On Tuesday I tried twice to vote early, but both times there was nowhere to park within a reasonable distance, so I passed.
Yesterday I got up super early and drove over to the little county library near me and found a place to park where I only had to walk a quarter mile to get there. And then stand in line for an hour. Zut alors. But it’s all good. I will say the people working there had their act together and things moved right along.
Well, I did my civic duty. ☑️ Go, me!
Today we toast the wonderful actor John Candy (1950-1994) on his birthday. Let’s all do the Mess Around in his memory:
In an ironic twist, Harry Houdini died on this day in 1926 from peritonitis (swelling of the abdomen), possibly related to appendicitis and possibly related to punches to his abdomen he had received about a week and a half earlier.
The world is more than we know.
And, oh hey, the Christmas cactus has buds!
Have a good day! Happy Reformation Day! Vote early if you can! And…
Today we toast the great, but under-appreciated, writer Conrad Richter, who died on this day in 1968. Isaac Bashevis Singer wrote, “There are in the literature of the world few works of historical fiction that make the reader feel that the writer must have been a witness to what he describes; he was actually there and came back – a transmigrated soul – to tell a story. The Awakening Land is such a work… it would be a great novel in any literature.”
I would heartily concur. Richter wrote short stories and 15 novels. His novel The Town, the last story of his trilogy The Awakening Land about the Ohio frontier, won the 1951 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. His novel The Waters of Kronos won the 1961 National Book Award for Fiction.
A strange, uneasy feeling ran over him. If he had been wrong about his mother in this, might he by any chance have been wrong in other things about her also? Could it be even faintly possible that the children of pioneers like himself, born under more benign conditions than their parents, hated them because they themselves were weaker, resented it when their parents expected them to be strong, and so invented all kinds of intricate reasoning to prove that their parents were tyrannical and cruel, their beliefs false and obsolete, and their accomplishments trifling? Never had his mother said that. But once long ago he had heard her mention, not in as many words, that the people were too weak to follow God today, that in the Bible God made strong demands on them for perfection, so the younger generation watered God down, made Him impotent and got up all kinds of reasons why they didn’t have to follow Him but could go along their own way.” (The Town)
Like all great fiction, his words still speak to us, even seventy-five years after being published.
Well, as you know, I am a great re-reader, so I will reward myself with some Conrad Richter today.
Yesterday the boy came over and fixed our shutters which have been buffeted around by the wind all year and thus we were beginning to look like that house in the neighborhood that looks like it is decorated for Halloween all year. He also took apart the crib which was taking up a lot of room in our spare bedroom and moved it to the garage. I am so grateful to have adult children who are still speaking to me. This is a blessing not everyone can claim.
So re-read an old book, count your blessings and remember:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
(Lamentations 3:22)
*Today is the poet Paul Valéry’s birthday (1871-1945)–“Le vent se lève… il faut tenter de vivre !” Read the whole poem here.
If you cannot tell, Baby Me in this picture is giving the raspberry to this holiday. But I will duly note that we have reached, indeed, the last week in October! Whenever I venture out into my neighborhood I am reminded that it is the spooky season by all my weird neighbors who insist on putting up lavish yard decorations featuring 30-foot skeletons and mock graveyards.
Well, I barely got out my vintage Halloween candles this year and never bought any pumpkins. I have no idea what the twins are doing for Halloween (Thursday!) So, c’est la vie. I much prefer to celebrate Reformation Day anyway.
So here are 5 things you should know about Martin Luther.
And here’s R.C. Sproul on how the Reformation spread.
In other news, the bud is coming over this afternoon while Lottie goes to her dance class. Hopefully I’ll get the scoop on Halloween costumes. Now that he is a big second grader it will no doubt behoove him to go as a soccer player and wear one of his Messi jerseys. I’m sure he is too cool to wear an actual costume. Last week when he came over we watched Cars (2006) from the Pixar glory days. I enjoyed it a lot and recommend it. You may recall that it takes place in Monument Valley. Plus there are important lessons about teamwork and respecting your elders and friendship. And Paul Newman is super cool.
