dual personalities

I subscribe to a lot of magazines. I like to get things in the mail–and these days, magazines subscription are less than $10. The downside of this is that I read a lot of garbage. With the exception of the quarterly Magnolia Journal.

I find Chip and Joanna Gaines fascinating. They are so popular and yet so traditional. The subject of Buzzfeed hit-pieces, people love to act surprised when they find out Chip and Jo are Christians who attend a Texas megachurch. Of course, the reality is that what makes them so appealing is their Christian lifestyle.

Like their Target line, the magazine is full of soothing colors. It features stories about regular people, some who do extraordinary things. Recipes that regular people can cook. And the attitude is more look what you can do than the whiny problems and overly privileged homes in other shelter magazines. It is more comfort in your surroundings than treat yo self, if that makes sense.

The most recent issue talks about resolve and Joanna’s resolve throughout this year to pause and look up when she felt herself “disengaging” from what was going on around her. Of course, this mantra made me think of this song.

I think she is right when she writes, “I was wrong to blame time for so many years, to call it a thief for moving too fast. I’ve found the real thieves are distractions and our willingness to give into them, to allow our thoughts and energy to fuel their journey towards some lesser thing…This season, let’s look up and behold the beauty of here and now.”

These days, when it can sometimes feel like darkness is winning, I appreciate reminders that it is not, wherever I can find them.