dual personalities

Month: August, 2025

August 14, 2025

Life flows in a clear stream

by chuckofish

The summer is drawing to a close. The boy and the twins took a last trip to the zoo before school starts and rode the train. I had lunch with my old friend and former administrative assistant and heard all about the goings on at the university. I took the Mini in for an oil change.

Katie starts kindergarten today! She met her teacher yesterday and wore her favorite dress which belonged to her aunt back in the day.

I am looking forward to September and the return (hopefully) to some semblance of my old routine.

Life goes on and I am grateful.

“I had turned away from the picture and was going back to the world where events move, men change, light flickers, life flows in a clear stream, no matter whether over mud or over stones.”

–Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim

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August 13, 2025

Covenant

by chuckofish

Daughter #1 sent a photo of a rainbow yesterday evening and I ran outside to see…

As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.

(Ezekiel 1:28)

Awesome.

I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.”

(Genesis 9:11)

For more on the rainbow as the sign of God’s covenant, read this.

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August 12, 2025

Walk of life

by chuckofish

The twins came over yesterday morning so their parents could go to work (school doesn’t start until next week). Lottie and I did another Hobby Lobby craft. The bud said no thanks and brought up tubs of Lego from the basement to play with. Then they went upstairs and entertained themselves while I puttered around. Then we went to the Sunnyside cafe where they wolfed down dinosaur pancakes and bacon and read the hilarious riddles on the kids menu.

Then I took them to their Dad’s store where they are allowed to look at iPads. They are happy kids. Praise God.

In other news, I am re-watching all the seasons of Only Murders in the Building in preparation for the fifth season which begins in September. What can I say? I just love Charles, Oliver and Mabel and the plot twists and turns of the show. I love what the show says about friendship and loneliness and families. It is the best thing on TV.

We also want to mention that it is the birthday of Cecil B. DeMille (August 12, 1881 – January 21, 1959), legendary American filmmaker. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of American cinema and the most commercially successful producer-director in film history. So we should all pick one of his films to watch. He made a lot of good ones.

It is also Mark Knopfler’s birthday. We have been fans for a long time.

Of course.

So watch a good movie, listen to some good music, praise God from whom all blessings flow.

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August 11, 2025

Abide with me

by chuckofish

How was your weekend? Daughter #1 and I worked on the basement some more, keeping this…

…always in mind.

The sermon on Sunday was about Psalm 23, which we read, of course, at the OM’s funeral. The scripture reading was John 10:7-30, which includes: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” (Our pastor shared that with the OM on the night he died.) All the hymns were about the good shepherd and we sang On Jordan’s Stormy Bank I Stand, which is a favorite.

Never forget that God promises his presence no matter what our suffering is. His sheep are safe. My cup runneth over.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

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August 8, 2025

Infinite serenity

by chuckofish

Well, it’s Friday again. The summer is winding down…Daughter #2 and her family are in Michigan…

…and the boy and his family are in Oklahoma.

I am looking forward to a quiet weekend after a very busy week. Tonight daughter #1 and I are venturing out to a special lecture by Mark Meynell, a Church of England priest, who is speaking at my church. I’m not sure what to expect, but we’ll see.

