Dear Rose Park,
In just a few hours I’ll be presiding at Nell Freehouse’s funeral service. Nell passed away Sunday afternoon at the age of 94. Nell and her husband, Bud, would’ve celebrated 76 years of marriage this coming August; their life, love, and service to the Lord are a testimony of their faith and are a living expression of the Christian life.
Dear Rose Park,
This past Saturday and Sunday were very important days for multiple reasons. The first reason we know; the second we might know but we might not have remembered. The first happened some two-thousand years ago; the second happened fifty-three years ago. The first is known for a resurrection; the second is known for an assassination.
Dear Rose Park,
It happened again. A familiar scene played out on the television. Lights are flashing, service personnel are tending to the wounded and frightened, SWAT officers are standing at the ready, FBI officials are clearly marked and armed, news trucks and cameras surround the scene, and we all stare with eyes wide and hands over our mouths at the television screen. Monday March 22, 2021 in Boulder, Colorado will be another date and city added to the list of mass shootings in the United States.
Dear Rose Park,
Music is a big deal in our family. Almost every day, music will be played around our house while the kids run from one room to the next. The ‘dance floor’ is typically in the kitchen where everyone shows off their best moves while trying not to slip and fall. Simon, in particular, loves to dance and teach Winnie his moves. Recently he’s invented a new dance move called “the elbow dance;” essentially, you just put your fists together, point your elbows out and sway back and forth to the beat of the music. Our hearts are filled with joy and laughter as we watch them carelessly and unashamedly dance.
Dear Rose Park,
The Worship Sourcebook describes the season of Lent using these words: as a period of preparation, Lent has historically included the instruction of persons for baptism and profession of faith; the calling back of those who have become estranged from the church; and efforts by all Christians to deepen their piety, devotion, and readiness to mark the death and resurrection of their Savior.
Lent is a time of preparation, not just for those who are new to the faith, but for us all.
Dear Rose Park,
In one of Jesus’ many lessons, He says, “truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Mt. 25:40). This passage of scripture is often quoted and cited as it relates to ministry to the ‘least of these.’ I’ve heard this passage over and over throughout my life, but it came to life two weeks ago.
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.
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.”
