november 18th – inside/out

Hi Sweetheart,

It’s  Sunday morning just before lunch and I wanted to get a jump on writing you today.  I didn’t go back to sleep after breakfast, due to a persistent cough, so I worked on trying to finish the Peretti book.  I was really hoping that while laying there in bed reading I would doze off.  But just when I had gotten the cough suppressed and felt close to sleep, they opened the cell doors for church.

The odd thing that I have discovered is that when we tune the TV into the channel that carries the church service, it’s already midway into the sermon.  I’m not quite sure why this happens, but it does make it hard for some of the guys to get into the message.  Especially for the newer Christians who don’t already know some of the Bible stories.

I had a neat talk with Darryl after the service.  I think I told you about him, but in case I didn’t, I’ll give you a quick description.  Tall, square-jawed white guy who looks like “Bull” from Night Court.  He’s got more energy than a person should be allowed to have, drops F-bombs as naturally, and as often, as breathing, and gives definition to the term “bull in a china shop.”  Oh, and he’s got 4 kids and a wife.  Anyway, he shared with me the story of how his dad came to Christ through a heart attack, so we had a common bond on which to build a conversation.  He’s not seeking God with a ferver, but he is looking to make some changes in his life.  He’s 40 and doing doing some soul searching and self-assessment.  I help him where I can.

Ray came back from the visit with my parents with a different kind of smile than I have seen before.  He walked up to me and I could tell he was a little misty-eyed.  Jonathan asked him if it had been a good visit and Ray just said, “Good visit, good visit.”  Then Ray looked at me and said, “My own parents don’t love me like that,” his eyes welling up with tears.  I put my arm around Ray and told him, pointing ahead with my finger, “Let’s walk.”  So we walked and talked, and I reassured him that his parents truly loved him and that they would be here every day if they could.  I reminded him that he has several brothers and sisters that his parents are trying to raise and that their plate is full, but that does not mean that they love him any less.  I shared with him that because I am a parent, I know the feelings that they must be experiencing and that they would trade places with him if they could.  It was a good talk.  It was a time of 2 friends sharing, caring, and being there for one another.

Simultaneously, Jonathan was on the phone with Sylvia.  Apparently she had just gotten home from church and they wound up talking for quite awhile.  As I was walking with Ray I saw Jonathan motioning for me to come to the phone.  He said, “She wants to talk to you.”  So I picked up the phone and said, “Hello.”  She appreciated the opportunity to meet with you and John and mentioned that the two of you might get together again sometime in the future.  I thanked her for her prayers and handed the phone back to Jonathan.  Jonathan has been on cloud nine since the call.  Things seem to be progressing okay.

I was so glad to be able to reach you this afternoon.  The phones were packed last night and I just couldn’t wait all the way till tonight to hear your voice.  I think my timing was pretty good.  And Kayti is such a crack up.  It sounded like she had a really good time at the movies.  She mentioned the popcorn about 5 times.  She also mentioned something about monsters, so I am curious what she saw.  It was obvious when I spoke with her that she was in performance mode for the guests.  She sang her ABCs so well, I was really impressed.  Hopefully she isn’t keyed up and goes down easy for you tonight.

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