Writings, Comments, and Opinions

I adore letters. Next to a big check, the best thing I can see in my mailbox is a handwritten address and stamp from someone I correspond with. Letter writing is in decline nowadays, according to the statistics and comments I hear; for some people, I might be the only person that sends them notes anymore. This makes me sad. Sure, the telephone is more convienient, but there's no sense of permanency, no record of what we said. Of course, sometimes that's good, but not always. Electronic mail, like to my address adam@twelvefruits.com, lets one send quickly, but eliminates the touches of imperfection. I can't draw on the envelope of an email, or point out where I dropped a lettuce piece from my sandwich, or change pen colors. I like letters so much that I even care about signatures, and wrote a short page about that.

I wonder if, in fifty years, people will publish books of emails, like the old books of letters? I doubt it. Email leads itself too quickly to the short four-line reply agreeing or disagreeing, not the lengthy passion of a good paper mail. Although, I really love the ability in email to quote from what the correspondent said, and I wish I had an immediate way to do that with pencil. I'm not a total Luddite. To sit, and take the time to compose for someone (I average one letter page per hour) shows care and friendship, and I enjoy doing that. A twinge of sadness enters occasionally, that I can't see my friend in person, but generally it's good.

I probably do my best thinking in letters, because of the time involved. Despite my math abilities, and my speed in schoolwork, I'm really a contemplative in my soul, and need the patience that pen provides. Often, I consider phone calls too quick; I need time to articulate feelings. By focusing, what comes to pencil represents purity, in some way; no intermingling with logistic regression or 2NT overcalls or dinner plans or whatever else is on my mind in a day. So, I've decided to post some of my general writings on the page for y'all.

Besides the pieces linked here, my favorite TV and movies are on the TV page, while book and magazine marginalia are on the books page. If you're looking for thoughts about religious faith, and my beliefs, hop on over to the faith page. On the other side of the ledger, the power page contains information on books, articles, and such about authority, obedience, voluntary submission, and the like. Yes, there is some overlap.

Here's an listing of the older standalone pieces I've written. If you're looking for something after June 2005, or a complete list, visiting the sitemap is easier. That page has superceded this one.

• A Note on Cohabitation is here.
• How do justice, mercy, and teaching fit together? With extensions, of course.
• My memory of 9/11 in America is a streaming log one year later, which I put here.
• Oh, and here's a personal ad, along with some thoughts on courtship.
• If you're ever designing a church, and want to think about sizes, you might like the article on church seating.
• Despair is described here, along with my self-examination of the causes, loss of hope and worth. These are very painful pages, and are not for the faint of heart.
• I managed to take a one-line question from a friend and turn it into 4500 words on Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic church. Sort of an accomplishment.

Updated April 2005. For more recent standalones see the sitemap.