And this from our most trusted news source literally had me LOL-ing throughout: 10 More Images Of Trump That ‘Newsweek’ Is Warning Might Be A.I.-Generated. I mean thank goodness Newsweek has taken it upon itself to make sure the American people are protected from potential misinformation and for pointing out that this is not a real picture of Donald Trump:
How was your weekend? Mine was rather quiet as daughter #1 was visiting daughter #2 et famille in Illinois. I went to our church’s women’s retreat on Saturday which included fellowship and lunch and a lot of crafts. I made bath bombs and sugar scrub, cards, and painted a mug.
My bath bombs turned out pretty well, but the rest of my crafts left a lot to be desired. Otherwise though, it was fun and I had a good time hanging out with a wide array of ladies–young and old.
I went home and watched the Mizzou-Alabama game but that was a bust. And by that I mean, super-bust.
On Sunday I once again helped with the Sunday School after the early church service. The twins were with me this time so that was interesting. After our together time with all the grades learning about Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, the leader, Mrs. Haynes, told everyone where to go–first and second graders with Mrs. Compton–and I saw the bud take her aside and say, “You can call her Mamu–that’s her real name.” I felt like the Velveteen Rabbit.
We had prayer requests and talked more about the Ethiopian eunuch and evangelism and we made bookmarks. This was mine:
The bud’s bookmark had a depiction of the Titanic sinking and an F5 tornado–Jesus is always with us. (I don’t mean to leave Lottie out, but her behavior is just so much more prosaic.) In church the twins continue to keep their natural depravity in check and I am very proud of them.
Meanwhile the prairie girls entertained their aunt and Mr. Smith, who was a good boy.
Daughter #1 made it home with Mr. Smith and I went over to their house and had dinner with them. Later at home I watched The Sixth Sense (1999) as part of my October movie viewing. I really like that movie. I remember the first time I saw it 25 years ago in a hotel in Worcester, MA with my sister. It was pretty scary.
Bruce Willis was never better. The world is more than we know.
Well, life continues apace. Work continues to be busy. I didn’t even put together a to do list this week. I guess I knew nothing would get done. This morning, I had to go to UMSL at 7:30 a.m. to shepherd several members of the executive leadership team around for a panel they were participating in. It all went smoothly but it is still somehow stressful.
Regardless, I’m off to Mahomet tomorrow to hang with the Prairie Girls and Nate. Hopefully there won’t be any wind emojis on the Apple weather this weekend. Eyeroll. I only hope I am cool enough to hang.
I acknowledge and confess that all things come of thee — life, breath, happiness, advancement, sight, touch, hearing, goodness, truth, beauty – all that makes existence amiable. In the spiritual world also I am dependent entirely upon thee. Give me grace to know more of my need of grace; Show me my sinfulness that I may willingly confess it; Reveal to me my weakness that I may know my strength in thee. I thank thee for any sign of penitence; give me more of it; My sins are black and deep, and rise from a stony, proud, self-righteous heart; Help me to confess them with mourning, regret, self-loathing, with no pretence to merit or excuse; I need healing, Good Physician, here is scope for thee, come and manifest thy power; I need faith; Thou who hast given it me, maintain, strengthen, increase it, Centre it upon the Saviour’s work, upon the majesty of the Father, upon the operations of the Spirit; Work it in me now that I may never doubt thee as the truthful, mighty, faithful God. Then I can bring my heart to thee full of love, gratitude, hope, joy. May I lay at thy feet these fruits grown in thy garden, love thee with a passion that can never cool, believe in thee with a confidence that never staggers, hope in thee with an expectation that can never be dim, delight in thee with a rejoicing that cannot be stifled, glorify thee with the highest of my powers, burning, blazing, glowing, radiating, as from thy own glory.
It’s that time of year when I bring a lot of plants in from the Florida room for the winter and try to find sunny spaces for them in the house. Also, we now have the boy’s feral cat living in the Florida room while they are in between houses…it’s a long story. Whatever. A minor disruption. That is Life. I am a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream…
I am not a super fan of J.R.R. Tolkien and his LOTR trilogy, but this is a really interesting article about Tolkien’s moral vision and the long defeat of history. The bottom line is an important one for us to keep in mind: Providence is a bulwark against despair. “It is a reminder to us that even as darkness seems to fall and the long defeat threatens to become final, there is hope from outside the world.” Read the whole thing.
