December 2015 - Lifemeds #50

I was encouraged this week to continue traditions. And longevity, consistency, even with break-down, will render a few traditions. The good kind.
For two years now, we have anticipated, waited in the box office line early in the morning, and gotten ourselves ready on a Saturday night, to head down to the Athens Symphony's free performance of a Christmas Concert. This opportunity is beyond amazing. It is a fully orchestrated, exquisitely divine effort on behalf of a wonderfully talented group of musicians, accompanied by the equally talented,Athens Chorus. The first half of the performance is more somber with a first half closing performance Handel's 'Messiah'- the Chorus portion. I knew I could pass on to glory after I'd managed somehow to get my hoolilgan bunch to this moment in our lives. To hear and stand with my family during this is a taste of heaven for me.
This year, we were treated to 'For Unto us a Child is Given', along with many other more traditional carols.
Inspired to connect and synthesize by my reading this summer, we continued to listen Pandora, from a channel called 'Frederic Handel'. Delight is mine. Over the next few days, I'll read passages from The Handel's Messiah Family Advent Reader, by Donna W. Payne and Fran Lenzo.

Most of our traditions, often painfully endured by active boys, are paving and smoothing their souls. Mine and my dear husband's too, but seeing them give in, listen even briefly. And hear them draw comparisons between this and last year. My joy is complete.

Another tradition, happening for much longer, is that of savoring in a variety of ways, Charles Dicken's, Christmas Carol. The text we have is a copy I picked up in an antique store. The illustrations are amazing. So detailed, showing Marley's horrifying teeth, and ghosts in an unforgettable way.
We have watched Jim Carey's/Disney's, 'A Christmas Carol' as well as the Star Trek Captain's version. And I'm sure from the reading, their comparision's were not favorable. It seemed in this version, Scrooge was less frightened than he was annoyed by the ghost of Marley. But everything but that is perfect in that scene. Even as Marley approaches the window the sash rises, just as it says in the book. The mother and her child are in the street, and was mentioned by Jack to be accurate as the ghost tried to give them a treasure chest, but could not.
A few years ago, in a December, Eric gave what we call in our faith tradition, 'the invitation', to give one's life to Christ, be reconciled publically to His body. He referred to this passage, 'It is required of everyman......', to walk among and consider his fellowman. Deeply, a passage from which every person may draw.
Life-meds #50
~blessings which I may manage.
~needs sufficiently met
~community
~home
~health
~a sovereign and faithful God
~a Savior who seeks those who seek Him.

Reading 2015 - Commonplace Book

When you stumble upon something good you want to share.
For nearly 20 years, I've been chatting daily with my best friend about everything.
The day we first moved apart, we simply said, 'I'll talk to you tomorrow.' And we have.
Changes haven't altered our conversation. While my kiddos, both, got on the bus, I had talked her into Classical Conversations. We talked on. When hers went for a year to public school, we honored each other's schedules and broke our unspoken no-call rule on Saturday. Family-first and all.
But yesterday, I told her about something I knew she'd love. Sometimes there really isn't enough time to tell it all, and I'd only mentioned over the summer I was reading this  or that. She didn't know I was studying. I was digging deeper.

I had begun while reading Karen Glass's Consider This not realizing I was using the very tool implemented by great readers for years, perhaps centuries.
The following is from Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace, by Sarah Mackenzie, famous most lately for her phenomenal Read Aloud Revival.
-- "Commonplace books aren't anything new. For centuries, these personal collections have played a significant role in the way scholars read, learn, and remember. They paint a beautiful picture of an individual's growth over time-- of his or her personal journey of learning and growing." Passages, thoughts, reflections, "Anything I read that causes me to pause and read again--to stop and savor the words or ponder the message-- it all belongs in my book."
I don't know about you, but I seem to hear a lot, but can't remember where I read or heard it. And the only way I have been successful in collecting thoughts is to gather them together. Whether it is related to faith, school, marriage, children, family, food, ..... It goes in my book. 

This isn't a recipe collection. It's a collection of the bigger discussions I have in my head, so that when I actually am speaking with a person, my words are clearer. I can effectively share my thoughts. Perhaps the most important reason, I can be at peace with my thoughts and convictions. Being a functioning mother/wife/friend is important to honoring God. Sanity is priority.
I have found a commonplace book to be sanity-saving. I have been able to generate gumption I didn't know I could muster, when my life's events seemed to go against what I knew to be true. I carefully and humbly add, it has helped me submit to God's purposes, when the path of least resistance has been so easily accessible.
Mine isn't a prayer journal, yet it contains prayers.
It isn't a book-study, yet, it does contain copious notes from selected books.
I know it's working when books cross paths. Especially when podcast/recorded word crosses with timeless written. Like these and these.
I've recently gathered up a few new to me texts that will also receive their dose of notes and marking. But the commonplace book is the billboard where I can collect these writers and many times great thinkers,-- have a conversation with them. Call them back to my living room, drink coffee with them and visit. I can wander to another mother's journey and see her notes on how an idea plays out in real life. Because she's reading the same things I've been, my commonplace book in hand, her insights to be pondered.

I use the $1 cardboard cover composition books. But that's me. I use the metal grabber clips to keep only a few items that might have been scratched out when I didn't have my book. But these get transcribed or taped in.
I wish not to be pulled to and fro by every idea out there, troubled in my soul, wondering if I'm foolish for believing something. I wish to take every thought captive, or at least a few that might aid in honoring God more fully.
I have only received 'Teaching from Rest' just a day ago. (Merry Christmas to me.)
and have also received Mind to Mind: an Essay Towards a Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason and Karen Glass. I remember Karen 'talking' about it this summer. I couldn't wait, but had to, looking forward to see how she accomplished this endeavor.
So while these are the thinking books I have decided to savor this spring semester, I shared with Leslie a couple of others I've selected to study. 

Total Truth by Nancy Pearcy. (scored with Dad's notes included-- I'll return it Dad....)
The Ring of Truth J.B. Phillips A Translator's Testimony.
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
The Feminization of American Culture by Ann Douglas (selected based on a reference made in a podcast at Circe Institute Conference by Angelina Stanford 'What is Woman? A Reexamination of Feminism and the Church.' found under Resources- Free Audio Library.
Your God is Too Small by J.B. Phillips




One further thought I would add, because Leslie brought it up.
Ann Voskamp has been sharing her blessings for years now. Her book brought the story full-circle, explaining how she came to her need to count 1000 gifts.
I have called mine 'lifemeds' and stopped counting individually and just listed the posts.
I can easily reference, back by title. But I'm seeing now, the beauty of writing these in a composition book, much like my commonplace book.
I can see the penmanship, and the coffee stain, the wine spill, the stress or ease of my handwriting. So fewer posts, online, as I tend to get sucked into media quicker than I count blessings and gifts. I am indebted to those who have begun the greater conversations, of faith and confidence and to friends, like Leslie, who think great thoughts, no matter where they heard them or generated them. Her thoughts on contentment were shared and I'm sure have already made their way into her commonplace book today.