O GOD MOST HIGH, MOST GLORIOUS,

The thought of thine infinite serenity
      cheers me,
For I am toiling and moiling, troubled
    and distressed,
  but thou art for ever at perfect peace.
Thy designs cause thee no fear or care
    of unfulfilment,
  they stand fast as the eternal hills.
Thy power knows no bond,
  thy goodness no stint.
Thou bringest order out of confusion,
  and my defeats are thy victories:
The Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
I come to thee as a sinner with cares and sorrows,
  to leave every concern entirely to thee,
  every sin calling for Christ’s precious blood;
Revive deep spirituality in my heart;
Let me live near to the great Shepherd,
  hear his voice, know its tones, follow its calls.
Keep me from deception by causing me to abide
    in the truth,
  from harm by helping me to walk in the power
    of the Spirit.
Give me intenser faith in the eternal verities,
  burning into me by experience the things I know;
Let me never be ashamed of the truth of the gospel,
  that I may bear its reproach,
  vindicate it,
  see Jesus as its essence,
  know in it the power of the Spirit.
Lord, help me, for I am often lukewarm and chill;
  unbelief mars my confidence,
  sin makes me forget thee.
Let the weeds that grow in my soul be cut
    at their roots;
Grant me to know that I truly live only
    when I live to thee,
  that all else is trifling.
Thy presence alone can make me holy, devout,
    strong and happy.
Abide in me, gracious God.

–The Valley of Vision

Have a good weekend! Go to church!

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August 7, 2025

Thursday reflections

by chuckofish

Today we remember John Mason Neale (1818-1866), Anglican hymn writer, who is remembered on the Anglican and Episcopal Church calendars today. He wrote some really good hymns, including one of my favorites, Jerusalem the Golden:

Jerusalem the golden!
With milk and honey blest;
Beneath your contemplation
Sink heart and voice opprest.
I know not, oh! I know not,
What joys await us there,
What radiancy of glory,
What bliss beyond compare.

This is an interesting article about the time a famous photographer came to St. Louis in the summer of 1926 and took pictures. St. Louis hasn’t changed all that much and neither has the weather.

Also this video about spiders from the John 10:10 Project is fascinating.

My grandchildren are all horrified by spiders, but I tell them that most of them are our friends and help keep down the insect population. Their webs are amazing!

In other news, I continue to check things off my to-do list, including selling the OM’s car. 🎉🎉🎉 This is a load off my heavily laden mind.

“Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” (Gen. 35:3)

Stop and reflect, our faith is strengthened by the difficult things God has brought us through. Trust God in the present as well as for the future. 

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August 5, 2025

All in a day’s work

by chuckofish

While other people were busy packing boxes and moving things around, Katie and I worked on a craft project, which I bought at Hobby Lobby. We were so proud of ourselves when we completed it! Katie is very crafty!

Meanwhile the two boys did so much work, toting that barge and lifting that bale…

At bedtime Katie said, “Daddy and Uncle Wheelah did so many things. How could two guys be SO strong?” Indeed. We are also working on the OM’s office and reorganizing the basement. Daughter #1 is incredibly decisive–throw it away!–which I appreciate.

Well, today the prairie girls head home and I get back to work on my to-do list. What are you up to?

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

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August 4, 2025

Delighting in your will

by chuckofish

Well, how was your weekend? I crossed things off my to-do list and added yet more things. I drank a prodigious amount of wine with daughter #1 and ate dips. I made it to church where I recognized our corporate confession of sin from the BCP:

Most merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent,
for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Needless to say, I take this much more seriously than when I was an Episcopalian. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

Daughter #2 arrived avec famille on Sunday afternoon and soon DN will be taking apart our twin beds which have been used by sisters in my family since the 1930s…

…and will grace the bedroom of a fourth generation shortly.

I mean, isn’t that great? DN and the boy will set up a full size bed later today in the bedroom where the twin beds were, so we will end up par for the course. They will then load up a rented truck with the twin beds (and more stuff) and DN will drive it back to Illinois on Tuesday. I am very happy that they are taking things!

Life is good. Carry on.

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August 1, 2025

Oh beautiful for spacious skies

by chuckofish

Well, I made it to Mahomet and home again!

I do love that northern part of the drive through cornfield after cornfield. I have learned with age to appreciate it. Flat and monotonous it may be to some, but it represents the very heartland of our great country, the fruited plain, to me.

Now August is here! When I left St. Louis on Tuesday it was 95 degrees, but now, following some rain, it is 20 degrees cooler and the forecast for the weekend is lovely. I hope we can fit in some driveway sittin’!

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