SO FAR, SO GOOD
The Memoir of Bob Mendelsohn
WELCOME TO “SO FAR, SO GOOD”
This is a collection of memories that explain how I got to my 75th year—from Kansas City through New York and Sydney—and goes well beyond geography. Come on this journey and meet some other people, and maybe climb a few hills together with me.
Each story reveals a bit more about my life, and I can honestly tell you—so far, so good.
LATEST CHAPTER: CHAPTER 23
The Many Lives of One Life
Remembering my life has brought back far more than dates and places. There have been extraordinary people, unexpected opportunities, moments of laughter, and lessons I never imagined learning. From gatherings of believers to Camp Gilgal, from family memories to friendships across the years, all these experiences have helped shape who I am and who I’m still becoming. I don’t regret the journey, even its difficult stretches. These are the many lives that make up my one life. And as the sun sets on this chapter of remembering, I can still say, with gratitude, so far, so good.
EARLIER CHAPTERS
INTRODUCTION
Emotions on Sharing My Life Story
Why write a memoir? Why write it now? In this brief introduction, I explain the reasons for preserving family stories and why age 74 seemed the right time to begin this journey.
CHAPTER ONE
Early Days in Kansas City
Some scenes in Prairie Village, my first words, my first book sale, and so much more.
CHAPTER TWO
Prairie Village Settings
Bookshop Judaica, “The Knife,” neighbourhood adventures, and life in the little subdivision of Meadowlake.
CHAPTER THREE
Meet the Parents
Family history, personalities, values, and the people who shaped the world I was born into.
CHAPTER FOUR
The Magic of Play
Synagogue, Hebrew school, Jewish identity, family traditions, and the experiences that shaped my early understanding of what it meant to be Jewish.
CHAPTER FIVE
Dreaming
High school, friendships, growing independence, and the experiences that began moving me beyond the comfortable boundaries of childhood.
CHAPTER SIX
Becoming Me
The experiences that shaped who I became, from childhood through adulthood. Some were intentional, others were surprises, but each contributed something to the person I am today.
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CHAPTER SEVEN
Adventures along the way
From climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to student protests and other adventures, I’ve found myself in some unexpected places over the years. Sometimes I went looking for adventure; sometimes adventure found me.
CHAPTER EIGHT
When Confidence Outruns Preparation
I’ve often been willing to jump into things before I was entirely ready. Sometimes confidence carried me through; sometimes it taught me that courage and preparation are not quite the same thing.
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CHAPTER NINE
Son of the Commandment (Testimony Part 1)
My bar mitzvah at thirteen was a pivotal moment. I took being Jewish seriously, and in the years that followed I became increasingly committed to religious observance. But trying harder and doing more eventually left me wondering why it never seemed to be enough.
CHAPTER TEN
Is There Another Way? (Testimony Part 2)
I dropped out of university and took to the road, searching for peace, meaning and something real. But this wandering hippie discovered uncomfortable contradictions within himself, and a disastrous family Passover brought my search to a breaking point. Then three unexpected people began talking to this fiercely Jewish young man about Jesus—and, for the first time, I became curious enough to listen.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Saying Yes (Testimony Part 3 of 3)
I dropped out of university and took to the road, searching for peace, meaning and something real. But this wandering hippie discovered uncomfortable contradictions within himself, and a disastrous family Passover brought my search to a breaking point. Then three unexpected people began talking to this fiercely Jewish young man about Jesus—and, for the first time, I became curious enough to listen.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Most Important Decision
I had a punch list for the woman I would marry: Jewish, beautiful, smart, rich—and long straight hair didn’t hurt. Then Patty Lisson came along and failed some rather important items on my list. Somewhere between dating, breaking up, falling in love again, and one spectacularly clumsy proposal involving a box of knives and baby-shower wrapping paper, I discovered that choosing a wife had less to do with my checklist and much more to do with recognizing the woman God had put in my life.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The People Who Shaped Me—and What Comes Next
