Dear Rose Park,

Have you ever driven by a farm where horses are grazing near the road? If so, then you’ve probably seen what are called blinders on their face; these are a piece of equipment that prevents the horse from seeing behind or to the side, thus avoiding the opportunity for the horse to be spooked while near the road and fast-moving cars. Well, this past Monday I felt like one of those horses wearing blinders.

Dear Rose Park,

I’ve been spending time reading through the miraculous stories of the bible. For some of us we remember hearing these stories in golden boxes from Sunday School. We can envision the Red Sea parting as Moses led the Israelites to the wilderness. We can imagine the sights and sounds of Daniel in the lions den. We can picture the crowd gathering to receive the multiplied fish and loaves. We dream of what it must have been like to see Jesus in the flesh three days after He hung on the cross. Needless to say, the bible is certainly filled with miraculous stories.

Dear Rose Park,

On Monday morning I had coffee with an old friend at Good Earth on 7th St.; it’s my go-to place for a good bagel and a cup of coffee. If you haven’t been there, let me know, I’d love to treat you sometime. I’ve known this friend of mine for almost twenty years. We were first introduced when I was in high school. Music kept us in touch when I went to Hope College, and he even came to see me perform in a jazz concert. We fell out of touch during seminary and while I lived in Iowa, but ever since coming back to Holland we’ve reconnected. You might know him, his name is Mr. Kerry Daab.

Dear Rose Park,

”I need to be on the prayer list.” These were the first words I heard when I entered room 189 of Holland Hospital on Sunday afternoon. They worried me and gave me assurance; worry because I heard the concern in his voice but assurance because I heard the confidence in his voice as well.

Dear Rose Park,

This past Sunday I participated in the Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon in Benton Harbor, MI. If you had your eye on the forecast then you know there was a strong possibility for some nasty weather. Due to the strong winds and current the swim portion was actually cancelled. So, instead of a full triathlon it was pared down to a 56-mile bike and a 13.1-mile run. Even though we didn’t get in Lake Michigan, it was still a challenge and a great experience.

Dear Rose Park,

Yesterday morning I had coffee with Leona Vereeke. She lives on Butternut right across the street from the Speedway on the corner of James and Butternut. She’s lived in that house for 61 years, as long as her daughter Barb has been alive. When she bought the house from our beloved Pearl Riemersma, James St. didn’t exist and an orchard was across the street. Leona has seen a lot of transition and change in her 92 years, but one thing has remained constant.

Dear Rose Park,

You may have already noticed, but just in case you haven’t, there is new lighting throughout portions of the church. Due to a grant from Consumers Energy, we were able to receive free LED lighting throughout our building. These new lights will go up in stages and not only do they reduce our energy bill but they also brighten up our rooms and entryways. This is all to say, if you get a chance make sure to say ‘thank you’ not only to Hank Sybesma who made us aware of this grant but also to Rog Wolters, Jim Boeve, Jack Hartman, Art DeRoo, and Charlie Duistermars who helped install these new lights.

Dear Rose Park,

Every year Sam and I make a goal to read as many books as we can. Typically the goal is something like 15-20 books each; I know that might sound small to some avid readers, but that’s a pretty hefty goal for each of us. We enjoy reading and we’ve made it a priority to read before we go to bed. Not only does it help us go to sleep, but it also quiets our minds, eliminates the temptation to sit on our phones, and opens us up to a whole new world of conversation and thought.

Dear Rose Park,

As you know, I spent last week at Western Theological Seminary participating in my first intensive in a Doctorate of Ministry program. It was a wonderfully challenging week as I listened to lectures and engaged in conversation around the writings of Eugene Peterson. Throughout the week, I was so encouraged to get text messages, emails, and voicemails from you all wishing me luck and letting me know I was in your prayers. As I gratefully received your well-wishes, I was reminded of a picture frame that sits on my desk.

Dear Rose Park,

A few days ago, Simon and I were playing catch in the front yard. This has become a weekly rhythm of ours; we start only a few feet apart and then we slowly start to take steps back. Sometimes we use a football or a bouncy ball and other times we’ll use a softer baseball. We practice using two hands to catch, keeping our eyes on the ball, and then stepping and throwing it back. As we played and fell into a rhythm, I started to think about the church.