Gathered Notes
August
Welcome to the August edition of Gathered Notes, a monthly collection of art, poetry, book, movie, and music recommendations that have brought beauty into my life this past month.
Art: Italian Landscape with Umbrella Pines, Hendrik Voogd, 1807
Poetry: A Small Moment by Cornelius Eady
I walk into the bakery next door
To my apartment. They are about
To pull some sort of toast with cheese
From the oven. When I ask:
What’s that smell? I am being
A poet, I am asking
What everyone else in the shop
Wanted to ask, but somehow couldn’t;
I am speaking on behalf of two other
Customers who wanted to buy the
Name of it. I ask the woman
Behind the counter for a percentage
Of her sale. Am I flirting?
Am I happy because the days
Are longer? Here’s what
She does: She takes her time
Choosing the slices. “I am picking
Out the good ones,” she tells me. It’s
April 14th. Spring, with five to ten
Degrees to go. Some days, I feel my duty;
Some days, I love my work.
Poem copyright © 1997 by Cornelius Eady, from Hardheaded Weather: New and Selected Poems (Putnam, 2008).
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Watching, Listening, Reading
TV: The Chosen
Summary: This fresh take on the Gospels follows Jesus as he gathers his disciples, heals the needy, and sacrifices himself for the sake of humanity.
My review: I avoided this show for a long time because I thought it would be cheesy and poorly done, but I was wrong. I loved this show! It’s a high-quality production with excellent writing and acting. I appreciated how relatable it was and how it helped me see Jesus and the people around him as real people. I especially love how the character of Matthew was portrayed.
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Listening:
Taylor Swift and U2….solid favorites of mine that I never tire of.
Reading: To Bring You Back by Emily Conrad
Summary: (back cover) Though rock star Gannon Vaughn and his band, Awestruck, have conquered the music industry, he can't overcome his feelings for the woman he's loved since high school.
The impacts of mental illness and almost a decade of separation stand between them, but Adeline Green is still one of the few people who cared for him before he made it big. Acting on faith and the persistence that made him famous, he's determined to win her back.
Following the tragedy that severed her relationship with Gannon, Adeline has found a measure of peace by doing good where she can in her small town home of Lakeshore, Wisconsin.
When Gannon descends on her quiet life, their connection is as powerful as ever. If only getting close to him didn't mean facing her worst mistakes, both privately and in front of reporters eager to dig up the sordid details of their past.
Can they trust grace and forgiveness enough to overcome shame and embrace another chance at love?
My review: I highly recommend this beautiful Christian romance! I loved the story and I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author. The characters were complex and well-written, and this story about grace was gripping and highly enjoyable.
Quote of the Day:
“I have no argument with greatness. But if that becomes an excuse for dismissing my life now because I haven’t found that great purpose yet, that’s a waste of a day if not a life.”
-Barbara Brown Taylor
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Writing life: I’m still working on my contemporary novel set in Moscow, Idaho. There’s a good chance that by the next time I write one of these newsletters, I will be done with the rough draft. Then I will set it aside for a month or so before I bring it out again and get to work on edits. In the meantime, I will also be starting school. I’m really excited to dive into the Creative Writing program I’ll be doing for the next two years.
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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.