Skip to content ↓

Dear Neighbor

Dear neighbor,

I know that it is sometimes difficult to live in a townhouse. I know we each only have a postage-stamp-sized backyard and that sometimes you can hear us in our house just like we sometimes hear you. I sympathize.

I would like to point something out. We’ve noticed that you have a bad habit that you only indulge on the weekends that your daughters are with their father. You think you’re sneaky about it too – always making sure the dryer is on with a whole lot of fabric softener in it when you head outside. Now I assume you don’t realize this, but marijuana smoke is a much stronger smell than fabric softener. I’ll give you credit for trying, but let me tell you…it’s not working!

Now I really don’t care if you choose to smoke up – you’re a middle-aged adult and by now must know better, but you are your own boss now. I do wonder what your teenage girls would think if they found out and how you would explain it away. But honestly, we both know it’s not even a criminal offense in Canada anymore. What I do care about, though, is when my entire home starts to stink like a frat house! So please, please…do you think you could find some other place to smoke your weed? I’m tired of going up to bed, only to find my room stinking of pot.

I appreciate your consideration in this matter.

Tim


  • A Batch of New Books for Kids

    A Batch of New Books for Kids (and Teens)

    Every month I put together a roundup of new and notable books for grownup readers. But I also receive a lot of books for kids and like to put together the occasional roundup of these books as well. So today I bring you a whole big batch of new books for kids of all ages…

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (March 28)

    A La Carte: The case against the abortion pill / What I’ve learned about grieving with hope / Heartbreaking deception: teen girls, social media, and body image / Could podcasts save the church from stupidity? / Count it all joy / and more.

  • What God Wants You To Forget

    What God Wants You To Forget

    We are never far from reminding God of our credentials, of providing him with a curriculum vitae that lays out all we are, all we have been through, and all we have accomplished for his sake. We are never far from making the subtle turn from grace to merit, from what is freely given to…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (March 27)

    A La Carte: New music / Millennials and GenZ / Scotland’s new hate crime law / Cate Blanchett, Easter is for you / Why the Reformed pray for revival / What truly happened to Jesus on the cross? / and more.

  • New and Notable Books

    New and Notable Christian Books for March 2024

    As you know, I like to do my best to sort through the new Christian books that are released each month to see what stands out as being not only new, but also particularly notable. I received quite a number of new titles in March and narrowed the list down to the ones below. I…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (March 26)

    A La Carte: God delivers from the suffering he ordains / The beautiful partnership of family and church / The end of religious liberty / On whales, menopause, and thanks to God / Ordinary women, extravagant gifts / and more.