Stories
Over the years I have lived in two camps. The first camp consists of my children, who now say to me, “Dad, not that story!” The second camp includes the various audiences to whom I have spoken. They have asked, “Have you written that story down anywhere?” This section of stories arises out of these two responses. I will never forget the day my son came to me and put a tape recorder in front of me and said, “Dad, start telling your stories.” At the time my sarcoidosis was active again and my family had to make many adjustments in their lives for a father who could not be with them even though he was present in their midst. These stories are dedicated to the people who shared their lives with me and to my family who lived their lives with me. Thank you.
- A Tribute to a Visitor ()
Good morning, it is February 29. Leap year is upon us. An additional day has been given, if only for a moment of quietness and contemplation. The storm all the weather people have been predicting hit us with a vengeance. I looked out the window, sipped on a cup of hot chocolate and sat down on […]
- Jasper the Calf, Part Seven ()
Once again it was time in the preacher’s life to downsize. There were boxes of papers that had become less and less meaningful since their creation. Every year it seemed fitting to identify files, books and other memorabilia that needed to be discarded. In no way did that guarantee their demise. In reality, things often […]
- Jasper the Calf, Part Six ()
Many years had come and gone. The preacher was not young anymore. He was back in the city. The days in the small town on the ranch all had become memories tucked away for another time. He was sitting at his desk when the phone rang. The person on the other end of the line […]
- Jasper the Calf, Part Five ()
“Am I glad you’re here. That calf went through the fence again. There he is, clear down the road. You are the only one who can get him back here. Go get him, I’ll hold breakfast for you.” Those were common words, often they were one sided. The preacher was off and running again. The […]
- Jasper the Calf, Part Four ()
The short time for the young preacher to be at the church was drawing to an end. For him it was to be an interim moment to test a call. At the end of the summer the invitation came from the people of the little church asking him to stay. The church, as well as […]
- Jasper the Calf, Part Three ()
It was a gray day. The clouds were overcast and it looked like rain. The calves had been moved to the branding pen and everything was in place. The fire was hot and the branding irons had started to glow a reddish orange. The young preacher had always heard that because of the toughness of […]
- Jasper the Calf, Part Two ()
It was a warm day accented by an intermittent cool breeze. It was a day when the ranchers were going to do the branding. The young preacher had been there a short while and had never known what the branding process was like. He wasn’t sure he was fitting in. He never really got started […]
- Jasper the Calf ()
The man at the pulpit was young. He was about to preach his first sermon in his first church. He had bought a new suit at Penneys. The pin stripes were white against blue. The congregation, about 25 in size, sat to hear what words would come from God through this new servant in town. […]
- The Final Chapter: Every Dream Must End ()
Chapter 5 Ruth and I were driving down the street in her Pontiac. She loved that car. She surprised me one day when she said, “Why can’t we get something that’s more sporty?” “You know something that looks like, you know, different!” “Let’s buy a sports car,” she said. In the back of my mind […]
- The Dream Goes On… ()
Chapter 4 The year was almost over. If I remember correctly I had 365 days to bring the car into Canada. Ruth and I bought a one-way ticket to Minneapolis. We were met at the airport and drove to Grantsburg. We visited for a few days. Each day I took the Toronado for a test […]