dual personalities

Tag: spirituality

May 6, 2026

Everything’s gonna be all right

by chuckofish

Yesterday I had lunch with one of my old friends from my flyover university. In the past I have met him at his retirement community and we eat lunch there, but he wanted to go out, so I took him to Shake Shack which is nearby and has good parking. I was a little nervous about getting in and out of my car with his walker and generally maneuvering around safely, but all went well. We had a delightful time talking about poetry and J.D. Salinger, the University of Illinois, and getting older. Quite a free-wheeling conversation. He believes the universe is all particles and energy, but we recited the 23rd psalm together and it was nice.

On the way to pick him up, Joy99 played this new Matt Maher song, so I knew everything would be all right:

Why do I ever worry?

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April 30, 2026

A little history to know and tell

by chuckofish

It is the last day of April! Zut alors!

Today we celebrate the signing of the Edict of Nantes in 1598 by Henry IV of France, whereby Calvinist Protestants (Huguenots) were granted substantial rights in the nation, which was predominantly Catholic.

(The Edict of Nantes document, 1598; preserved in the Archives Nationales of France)

Of course, this edict was revoked in 1685 by King Louis XIV, and Protestantism was declared illegal. This had very damaging results for France. While the wars of religion did not re-ignite, intense persecution of Protestants took place. All Protestant ministers were given two weeks to leave the country unless they converted to Catholicism and all other Protestants were prohibited from leaving the country. In spite of the prohibition, the renewed persecution – including many examples of torture – caused as many as 400,000 to flee France. Most moved to Great Britain, the Dutch Republic, Prussia, Switzerland, and the Thirteen Colonies in North America. You may recall that I wrote recently about the father of Paul Revere, who came to Massachusetts as a 13-year old Huguenot refugee, fleeing persecution in France. 

Indeed, this exodus deprived France of many of its most skilled and industrious individuals who made up a large part of the French middle class. One can argue that the nation never quite recovered. The Revolution followed 100 years later.

But, hey, in October 1985, to commemorate the tricentenary of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, President Francois Mitterrand of France announced a formal apology to the descendants of Huguenots around the world. Oh, and they issued a special postage stamp.

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April 27, 2026

As I dwell in the land of the living

by chuckofish

How was your weekend? Our weather was perfect! The Iris continued to wow…

And even the Japanese Iris (my favorite) is blooming!

Praise the Lord!

I met with two old friends for a Diet Coke date at McD’s on Friday afternoon–until it was overrun with Middle Schoolers after school–some things never change. As daughter #2 commented, “That was such a part of my life back in the day!” Mr. Smith came over a little later and daughter #1 played Bluetooth DJ…

We had Chik-fil-a for dinner–perfect!

On Saturday I went to a gathering celebrating the Saint Louis Watercolor Society’s 30th anniversary. My friend Mirka had a painting there and we had fun catching up. Then we went to the Annex in Webster Groves to hear our friend Gary play with his Bluegrass band.

Always a good time! Live music! Wine on the patio!

On Sunday I went to church by myself and heard a good sermon on Joshua 12:1, 6-7, 24; 13:1-7. Later I was able to go to the bud’s lacrosse game in the afternoon and catch up with the boy on the sidelines.

It was a busy weekend, indeed, with more social activities than usual! Now onward to the week ahead.

Thank God for his faithfulness! Thank God the President of the U.S. is unharmed. (As Anne wrote: “I am not inclined to think of the violent deaths of public figures as some sort of mere cultural spectacle, sometimes justifiable if enough people are angry about “social” justice. As rosy fingered—more like cloudy and gray—dawn is creeping up over the horizon, it seems the first post lamenting the fact that the gunman did not succeed has already appeared.”) So put down your phone and go outside. Pull some weeds. Talk to your neighbor. Pet a nice dog. Watch an old movie all the way through. Read a book! Better yet, open your Bible!

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April 23, 2026

Oh, the sun rolls down, big as a miracle/And fades from the Midwest sky

by chuckofish

Woohoo! Iris season!

One of my old administrative assistants gave me these Iris bulbs for my birthday one year because I always admired hers so much. The OM and I planted them and they have been bringing me joy ever since.

Wow.

And my sister (and DP) sent me this song:

Hope you enjoy! (It made me cry.)

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April 16, 2026

You wait for me

by chuckofish

There are buds on the Iris plants!

We got a lot of rain last night and the tornado sirens went off, but nothing dire.

I have been listening to Ligonier’s Renewing Your Mind series and highly recommend it. R.C. Sproul launched this outreach in 1994 to help people gain a deeper understanding of who God is as their minds are renewed according to His Word. Each episode is about 25 minutes long and is well worth your time.

