The men descended into the pits --the coal mines-- at age eleven. They never finished school, and rarely saw the light of day. Still, when they had the opportunity, they attended evening classes run by the Workers Educational Association. Eventually they chose the subject "Art Appreciation." Their … [Read more...] about The Pitmen Painters: What Makes a Person an Artist
“We Love the Work” Gordon Lightfoot on Creativity
What if it works this way: We write the lyrics of our life when we?re young and spend our days and years living into them. I attended a Gordon Lightfoot concert last night at Wolf Trap, as part of his Fifty Years on the Carefree Highway Tour. It's easy to see that even after 50 years, Gordon is … [Read more...] about “We Love the Work” Gordon Lightfoot on Creativity
“My Inheritance” a poem about mothers & daughters
My Inheritance I was bequeathed a satin dress, An inheritance passed from my mother And from hers before, another Lifetime has worn it, the treasured Hand-sewn seams have measured The woman inside. The first time I tried The fit I was nine (the old tight-packed box, the wrapping, the fold of … [Read more...] about “My Inheritance” a poem about mothers & daughters
Any Day a Beautiful Change, a book review
Any Day a Beautiful Change: A Story of Faith and Family is a book of personal essays describing the author's experiences as wife, mother, and minister. The subjects are discrete, but since the essays overlap and build, it's easy to read them like chapters in a novel. The reader certainly becomes … [Read more...] about Any Day a Beautiful Change, a book review
Hymns, Heat & Heaven
Step back in time with me, won't you? Imagine a church constructed of logs, filled to the brim with 250 people singing hymns without accompaniment. The majority of those people are Old Order Mennonite, dressed in their Sunday go-to-meeting clothes. Balconies on either side of the meetinghouse burst … [Read more...] about Hymns, Heat & Heaven
U2 Concert
I acted like a groupie at a U2 concert and had a blast. I wrote more about the experience (here). Here's the set list including the opening act, Florence and the Machine: … [Read more...] about U2 Concert
We Don’t Live Here Anymore, by Andre Dubus, a book review
Another quick book review, this time fiction (I try to alternate fiction and non-fiction reading). Three novellas by Andre Dubus II: We Don't Live Here Anymore, Adultery, Finding a Girl in America. The three novellas are linked by the cast of characters, although they are from different points of … [Read more...] about We Don’t Live Here Anymore, by Andre Dubus, a book review
Under the Banner of Heaven, by Jon Krakauer, a book review
I just finished reading Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. I found it quite captivating, as the narrative moves back and forth between two interesting true stories: the early history of the Mormon church, and a recent double murder committed by two brothers who thought they were fulfilling … [Read more...] about Under the Banner of Heaven, by Jon Krakauer, a book review
Downshifting: Quitting My Job to Write a Book
Last Sunday I announced to my congregation that I would be leaving my position at the church this June. The reason for my leaving is that I want to spend all of my time and energy finishing some writing projects and finding a home for them, either through traditional publishing, or perhaps through … [Read more...] about Downshifting: Quitting My Job to Write a Book
Wendell Berry: What Subject Were You Born To?
Last night I went to an author event at the Arlington Public Library for their "Arlington Reads" program. My good friend, the author Carol Howard Merritt, got there early enough to actually get us seats, which was no small thing. Yep, writers listening to a writer: good times! Wendell Berry is a … [Read more...] about Wendell Berry: What Subject Were You Born To?
From the Sideline of a Community of Faith
Yesterday I sat on the sidelines of a particular community of faith. My husband and I attended a Shape Note Sing, which we do twice a year or so. (In that way I'm comparable to a Christmas/Easter Christian.) Shape Note singing (also called Sacred Harp singing) is unaccompanied, four-part singing, … [Read more...] about From the Sideline of a Community of Faith
Writers on Writing: Scott Cairns
I heard some great lectures at the Festival of Faith & Writing. Here are a few choice bits from Scott Cairns, poet and essayist, raised-Baptist, now-Orthodox: "Tell the Calvinists they're not as bad as they think they are." "Writers are people who use their writing to figure things out, not to … [Read more...] about Writers on Writing: Scott Cairns