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


  • Idleness

    Neither Idle nor Idolatrous

    As a new Lord’s Day dawns, it seems fitting that we remind ourselves of the power and purpose of the precious privileges of hearing from God, speaking to God, and belonging to God. As Christians through the centuries have pondered these means of grace, these key habits of the Christian life, they have always felt…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (January 24)

    A La Carte: Who is rich and who is poor? / The new rise of stoicism / A new hymn / When your daughter becomes a mother / The fruit of kindness / How we worship / and more.

  • The Humility Project

    The Humility Project for Men

    I have lots of good memories from the various conferences I have been to through the years, but there is one that often stands out. I was one of many speakers at a counseling conference and, at some point, the speakers were invited to join together for a group activity. We were given the option:…

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (January 23)

    A La Carte: Escaping the touchscreen trap / A censorious spirit / John Piper on the best religion / The evil of envy / The men God uses / Managing email well / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (January 22)

    A La Carte: Suffering as spiritual formation / Save the humanities from the slop / Dying to give / Someone is getting played / Using gifts or burning out? / Preparing to pray / and more.