Tag: writing
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A Good Story for Monday

Walter, a man who valued ordinary days, encounters a boy named Micah struggling with a broken bicycle. After helping him, Walter reflects on the importance of small acts of kindness. His perception shifts, revealing that ordinary moments can carry deep significance and that love and grace often come through life’s interruptions.
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The Radio Link and the Soul: What Forty-Seven Years in Rural Infrastructure Have Taught Me About Work, Technology, Life, and Faith

I remember standing out at a metering station back in 2007, somewhere off a caliche road you wouldn’t find unless you already knew where you were going. East Texas co-op site. Quiet place. The kind where you can hear the wind before you see it. That radio link we were depending on had been put…
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The Radio Link and the Soul: What Forty-Seven Years in Rural Infrastructure Have Taught Me About Work, Technology, Life, and Faith

The author reflects on the challenges faced in maintaining outdated technology in rural systems, emphasizing the emotional burden it brings. Despite operational constraints, they advocate for shared responsibilities and spiritual integration as solutions. They stress the importance of resting, mourning changes, and recognizing that meaning extends beyond technical reliability and is rooted in faith and…
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Echoes

The author reflects on poignant memories, termed “echoes,” from his life that resonate deeply over time. These include moments with his father by the Neches River, playful interactions with his son Joshua, and precious family snapshots. Such echoes emerge from love in ordinary circumstances, reminding us of what truly matters.
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How to Stay Informed Without Losing Your Peace

In today’s fast-paced information environment, the urgency of news can overwhelm clarity and peace. While global issues demand attention, individuals should focus their energies on manageable responsibilities, such as community and integrity. By limiting news intake and prioritizing facts over emotional narratives, one can cultivate a sense of stability and informed citizenship.
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What really matters
You know the moment: Young George (and later the adult George) steps up to the old countertop device, closes his eyes, crosses his fingers, whispers his grandest dream—”I wish I had a million dollars”—and then squeezes the lever. A small, reliable flame springs to life on the very first try. His eyes snap open, he…
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December 5, 1927 – September 6, 2013
🎂 Happy Birthday, Dad Today we celebrate Robert E. Hargrove—a man who showed us that the greatest gifts aren’t found in stores, but on the banks of the Neches River. Dad gave us something precious: a love of the outdoors and the simple joys of being together. Camp Hargrove was his classroom, and we were…
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Carrying Weight, Seeking Light
Carrying Weight, Seeking Light Over the past several weeks, I’ve noticed a pattern rising in my heart—a mix of heaviness and hope, grief and gratitude, pressure and purpose. The holiday season always magnifies what is present in the soul, and this year is no different. I find myself remembering the people who shaped me, the…
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Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Robert Edwin Hargrove December 5 2025
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Robert Edwin Hargrove December 5 2025 Born December 5, 1927 — Buna, TexasPassed September 6, 2013 — Buna, Texas Today we honor the birthday of Robert Edwin Hargrove, a man whose steady presence shaped his family, strengthened his community, and left an enduring mark on Buna and Jasper County.…
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What I Would Tell You Now
For Joshua Blake Hargrove from John Hagrove his dad June 2025 1984–2002 My son, If I could sit across from you today—twenty-three years after you left this world—I would begin with the words that still rise unbidden in my heart: I miss you. Every day. Not with the same sharp ache as before, but with…