March 16, 2009
Jaffa
Dear Jaffa,
I’m excited to see you again! This Friday I’ll be on your soil and with a group of people I’m excited to share your story. I’m overwhelmed at how your story is so simple but influential in starting to bring the message of salvation to the Gentiles. Thanks for hosting the stories of Tabitha, Cornelius, Peter and Jonah. They have become profoundly significant to me tonight as I have deepened my understanding of all that your eyes have seen. Continue to teach me more and open my eyes to be a learner as much as a teacher on this journey ahead.
Matt
March 11, 2009
CR&R Waste Services
Dear CR&R Waste Services,
This week I got you! Every Thursday morning I wake up to the sound of the trash truck rushing up my street to pick up my trash. It’s not that I am sleeping in too late. You guys come at like 6am!!! What’s the deal?!? Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate that you got up at 4:30am to jump in a truck in the cold and haul my junk away, but you are a little too efficient for my taste. (Those who know me just gasped that I just said that.)
My problem is that despite all of my organizational and administrative prowess, there are a few weak areas in my life I have not yet mastered, or even come close. Blockbuster video, I can’t return any of your movies on time. Any library. I thought libraries are supposed to be free, but I might as well buy the books with the amount of late charges I pay. That $15 that I still owe Brian Eschen from Biola days. I can’t remember why you gave me the money, but I remember that I still owe you.
And, you, CR&R. Why can’t I remember on Wednesday night to bring out the trash cans? When I pull into my driveway on Wednesday night, I see everyone else’s trash cans sitting on the street, but for some reason develop some sort of amnesia when I walk through the door. I actually disdain my next door neighbor who has his cans out two days early, and even worse, brings the cans back in within minutes of the trash being dumped. That’s a whole other letter that needs to be written.
So, after weeks of humiliation, of constantly forgetting to bring the trash cans out to the curb, after using my one free “oops” card for the year by January 2 when you will come back and dump my trash later that day even though I forgot, and after I had to label my black, blue and green trash cans all as trash (and not recycle and green waste) so you would take them all away, I think I have found a solution that will work for both of us.
I have a network of friends and family on facebook and twitter who remind me every week, as well as actually having to schedule it into my calendar on repeat for every Wednesday at 9:30pm, I think I may have this problem beat. As I type you this letter right now, just 6 hours from your scheduled pick-up time, I am happy to report that my trash cans are proudly displayed on my curb just awaiting your 6am arrival.
So bring it on. I’m not forgetting anymore. And tomorrow, I’m going to beat my neighbor bringing the cans back in!
Matt
(By the way, Marilee got me my Honey Nut Cheerios, the big size from Costco even!)
Honey Nut Cheerios
Dear Honey Nut Cheerios,
The overall idea of this blog is “letters to people,” but I feel the freedom to make my own rules and choose to break the rules on this first post by writing to cereal. Yes, an inanimate object that can’t even read. I need to get this off my chest.
I’ve been avoiding you for a long time and I think it is time we make our amends. I had a bowl of you this morning and was brought back to the joy of my youth. I’m not sure what pulled us apart originally…maybe it is the fact that as a grown up adult guy, I don’t connect with the honey bee as a very strong or masculine mascot. It could also be that your cousin, regular Cheerios, is simply not as good as you and I was just turned off to the whole idea of Cheerios. Even worse, your second cousin once removed, Trader Joe’s O’s, are a staple food in our household but are usually covered in slobber. The association has been too strong to overcome.
My father-in-law Glenn has had you for breakfast faithfully EVERY morning for at least the past 30 years. I look at him and this consistency and think to myself, “Yeah, he gets it.”
If we can get past how good you taste for just a moment…you are also a good source of calcium, an excellent source of iron and 13 daily vitamins. You even lower cholesterol.
Sorry I’ve been gone this long. I intend on going to the store this week and picking up a box and hanging out every morning.
Matt
