letter
What If 2020 Repeats?
Dear Rose Park,
This letter comes from our beloved elder, Marife Vander Schuur…
April 2020, I was laid off from a career that I thought defined who I am. Many of you felt the impact of 2020. For others, that meant a job loss, illness, or even a death in the family. There was a tumultuous weight of uncertainty in a world where we want a guarantee that our tomorrow is secure.
A Good Joke
Like a Baby Content in its' Mothers Arms
Dear Rose Park,
During this Holiday season, many families have various traditions. Some of these traditions may have been passed down from generation to generation; perhaps it’s singing “Silent Night” with your closest family members on Christmas Eve, sitting in front of the fireplace and hearing “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas”, or maybe even watching “Home Alone” or “Christmas Vacation” and laughing at all the scenes you’ve already watched a dozen times. In any case, the rhythm of traditions can be very meaningful to individuals and families during this Advent season.