Some people leave fingerprints on your life without ever knowing quite how deeply. Pastors, mentors, friends, and fellow travellers taught me about faithfulness, persistence, flexibility, and simply keeping on. Now, in my 75th trip around the sun, I find myself looking both backward with gratitude and forward with curiosity. I don’t know what comes next—for ministry, family, Patty and me, or even this memoir. But perhaps that’s all right. There are still plans to make, people to serve, places to go, and maybe, eventually, just one thing to do each day.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The Miracle of the Potato Salad
My parents refused to attend our wedding, and for a while it seemed Patty might never really be welcomed into my family. Then came a Father’s Day barbecue, a bowl of potato salad, and one tiny bite from my dad. Somehow, no bacon in the potato salad began to undo years of assumptions—and a couple of years later, the birth of our son Nate challenged my dad’s theology even more. Sometimes reconciliation arrives in very unexpected ways.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Welcomed—but Not Always
Missionary travel has taken me to some remarkable places—from speaking to eleven thousand people in Seoul to a little church of forty the following week, and from Japan and Thailand to many visits to Singapore. But some of the moments I remember best weren’t about the size of the crowd or the place at all. One Shabbat in Singapore I was welcomed at lunch, asked to leave by the rabbi, and later that same day greeted with open arms by Christians who called me “Brother Bob.” Along the way I’ve learned something about being noticed, accepted and loved—and about love being much more than a feeling.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Pictures I Couldn’t Leave Out
Some memories need a story. Others just need a photograph. These are some of the pictures I couldn’t find another place for, but couldn’t bear to leave out: family, friends, travels, ministry, celebrations, ordinary days and people I love. From Chicago and Washington to Sydney, Seoul and Moscow, they span decades of a life that has been wonderfully full. There are tens of thousands more photographs tucked away on Flickr, but these few still fill my heart with joy. So rather than explain them all, I’ll let the pictures—and their captions—tell their own stories.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Embracing the Signs of Ageing
Getting older is easy. Getting old is another matter. The signs are harder to miss: friends are passing, names sometimes escape me, stairs seem steeper, but I’m discovering that slowing down isn’t a bad thing. I still have plenty to do—books to finish, a website to maintain, podcasts to make, and life to enjoy. This is less about how much I can fit in and more about pacing myself so I can finish what I’ve begun.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Life in 3 Words
If I had to describe my life in just three words, what would they be? The apostle John gave me the answer. Four times he described himself simply as “the disciple whom Yeshua loved.” After years of seeking approval, learning some difficult truths about myself, and discovering again that faith rests not on my performance but on God’s grace, mercy and love, my three words have become very clear: Loved by God. That’s my answer, and I’m sticking to it.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
What I Hope to Leave Behind
I’ve accumulated plenty of memories—and more than a few regrets. But I’d like to be remembered, not for accomplishments. Rather as someone who cared, who was loved by God, and who let biblical truth keep changing him. And if there’s something worth leaving to the generations behind me, it’s this: love God, love your neighbour, live with hope, and find someone into whom you can pour your life. Eventually, each of us must pass the torch.
CHAPTER TWENTY
The Pastors who spoke into my life
It only looksl ike a list, but these are people, real men adn women, who spiritually influenced me to keep me on the right path. I’m a grateful man.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
The Gifts I Never Expected
Reconnecting with classmates after forty years, adventures with my grandsons, and the opportunity to serve people affected by the war in Ukraine have all brought me enormous satisfaction. Each experience reminds me how much I’ve been given, how many people have enriched my life, and how much I have to be thankful for.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Love One Another
I’ve called this memoir So Far, So Good, not because life has been without pain or difficulty, but because God has been faithful through it all. As I look ahead, my message to those I love is remarkably simple: Love God, love one another, care for the weak, and be kind. The apostle John apparently repeated that message throughout his final years. It’s worth repeating today. And don’t forget to care for the older ones among us. We may need you!