And from the gee-whiz-that-was-inevitable department: Hampshire College is closing. When I went to Smith in the ’70s Hampshire was the newbie in the 5-college valley–opened in 1970–and it was kind of joke even then. I mean, Elliott Smith went there. (His undergrad senior thesis was titled “Toward a Post-Structuralist Feminist Jurisprudence”. After he graduated, he “worked in a bakery back in Portland with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and legal theory”.) The story of higher education in a nutshell.

Meanwhile I am getting ready for daughter #2 and the prairie entourage to arrive tomorrow. Super fun expected. Here’s Ida’s new favorite song:

I’m sorry it took so long
I was takin’ the long way home
But You wait for me (oh-oh)
Oh, You wait for me (oh-oh)

Praise God for his patience and kindness.

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April 9, 2026

Look at the birds of the air: they do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.*

by chuckofish

I made it to the prairie! A very windy trip indeed, but I am getting the hang of it.

We have had a productive few days…

…doing puzzles, taking walks…

…organizing the girls’ room which they are are now sharing with our antique twin beds…

Good times.

Today we have another day together with plans for more organizing fun. The weather has been great, but it will probably rain when I head home tomorrow. C’est la vie.

Embrace the simple pleasures in your life and be grateful for them. The blue sky, smart kids, good food, God’s beautiful creation, encouraging friends, faithful family.

*Matthew 6:26

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April 7, 2026

A little that a righteous man has/ Is better than the riches of many wicked*

by chuckofish

Everything is greening up nicely in flyover country. I am heading up to the prairie for a few days today for some hang-out time with the girls and the prairie prince. The speedwagon is loaded up and raring to go. But first I have to vote for city council members and school board members. It is my civic duty!

And this is one of the greatest things I’ve seen in a long time:


Who knew Bluegrass was a thing in Japan?!

Look up! Pray for the day ahead. Pray that you might bring glory to God, in thought, word and deed. Thank God that his mercies are new every morning. Thank God that his grace is sufficient for all situations that you may encounter.

*Psalm 37:16

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April 2, 2026

The full extent of His love

by chuckofish

It is Maundy Thursday. I watched Sinclair Ferguson’s lesson on the Foot Washing in Five Stages–physically and theologically, in which He reveals Himself as the One who served us in order that we might serve others.

I read Luke 22 and reformed commentary on the subject of the Last Supper. And I started watching the Hillsdale College online course on C.S. Lewis.

I also listened to a barred owl outside my window last night being very talkative.

All highly recommended.

And here’s a poem by George Herbert (1593-1632): “Love”

LOVE bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
            Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
    From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
            If I lack’d anything.

‘A guest,’ I answer’d, ‘worthy to be here:’
            Love said, ‘You shall be he.’
‘I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
            I cannot look on Thee.’
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
            ‘Who made the eyes but I?’

‘Truth, Lord; but I have marr’d them: let my shame
            Go where it doth deserve.’
‘And know you not,’ says Love, ‘Who bore the blame?’
            ‘My dear, then I will serve.’
‘You must sit down,’ says Love, ‘and taste my meat.’
            So I did sit and eat.

(The photo of the grape hyacinths is from Don.)

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April 1, 2026

How’s it goin’?

by chuckofish

I did some outside work yesterday and it wore me out in, like, 15 minutes. But it’s going to rain for the rest of the week and through Easter (typical) so I wanted to get out there.

Anyway, I thought it was really cool that Gatlin Didier @gatlin_didier and his grandmother Arleta Kay Didier @grannybibbins went to the White House last week.

I guess they had a great time:

I have bought their beef (shipped nationwide) and it is excellent!

This article in the NYTimes about the end of the free-range childhood made me think of my own childhood and how my friend Leah and I would walk all over downtown Clayton, eat lunch at a diner and walk home to her house. We would ride bikes down McKnight Road over to Delmar (before highway I-70 was built) to go to some drugstore to buy candy. We would be gone for hours. We were in fourth grade–9 or 10 years old in 1966. Leah was a free-range kid to be sure and I’m not sure my mother would have approved had she really known what was going on. But I survived and was probably the better for having been pushed out of my comfort zone. My children who grew up in the eighties and nineties did not do this and the twins who are that age now would never. And I’m not sure they could do that and find their way home! Different times.

And this is cool.

Have a great day!

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March 31, 2026

Who do you say that I am?

by chuckofish

Well, it’s March 31! We are in Holy Week! What are you doing to mark that?

I am watching Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth (1977) which I still think is really well done. You can skip the first hour and move on to the part with Jesus. Robert Powell as Jesus is impressive. But James Farentino as Peter and Ann Bancroft as Mary Magdalene were never better. Truly.

I really love them both.

And watching brings back my trip to the Holy Land in 2018 and I am so glad I went. It was the trip of a lifetime. I stood in the Jordan River. Wow.

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

–Matthew 6:26-34


Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

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