Daybook
July '24 Oxford
Outside my window: The Ashmolean Museum, a neoclassical building built in 1845, the Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, which is filled with tour buses.
Clothing myself in: a long midi skirt in olive green, a white long-sleeve button-up, and sandals.
Reading: (for fun) The Shack by William P. Young. I’ve read this several times before, and I love it. I brought it with me to Oxford because familiar books comfort and ground me when I’m in unfamiliar situations. Of course, I also have lots of assigned reading.
Thinking and thinking: about how happy I am right now and how grateful I am to be here.
Pondering:
On Oxford…
“It is well that there are palaces of peace
And discipline and dreaming and desire,
Lest we forget our heritage and cease
The Spirit’s work—to hunger and aspire:
Lest we forget that we were born divine,
Now tangled in red battle’s animal net,
Murder the work and lust the anodyne,
Pains of the beast ‘gainst bestial solace set.
But this shall never be: to us remains
One city that has nothing of the beast,
That was not built for gross, material gains,
Sharp, wolfish power or empire’s glutted feast.
We are not wholly brute. To us remains
A clean, sweet city lulled by ancient streams,
A place of visions and of loosening chains,
A refuge of the elect, a tower of dreams.
She was not builded out of common stone
But out of all men’s yearning and all prayer
That she might live, eternally our own,
The Spirit’s stronghold—barred against despair.”
-C.S. Lewis
Carefully Cultivating Rhythm: My summer school routine during the week looks something like this: 6 a.m: wake up and call Derek to say good morning/good night (it’s 10 p.m. where he is), morning prayers, journaling, Duolingo, meditation, shower/dress, 8 a.m: breakfast, walk to school, 9-10:00 a.m: first lecture (today was life writing), 10-10:30 a.m: tea, 11-12:30: prose workshop, 12-1 p.m: lunch, 1-3:30 p.m: poetry workshop, 3:30-4 p.m: catch a bus or walk to city center/call Derek, 4:00-6:00 pm: library/homework, museum, or exploring city, 6 (ish): dinner, walk, 7-10 p.m: read (usually).
I haven’t driven a car in nearly a month—and that’s the way I like it!
Learning lessons in: prose writing (long and short fiction), poetry, stage and screenwriting, and finding my way around a new city.
Keeping house: I will need to wash some clothes in the sink at my hotel tonight.
To be fit and happy: Lots of walking! Since I’ve been in Oxford, I’ve averaged about 16k steps per day.
Giving thanks: for new friends and learning opportunities.
Living the Liturgy: Yesterday, I attended an Evensong service at University Church. It was so beautiful that I had to hold back tears. Being in a church founded in 1490 and hearing the words of songs sung for hundreds of years, I felt deeply connected to God and the faith I share with so many others.
Planning for the week ahead: I want to soak in every moment and be present. I go home on Saturday. Honestly, if my family (and the cats) could join me here in Oxford instead, I would prefer that. : )
Book Stuff: The next book in the Apron Strings series will be out in a couple of weeks. We’re moving into the 90s with Cassie by Lisa Howeler!
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May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you; may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm; may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you: may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.