full of years

February 25, 2021

“Come out, come out, wherever you are”

By Bob Sitze

In Arcania, Current Events, Personal Power, Time

February 25, 2021

2 Min Read

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25February

Wizard of Oz fans—you know who you are—will recognize this memorable tune sung by Glinda, the Good Witch. With those words she encourages the Munchkins—more than “little people”—to come out of their hiding places so they can meet Dorothy. Why memorable? The whole story turns on whether these good folks will put aside their fears and show themselves. If they had remained in hiding, the narrativeMORE...

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February 22, 2021

Wretched individualism

By Bob Sitze

In Current Events, Lifestyle, Soul Searchings, Words

February 22, 2021

2 Min Read

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22February

1 Individualism took a hit in Texas this past week. Alongside the punishing circumstances of power outages and bursting water pipes was the realization that disregard for the common good eventually hurts everyone. Even those who thought of themselves as rugged or self-sufficient were brought to their knees—a distressing posture when your power is out and your knees are deep in freezing waterMORE...

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February 19, 2021

*Obituary tips

By Bob Sitze

In Current Events, Death/Dying, Relationships, Words

February 19, 2021

2 Min Read

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19February

If icebergs reveal only their tips—they aren’t shy, just heavy—it seems possible that obituaries might also share that characteristic. Perhaps the same heft.  In both cases, there’s more to be seen and told. I have known about this similarity—icebergs and obituaries—for years. Every day I read the Obituary section of the newspaper. I wrote obits for both my parents. I understand how theMORE...

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February 16, 2021

Honored, I’m sure

By Bob Sitze

In Arcania, Relationships, Words

February 16, 2021

3 Min Read

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16February

If you’re like me1, you may not usually be known by your 2 honorifics. In my case, retirement has meant the loss of some of them because I don’t have a 3 job title any more. My education doesn’t extend to the PhD level, nor have my peers elected me to 4 honor-laden roles. This is not a problem—there are 5 other ways to confer honor in the words we use. Recently I have remembered that seniors likeMORE...

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February 12, 2021

Unsubscribed!

By Bob Sitze

In Current Events, Relationships, Soul Searchings, Words

February 12, 2021

2 Min Read

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12February

After months of deleting unwanted e-mail messages and texts—like swatting at gnats while walking through a swamp—I recently decided to start removing myself from both the swamp and the gnats. The folks sending me information have been gracious in removing me from their mailing list. Because I spent much of my professional life distributing what I hoped was useful information to congregationalMORE...

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February 9, 2021

Tepid Torpor

By Bob Sitze

In Arcania, Current Events, Mind/Body, Soul Searchings, Words

February 9, 2021

2 Min Read

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09February

1Tepid 2Torpor I’m not sure what comes first: 3isolation, boredom or apathy. I am fairly certain, though, that all three have been working together to lull me into something close to torpor: a physiological condition best described as prolonged inactivity. Mostly I’m not a 4torporous guy. With Chris, I walk or exercise every day. Zoom-enabled worship and Bible study are part of my life. I keep upMORE...

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February 4, 2021

The household manual, Part 2

By Bob Sitze

In Arcania, Death/Dying, Lifework, Pleasure/Pain, Time

February 4, 2021

2 Min Read

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04February

As I’ve been writing a manual about our household—in printed and digital formats—I’ve also realized the benefits of this effort. Perhaps you could find similar blessings writing your own descriptions and instructions. While engaged in details-sleuthing and writing, I’ve realized that I can at the same time organize household files, simplify processes, discard unused items and remember what thisMORE...

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February 1, 2021

The household manual, Part 1

By Bob Sitze

In Arcania, Death/Dying, Pleasure/Pain, Time

February 1, 2021

2 Min Read

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01February

Here’s an idea that might be helpful…. Like me, you may have experienced what happens when an executor or adult child has to pick up the pieces of a legacy or estate when a loved one has died. Those who remain must sort through perhaps-confusing elements of normal household functioning. In too many cases, that information is scattered, hidden or non-existent. Your loss creates chaos and begs forMORE...

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January 26, 2021

Creeping out of my cave

By Bob Sitze

In Arcania, Current Events, Lifestyle, Mind/Body, Pleasure/Pain, Relationships

January 26, 2021

2 Min Read

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26January

I’m starting to anticipate that these long months of hermitage will be coming to an end. There will be a day—I’m thinking that it’ll be sunny and warm—when I can put my collection of face masks into the back of a drawer, and come out into the world without worrying about the dangers of hidden viruses being spread just by my breathing. That will be a good day, whenever and however it comes—perhapsMORE...

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January 22, 2021

Now thank we all our God!

By Bob Sitze

In Current Events, Mind/Body, Soul Searchings

January 22, 2021

2 Min Read

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22January

Sometimes it makes sense to let someone else do the writing—in this case, someone from almost 400 years ago. His name was Martin Rinckart, a Lutheran musician/pastor in Eilenburg, Germany. This fortress town was a haven for refugees from the Thirty Years War that raged during Rinckart’s entire career. It didn’t take long for famine, disease and war to take their toll on the population. When heMORE...

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