HEM·ology: noun: somewhere between zoology and theology.
Life has been anything but rhythmic and mundane lately—lots of dinner dates, slumber parties, and a big, fat weekend away with friends to Broken Bow to round out our last weeks in Texas.
While bemoaning the lack of the familiar to a friend who knows me well, she said, "...Focus on the challenge of having to be creative and change pace while you’re doing these other things. And you will return to it/establish new rhythms in an even sweeter way in the future. And the return to that will be even sweeter because of the absence of it during the transition."
Enjoy these Four Great Things of the week!
One thing I have enjoyed lately is teaching myself Latin. In one chapter the book had the phrase "Festina Lente"—make haste slowly. It's now written on a piece of masking tape on my laptop. The gist of it: the quickest way to do something well is to do it properly the first time.
I found this excellent article by Christopher Perrin, a publisher and educator of classical education, explaining the history and purpose of Festina Lente. ". . . within each art there is a sequence of skills, ideas, or facts that should be mastered before proceeding forward to ongoing learning."
Canon Press is cranking out some incredible content lately. This past week I pre-ordered "How to Read a Book: Advice for Christian Readers."
It seems an obvious title, but 3 of my favorite Christian authors (Rosaria Butterfield, Vodie Bacchum, and Joe Rigney) had lovely things to say about it. I'm excited to see what Andrew David Naselli has for us come the end of April.
I'm grateful for this short article. Margie Haack is refreshingly honest about an unchecked feeling of guilt over something she saw on social media and what it did to her. Her balance of what she should be grateful for is stunning.
She ends by quoting a Kenyan liturgy:
"All our problems of this life on earth: We send to the cross of Christ.
All the difficulties of our circumstances: We send to the cross of Christ.
All the devil’s works from his temporary power: We send to the cross of Christ.
All our hopes for wholeness and eternal life: We set on the risen Christ."
This week, Philosophy Quotes on Substack did a Wisdom Letter for T.S. Eliot. They include 5 quotes from him, this being my favorite:
“Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.”
In homeschool, we spent a semester on Eliot. We read through Macavity and Jabberwocky, both inciting responses from my girls before we even took a second turn through them.
I like these quotes interspersed in my day; often random, typically bullseye.
“Daniel, he said. I would have you follow me.
Master!....I will fight for you to the end!.
My loyal friend, he said, I would ask something much harder than that. Would you love for me to the end?
...I don't understand, he said again, You tell people about the kingdom. Are we not to fight for it?
The kingdom is only bought at a great price, Jesus said. There was one who came just yesterday and wanted to follow me. He was very rich, and when I asked him to give up his wealth, he went away.
I will give you everything I have!
....Riches are not keeping you from the kingdom, he said. You must give up your hate.”
― Elizabeth George Speare, The Bronze Bow
By Lord Byron
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
What are your great things from the week?
Worshiper, wife, mom—with the help of the Lord, this is my hierarchy of work. Beyond this I homeschool the girls and hold down a staff position at Crosspoint Community Church in Rockwall, TX. I read, write, do yoga, cook, and practice thinking pure and lovely things.
Somewhere between zoology and theology.
