> "I recently had a surprising realization about many of the most formative books I have ever read…most of them, I have not picked up in over 10 years. These are the books that I wrote my college application essays on, think about often, and put at the top of my “favorite books lists” and yet, they have sat untouched for a third of my life!"
Same! My TBR now has a twin stack, TBRR (to be re-read). The "my worldview in four texts" trend provided this revelation... Embarrassing. 😅
I really liked your point about how feeling obligated to bring food can dampen anticipation of the event. I am one of those people who loves bringing food to the function, so it's never occurred to me that it might be a burden to other people. Definitely going to keep this in mind with future church events and regular hospitality.
Also, about baptizing plain ol' social events. It's almost like God had something in mind when He made us naturally social beings, lol. But yeah! Seems like Christians these days are constantly stuck between reinventing the wheel and awkwardly forcing it. I saw an article a while back about how nobody parties anymore, and so dancing and sex have all but disappeared from our society. I can't endorse the debauchery that author wanted us to get back to, but still, Christians need to realize that prayer and hymn singing aren't the only sanctioned activities. "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do"—all of it can be to God's glory. Pulling off a fantastic party can glorify God. We could be the ones to bring back dancing. My church is starting to inch toward that vision of what I'd call "normatively Christian social life" and I really enjoy it.
Thank you so much for sharing, Hope! I heartily agree. The medieval Christians did engage in plenty of paraliturgical parties that devolved into debauchery and frankly, better a drunk because Plough Monday got a little too enthusiastic than for no good reason at all, right?
BRILLIANT. You know how much I love this: my interest in Medieval Christianity sprouted from their idiosyncratic ways of LIVING the liturgy...that intersection between formal and folk. And while I love all the didactics and theology and historical rabbitholes, I want lived liturgy, not theoretical liturgy. And more often than not, that looks like waiting in line for the slip & slide!
Just getting round to reading this post...and I relate to so much! I'm sorry about your rubbish summer last year. Moving is the absolute worst (having moved twice in the space of a year, I know) but I can't imagine moving with a 1-yr. old! And we're back in the town I grew up in, which is a strange mix of emotions. And! Re-reading books! I love to do that. I *always* try to re-read "Gaudy Night" by Dorothy L. Sayers once a year, but recently reread a bunch of the other mysteries that Sayers wrote. So good! There are, however, a lot of books I read as a teenager/ early 20s (a lot of WWI memoirs) that I haven't picked up again, so I'm thinking it would be fun to visit them again.
Enjoy the idea of a low-key Pentecost cookout! To follow up on the opening query, I'm wondering whether or not translated literature associated with Alfonso X of Castile is of interest to anyone else?
I really appreciated this, Carolyn, especially your notes about moving! I’ve moved every four years for a while now, while our family has grown, and it’s clarifying to hear how you have felt the effects, even in your hometown! I know many people move far more frequently, but it really does make a difference each time. The beauty of the liturgy and its calendar does become more precious when so many other things are changing — even within a local congregation. I used to be sympathetic toward the youthful resentment that “old stubborn people just don’t like change,” but now it’s the other way around. (And what if you have to ask older people to consider a tradition that’s even older than they, which is new to them?)
I’d love to have an introduction to the “Old Hispanic/Visigothic/Mozarabic” peoples, as you’re my first exposure to the title “Visigoth”! I could look it up, or I could look to my personal expert on the topic. Ha!
Thank you so much for sharing, Leah. I literally dread moving again even though our current tiny kitchen feels like it won't withstand the food preparation needs of growing children long-term!
And I am so glad to know you would like to learn more about the Visigothic Church before I dive into translating, very helpful, thank you!
> "I recently had a surprising realization about many of the most formative books I have ever read…most of them, I have not picked up in over 10 years. These are the books that I wrote my college application essays on, think about often, and put at the top of my “favorite books lists” and yet, they have sat untouched for a third of my life!"
Same! My TBR now has a twin stack, TBRR (to be re-read). The "my worldview in four texts" trend provided this revelation... Embarrassing. 😅
I really liked your point about how feeling obligated to bring food can dampen anticipation of the event. I am one of those people who loves bringing food to the function, so it's never occurred to me that it might be a burden to other people. Definitely going to keep this in mind with future church events and regular hospitality.
Also, about baptizing plain ol' social events. It's almost like God had something in mind when He made us naturally social beings, lol. But yeah! Seems like Christians these days are constantly stuck between reinventing the wheel and awkwardly forcing it. I saw an article a while back about how nobody parties anymore, and so dancing and sex have all but disappeared from our society. I can't endorse the debauchery that author wanted us to get back to, but still, Christians need to realize that prayer and hymn singing aren't the only sanctioned activities. "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do"—all of it can be to God's glory. Pulling off a fantastic party can glorify God. We could be the ones to bring back dancing. My church is starting to inch toward that vision of what I'd call "normatively Christian social life" and I really enjoy it.
Thank you so much for sharing, Hope! I heartily agree. The medieval Christians did engage in plenty of paraliturgical parties that devolved into debauchery and frankly, better a drunk because Plough Monday got a little too enthusiastic than for no good reason at all, right?
Ha, so true! 😂
BRILLIANT. You know how much I love this: my interest in Medieval Christianity sprouted from their idiosyncratic ways of LIVING the liturgy...that intersection between formal and folk. And while I love all the didactics and theology and historical rabbitholes, I want lived liturgy, not theoretical liturgy. And more often than not, that looks like waiting in line for the slip & slide!
Just getting round to reading this post...and I relate to so much! I'm sorry about your rubbish summer last year. Moving is the absolute worst (having moved twice in the space of a year, I know) but I can't imagine moving with a 1-yr. old! And we're back in the town I grew up in, which is a strange mix of emotions. And! Re-reading books! I love to do that. I *always* try to re-read "Gaudy Night" by Dorothy L. Sayers once a year, but recently reread a bunch of the other mysteries that Sayers wrote. So good! There are, however, a lot of books I read as a teenager/ early 20s (a lot of WWI memoirs) that I haven't picked up again, so I'm thinking it would be fun to visit them again.
Enjoy the idea of a low-key Pentecost cookout! To follow up on the opening query, I'm wondering whether or not translated literature associated with Alfonso X of Castile is of interest to anyone else?
I really appreciated this, Carolyn, especially your notes about moving! I’ve moved every four years for a while now, while our family has grown, and it’s clarifying to hear how you have felt the effects, even in your hometown! I know many people move far more frequently, but it really does make a difference each time. The beauty of the liturgy and its calendar does become more precious when so many other things are changing — even within a local congregation. I used to be sympathetic toward the youthful resentment that “old stubborn people just don’t like change,” but now it’s the other way around. (And what if you have to ask older people to consider a tradition that’s even older than they, which is new to them?)
I’d love to have an introduction to the “Old Hispanic/Visigothic/Mozarabic” peoples, as you’re my first exposure to the title “Visigoth”! I could look it up, or I could look to my personal expert on the topic. Ha!
Thank you so much for sharing, Leah. I literally dread moving again even though our current tiny kitchen feels like it won't withstand the food preparation needs of growing children long-term!
And I am so glad to know you would like to learn more about the Visigothic Church before I dive into translating, very helpful, thank you!