Here are Four Great Things from the week of 05/17/2024.

In Which We Consider Buying a Book Store

This was published back in March. Shawn Smucker and his wife heard about a small, local book store closing. They set out on a journey of purchasing it to take ownership in running the business. They have been successful thus far, chronicling it as they go. It's truly beautiful work!

In his first post about the possibility, he quotes poet Mary Oliver:

". . . so many of us live most of our lives seeking the answerable and somehow demeaning or bypassing the things that can’t be answered, and therefore denuding one’s life of the acceptance of mystery and the pleasure of mystery and the willingness to live with mystery, is greatly what I think about. And if I could do something for people, I would say, don’t forget about the mystery, love the mystery . . . don’t want answers all the time.”



The Way of the Cicada

Rebecca Faulks writes a beautiful piece on doing great things for God and what that truly means.

"Last week as my I wrestled to pin my inner critic to the ground, working to understand my own visceral angst over not “doing enough,” it was the cicadas who gently rebuked me. These insects spent the past thirteen years underground, anonymously aerating the soil, patiently maturing until—at last! they burst into the land of the living in their final days, quickly shedding their shells to sing, reproduce, and then die. It is a strange life, but it is faithful, fruitful, good."



What Have You

It's quite comical that I am just now mentioning this podcast as a Great Thing. Truly, these two sisters from Idaho have mentored me from afar for several years now. They live the same way they teach: with immense joy and piety. This is the only podcast I stay current with.

I was reminded of them this week specifically because of their latest episode called "Short Out." Rachel Jankovic talks about faithfulness being more important than success—it's a nice tie with the previous article by Faulks.

Amazon Book Sale

I recognize the double standard here of me supporting a family taking a major risk to run their own local book store, and now I am promoting Amazon. For me, this is a both/and sort of context.

Amazon is hosting a massive book sale until May 20th. This is great timing for homeschool prep or just finally reaching some summer TBR-listers.

What I'm working on:

• *Nothing* this week—but I did have a conversation with a good friend about God's providence vs God's provision. I have a slow burn about our transition from TX to IN.

Quotable:

“You know how you let yourself think that everything will be all right if you can only get to a certain place or do a certain thing. But when you get there you find it's not that simple.”
― Richard Adams, Watership Down

Worth the Memory

An Apology

By Anne Bradstreet

To finish what's begun, was my intent,
My thoughts and my endeavours thereto bent;
Essays I many made but still gave out,
The more I mus'd, the more I was in doubt:
The subject large my mind and body weak,
With many more discouragements did speak.
All thoughts of further progress laid aside,
Though oft persuaded, I as oft deny'd,
At length resolv'd, when many years had past,
To prosecute my story to the last;
And for the same, I hours not few did spend,
And weary lines (though lanke) I many pen'd:
But 'fore I could accomplish my desire,
My papers fell a prey to th'raging fire.
And thus my pains (with better things) I lost,
Which none had cause to wail, nor I to boast.
No more I'le do sith I have suffer'd wrack,
Although my Monarchies their legs do lack:
Nor matter is't this last, the world now sees,
Hath many Ages been upon his knees.

What are your great things from the week?