LETTERS

Hi. It’s me again, Lord, We lit the second candle of Advent this morning at church. But you know that. I’m fairly sure that second candle represents some character or some theme of this season, but I can’t find a consensus and our pastors have veered a bit off-script this year, so I’m content to…

Well, Lord, It’s me again. I’m not sure what wisdom, if any, there is in writing you a letter because you knoweth all things, my sitting down and my rising up, my restless thoughts from afar. Still, I want to believe you enjoy hearing from me in this way because you made me a man…

Dear Winn, I woke up thinking “I oughta dispatch a letter to Winn.” Why in the world the voice in my head chose to use the word “dispatch” I do not know, but there it is. Its actually a fine word, maybe even a good choice to use as a title if we ever publish…

Dear Winn, Its Sunday here. I suppose it is where you are too. I thought it was going to be a hectic Sabbath, but things eased up around noon and we’ve enjoyed a lazy afternoon, kind of like those Sunday afternoons in September when there’s a game on plus an autumn chill in the air so…

Dear Winn, Well, some folks celebrated the dickens out of yesterday, it being the summer solstice. For me it was simply Wednesday although I must admit the day did feel like it went on forever and ever. But hey, congratulations to us on making it to another summer! Ready or not, here we go, I…

Dear Winn, I realize this is the second letter I’ve sent to you this week, but I’ve got something on my mind, something important, and I believe such important things need to be said while its still light outside, so to speak. So here goes. I’ve had a hard time shaking off the death of the…

Dear Winn, Thank you for your letter. I miss you too, my friend, and yes, until then, letters will have to do. We’re gradually settling into a summer rhythm here, which is like past summers and is also unlike past summers. Each season’s a little different, huh? Will and Sarah are home from college. They’re both…

Things have been a bit quiet here lately. That fault is entirely my own. I put together and self-published a poetry collection – The Jubilee – and so my attention has been focused there. Plus life has been rather busy this spring and, well, let’s just say its been busy. A few of you have…

Dear Winn, A lot has happened since our last exchange. You successfully defended your dissertation, and soon the University of Virginia will hood you (right?) and we can call you Dr. Collier. I’m so amazingly proud of you, my friend. And that you were able to do your dissertation on Wendell Berry’s fiction, man, that’s…

Dear Winn: Well, tomorrow’s Wednesday, the first day of March. And also Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. I think I’ve told you before that as a young Baptist boy the only lint I knew was what I pulled out of the dryer vent a couple of times a week. I’m quite sure I…