Here’s a rant from Anne, who rants much more effectively than I. Of course, I totally agree with her.
So have a nice day. Despair not. Watch a funny movie–I just watched the original Bad News Bears (1976) and it was hilarious. It also had a good message about the bad attitude of some parents/couches who ruin sports for kids. By today’s standards, it is seriously politically incorrect, but c’mon, that was no problem for me.
Wow! Look at this great photo my friend Don and his son took of the comet C/2023AG Tschinshan-ATLAS over the weekend. They were far from the city lights in Warren County where it was clearly visible. He says, “We were lucky as it is not scheduled to return for 80,000 years.”
When we were in Monument Valley a few weeks ago we enjoyed the wide expanse of starry, starry night sky. Thousands and thousands of stars! It was truly awesome, like nothing I had ever seen.
Well, while we are considering how the heavens declare the glory of God, it seems appropriate to note that three hundred years ago today in 1724, J.S. Bach led the first performance of his composition Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele (Adorn yourself, O dear soul) in Leipzig on the 20th Sunday after Trinity, based on the communion hymn of the same name.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Well, I have been sick in bed for the last four days, binge-watching NYPD Blue and sleeping. I did get up on Sunday to go to church and assist at Sunday School out of my sense of duty–yes, I volunteered to help with the 1-2 graders–but my co-teacher emailed me Sunday morning that she had a migraine and wasn’t going, but not to worry she had lined up a substitute. Zut alors! Life is complicated.
It all worked out, as the Sunday School is a well-oiled machine with many moving parts and I was able to drift along in a DayQuill haze. The woman who does the main lesson for the entire Sunday School, after which we break up into our smaller groups, is amazing. She was telling the story of Stephen, the first Christian martyr–not an easy one. By the end of the lesson the kids were all singing “Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me” with gusto–all verses–boys unabashedly included. Now I understand why everyone sings in church–they learn early!
When we broke into groups we had prayer requests and then we talked briefly about the lesson and then we made little megaphones that said “I will tell about Jesus” (like Stephen). My grandchildren did not make it to church so they missed out on this, but I was happy to have this glimpse of what they are experiencing when they do go. I will be glimpsing it for the next four weeks.
This weekend I also watched two of my favorite “spooky” movies–M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs (2002) and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) which I thoroughly enjoyed. I highly recommend them both.
Mr. Smith watched Signs at his house and he concurs.
Meanwhile, if you are looking for something intelligent to read, here’s another good one from Carl Trueman.
This is a great article. I hear this woman loud and clear. “What is the chief end of woman? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever. If social media is succeeding in convincing us that our purpose here is less than this, then we are being deceived. God didn’t place us here to chase every pleasure that seems like it will make us momentarily happy. He didn’t create us to constantly examine our happiness on a scale of 1 to 100. He created us to bring Him glory and to find satisfaction in Him alone, in whichever arena that He has mapped out for us.”
Have a good week! Refuse to play by the rules of the postmodern game! Choose God’s glory over self! Pray hard.
Well, happy Friday, readers. As you may recall, I mentioned earlier that I needed to get a new boiler for my house. Well, luckily, I had the system checked in the early Fall and the company was able to order one and schedule installation this week. I figured this would be okay because I like to get at least a month without the air conditioning or the heat turned on. Naturally, because this is my life, the weather turned unseasonably (or perhaps seasonably but we’ve just forgotten) chilly with lows in the THIRTIES and highs in the upper FIFTIES/low SIXTIES this week. And I have no heat!! It has been cold in my house, to say the least.
I dug out my blankets at night–but it has been very chilly while working from home. Thankfully, a team of men from the HVAC company came today and dismantled the old boiler and began installing the shiny new one. They should wrap up installation tomorrow. Just in time for temperatures to rise back into the 70s.
Mr. Smith kept me company at work today. And we went over to my parents’ to bask in their warm house and have dinner tonight. It seems that every time I think things will slow down, they do not. That’s okay. Life is good.
dual personalities 