Everyday Incomplete
Foreword by Chris Godfrey
The quote, “I would have written a shorter letter, but did not have the time” is sometimes attributed to Mark Twain, but seems to be more reliably credited to Blaise Pascal in his Lettres provinciales of 1656-7. It reminds us that it is much more difficult to write with brevity, and that condensing a great many thoughts into a small space is a fine art.
It’s therefore a great joy to watch Piet accomplish this here for 91 devotions, concluding with Psalm 91. Contrasted all the way through are the condition of the saints in our mortal bodies—incomplete, disguised, transient, in motion without having fully arrived—with the Lord; not only is He eternal, and complete in Himself, but He meets us in our temporal limitations and reveals Himself to us. Our pilgrimage on this earth, and the blessed diversions of our journey have a sure destination in our eternal home, and the present instant has meaning in the light of His eternity. I hope you enjoy reading and considering these meditations as much as I have.
Everyday Love
Foreword by Juan Swart
Reading these letters was like strolling through the many beautiful conversations we have had spanning 42 years; each one a glimpse into the way Pieter sees. I met Pieter in 1982 and since 1987 our friendship has been separated by thousands of miles—and yet it has grown ever closer with the passing years. In this time I have seen how Pieter chooses to see what is not always obvious—to envision a different outcome than the facts in that moment suggest. The musings recorded in this book are evidence of that and are a reminder of the divinity of every minute of our day. They have encouraged me to look for the hand of a Loving God constantly at work in my life; to incline my ears to hear His whisper as I learn to “live loved”—in the confidence of His perfect leadership in my life. As you take the time to read these letters I am sure that you too will feel the urge to pick up a pen, find some paper and start writing. I pray that it births in you a desire to communicate love in a more intentional way, as together we discover more of what it means to love one another. Pieter, thank you for the encouragement that is embodied in these letters.
