Author Archives: chappelltemple

The fierce storms that rolled through our Houston area neighborhood last night, with more thunder and lightning than I can ever remember hearing and seeing, made me think of him.  For it was on a hot summer’s day in 1505 that … Continue reading →

He was only twenty-four when he wrote the words, so we can forgive him if he got it a little wrong.  For while beautifully extolling the virtues of “old friends,” Paul Simon posed the question, “can you imagine us years from … Continue reading →

(For many years it has been my practice to write a new poem each Advent.  Here’s my offering for 2022.) Amidst the changes bold and deep That sometimes steal away my sleep Your promises You always keep Emmanuel And when the … Continue reading →

When they dropped me off at my dorm in Dallas, I’m fairly sure than neither my parents nor I had any idea of what was actually happening that day.  For though I went home for holidays many times after I moved … Continue reading →

It felt a little like watching the odometer turn over in my car.  For when my watch hit “1,461 days” this morning it seemed momentous to me indeed.  Because for four years now—through hurricanes, heat waves, and hotel parking lots—I’ve not missed … Continue reading →

It’s an odd word to modern ears, but it all goes back to the original Roman calendar which divided the year into ten months, beginning with one dedicated to the Roman god of war, Mars.  The days were then counted down … Continue reading →

It’s long been my practice to write a new poem for each Advent season.  With the experiences of 2021 still fresh in all of our minds, here’s my effort for this year: In days of cheer and days of fear The … Continue reading →

(As we come to the 400th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving in 1621, I have updated one of my earliest posts from nine years ago to reflect on just how amazing the journey of those Pilgrims truly was.) Despite the … Continue reading →