92 Comments
Sep 18Liked by Matt Labash

Irrepressibly gorgeous and heartbreaking. Psalm 144 has been my meditation this last week, your wife's interjections, the Kristofferson clip, the bloodied stranger....you got the full spectrum in there. I saw a young guy in a fit of rage beside the road once, pulled over and had a similarly profound experience. So inspiring, thanks for sharing.

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Just a blessing Matt!

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Awesome Matt! Thought of you when I read this today: https://www.facebook.com/share/M2vx4GqejdnMF8sG/?mibextid=WC7FNe

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I stumbled upon this by accident but this was perfect reading for a a Sunday afternoon. A great lesson in caring. And I loved your wife’s sermon and the Kris Kristofferson YouTube. I had seen and liked it before but had forgotten the story of why he wrote it. Touched me to the core.

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I love this!

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I am not sure which I appreciate more. Matt helping Roy. Or Alana helping everyone. I think in a good way it is a tie. Thank you.

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Beautiful and grace-filled. More comments likely to come, but first I need to absorb this for reasons both personal and pastoral. I’m likely to quote your wife when I guest-preach next Sunday. I’ll be sure to credit her. Grace and peace to you, your bride, your pup and your new Luke 10.29-37 brother. Deo gratia, Matt. Godspeed.

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Beautiful and grace-filled. More comments likely to come, but first I need to absorb this for reasons both personal and pastoral. I’m likely to quote your wife when I guest-preach next Sunday. I’ll be sure to credit her. Grace and peace to you, your bride, your pup and your new Luke 10.29-37 brother. Deo gratia, Matt. Godspeed.

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One of your better pieces, probably because it had absolutely nothing to do with politics and everything to do with life. And not surprising that the guy who nearly three years ago wrote in an early posting of the Tide titled 'Surprise' the following: "Maybe we're never done with struggle. We are after all human. But that's okay. The human strugglers are welcome here"... not surprising that he'd pick up a struggler and for a few moments share his world while helping him get home. Good on ya' for that.

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I am reading “The Way of the Hermit”. I think you will like the book. I just finished reading a chapter about fishing in his part of Scotland

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Oof, Cynthia. You're ringing a lot of my bells there. Fishing. Scotland. Hermits. Will check it out, thanks.

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That makes me so happy! I love your Substack

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Thank you, dear.

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What a lovely story., I cired a lot, in a good way

I am a huge Kinks fan, always thought they were way underrated, but, I had never seen this video and hadn't heard this song...Kris is pretty cool too, and I also had never heard this song, or seen that video, thanks

( Sorry I am late as usual...been suffering some frustrating medical issues along with just too much going on in politics...)

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You okay there, Angie? (Medically, not politically -- we know the latter's a bleak prognosis.)

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Aug 30·edited Aug 30

Not so much, I was diagnosed with "DRY" macular degeneration last December...it has been stable till two weeks ago when my right eye decided to suddenly go "wet"..left is doing fine still...but that change meant the shots in the right eye, which aren't as bad as you would imagine, but still not fun. I am alread deaf in my left ear, and they never could tell me wht that happened, so the prospect of going blind too is scary...the good news is , I caught it fast enough the retinal specialist says the shots should work well to keep me from that happening

I also found out I have osteoporosis...which these two mean more drugs...sigh

Then Tuesday my left knee what had been mildly bothering me for a few months, suddenly got so bad, I couldn't walk , it still hurts, saw the Dr, it is most likely osteo arthritis...proably related to the bone loss form the osteoporosis ...got X=rays today, and a script for steroids for the pain as I won't see the Ortho Dr till later next month...

I don't want to sound like I am whining...I am just so frustrated with all the bad luck I have and seems like I can't catch a break...so many bad things have happened that I can't control..I joke there must be a black cloud hanging over me...lol...my optimist take is that it could be life threatening, like the cancer coming back..OTOH, I am still in the dating market, and I feel like each new problem lowers my chances...lol

And I HATE getting old...lol

I hope you aren't sorry you asked, I appreciate your concern

I do have the next three days off, hopefully that will help

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Holy crap! When it rains it pours. Here's hoping the good Lord lends you an umbrella, stat. You've earned it. Also, use Biofreeze on that knee, if you haven't tried it. Had relatively cheaply at Amazon. I slathered myself in it when rehabbing my knee for over year, after an ACL replacement. (And now look at me! I'm dominating the NFL again!) It smelled like a menthol factory around these parts for a good while, but it works pretty well.

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Thanks Matt, and you made me laugh, which helps

And thanks for suggestion, I have a cold pack I could use, but it is impossible to find a way to make it stay on a knee...lol

I will go look it up now...

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I like your comments here as much as over at the Dispatch!

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Aug 30·edited Aug 30

Aww, thank you BP

I am pretty consistent I think...

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Matt, such a great piece. I am so glad that I read your tribute piece when PJ O'Rourke passed away. I hope you stay in touch with "Roy". We all need helping hands to guide us on our journey through life.

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thank you. and your wife.

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Great story, Matt. And, as usual, great music choices. Kris’s poetry, especially this song, seldom fails to move me to tears.

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Damn that was good. I’m sitting in far away land hotel before heading for two glorious weeks floating a river flyfishing. I realize how lucky I am, even though I deleted about a thousand political posts and dealing with spastic internet. Sure glad this the last and only thing I’ll read. Keep up the great work you’re in charge until I get back

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Thanks for a great story, Matt. Really enjoyed this one.

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