Letters to Peter. Donald E. Mayer

warns, affirms—but does not coerce. Sarah said it so well the other night: “God does not intervene; God invites. Invites all drivers to wear seatbelts, especially husbands and fathers.”

      God knows we say no to God a lot. Remember that Jacques Barosin portrait of Jesus Mom gave me, which I always had hanging in my office? A picture of Jesus with tears in his eyes, looking out over the city of Jerusalem. When I get home, I’ll look at it again.

      Love, Dad

      Recalling Then, Recognizing Now

      April 23, later, in flight

      Dear Peter,

      I am still on the plane. The captain just pointed out Glacier Park off to our left.

      Remember that trip? You and Tim playing around the portable bear trap cage in back of our campsite? And remember how on the way there, in some campground in Wyoming, you characteristically made friends with a couple camping in a big powerboat they were towing to Lake MacDonald? And sure enough, thanks to you we spent a marvelous day on their boat, with each of you kids taking a turn at the wheel. It was such a great time that after about six beers, the boat owner and I each finally confessed to our occupations: me, clergy, he labor-union organizer. Neither of us had wanted the stereotypes of those jobs to spoil the day. Maybe your love of power boating came from that time, Pete.