Dear Barry

October 1, 2009

Dear Barry,

Both Jeri and I miss you. As we look back on our time with MABC, you were certainly one of those people who continually inspired us and gave us strength. 

Jeri just shared the birthday card you wrote her. How thoughtful of you to remember each of us like you do.

Yeah,we‘re back from Puerto Rico now after a month there. Several years ago we found this place we seem to return to year after year. It’s a condo right on the beach and also has a large swimming pool which I swim laps in almost every day. There are also some good Caribbean restaurants nearby so we enjoy them. Then Old Town with its forts and narrow Spanish style streets is nearby and we go there regularly.

While there on this last visit I also managed to finish reading The Ilyad and completed The Odyssey, both written by Homer the great Greek author and poet. Now that I’m retired it’s such a luxury to be able to read just the books I want to read. In the past I always was reading for my work, trying to collect material and information for my preaching, etc. Over the last months I’ve been able to read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, and The General and his Labyrinth by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I read a fascinating book by Norman Mailer entitled On God. A member at MABC, Michael Magnus wrote a pretty good book entitled Unidentical Carbon Copies which I read. Maybe Michael joined the church before you left.  

My most constant spiritual reading has been in a book entitled The Essential Mystics edited by Andrew Harvey. Harvey has taken core writings from Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity and Ancient Greece and put them together in this very good book. Currently I read small portions of this book almost every morning.

Jeri and I have seen some pretty good movies lately including “The Informant” and “Julie and Julia.”  Also my sis says that “District 9” is a unusually good sci-fi.

It’s nice to hear about your relationship with Carmen. You mention that you have had a couple of “rough times” and “a couple of arguments.” So have we all. Long term relationships are not easy to pull off, but they are sure worth it if the two involved can keep their love, respect and deep enjoyment of each other going.  I sure hope that you and Carmen can work your relationship out if that’s what you want.

Since retiring I haven’t gotten into any volunteer involvement but I’m starting to think about it more seriously now. I’m interested in an organization called “Wounded Warriors” which works with those badly wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’ve thought of literacy work or even helping in a homeless shelter. We’ll see.

I wonder about what you are reading these days and also what you are doing in regard to your spiritual quest. I’ve always admired you greatly in this regard.

That’s it for now Barry. Thanks again for keeping in touch with us.

Let’s keep it up.

Always hoping the very best for you,