Lil Treasures #59: "Be joyful though you have considered all the facts."

Guys. This week I broke a TV, I was blinded by the sun and ran into a stop sign with my car, I accidentally made a heresy on The Bible Binge, and I have reached 100% of coping mechanisms.

One of them is to read Wendell Berry’s Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front:

Love the quick profit, the annual raise,
vacation with pay. Want more
of everything ready-made. Be afraid
to know your neighbors and to die.
And you will have a window in your head.
Not even your future will be a mystery
any more. Your mind will be punched in a card
and shut away in a little drawer.
When they want you to buy something
they will call you. When they want you
to die for profit they will let you know.

So, friends, every day do something
that won’t compute. Love the Lord.
Love the world. Work for nothing.
Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.
Denounce the government and embrace
the flag. Hope to live in that free
republic for which it stands.
Give your approval to all you cannot
understand. Praise ignorance, for what man
has not encountered he has not destroyed.

Ask the questions that have no answers.
Invest in the millennium. Plant sequoias.
Say that your main crop is the forest
that you did not plant,
that you will not live to harvest.
Say that the leaves are harvested
when they have rotted into the mold.
Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.

Put your faith in the two inches of humus
that will build under the trees
every thousand years.
Listen to carrion – put your ear
close, and hear the faint chattering
of the songs that are to come.
Expect the end of the world. Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful
though you have considered all the facts.
So long as women do not go cheap
for power, please women more than men.
Ask yourself: Will this satisfy
a woman satisfied to bear a child?
Will this disturb the sleep
of a woman near to giving birth?

Go with your love to the fields.
Lie down in the shade. Rest your head
in her lap. Swear allegiance
to what is nighest your thoughts.
As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn’t go. Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection.

~Wendell Berry

I had every intention of doing a Q+A this week, but then Joanne Rogers passed away and it just took the winds right out of my sails. So next week, friends. Next week.

❤️ If you think of it, would you pray for my sweet grandmother today? She’s having heart surgery and she is so precious to us all. Thank you. It means a lot to me.

✝️  In case you missed the announcement earlier this week, my newest Lent guide Memento Mori is officially out! I’m excited about this year’s study because of the added community aspect. And of course for my beloved Lil Swipes - you get the biggest discount of 20% off with the code LILSWIPE. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, you can do so here.

🌹 Calling all Bachelor franchise fans: this month’s episode of Faith Adjacent is tackling all of your questions about Bachelor Nation! I’d love to see some of you submit questions, as we dig in and try to examine how a rose ceremony or cocktail party might be faith adjacent.

❤️  One of our lovely Lil Swipes had a poetic, noble land mermaid idea: The Lil Swipes Galentines/Friends Gift Exchange! If you’d like to join, sign up at this link by January 30th. Creative and free gifts encouraged! Looking to exchange gifts by February 13, the official date of Galentine’s Day.

📖  Be sure to check out Sarah Bessey’s new book, which is officially out for pre-order my babies!

📅 One of the best resources I have stumbled across is my friend Retha’s Sunday Planning Journal. If you are looking for a low-maintenance way to get organized, you need this in your life!

😎 Only my fellow HSM fans will love & appreciate this video the way I do.

🥪  Are you hungry? Do you enjoy culinary delicacies such as a “sandwich”? If so, check out this article from Food & Wine about the best sandwich in every state. I don’t know why, I just really enjoyed it. I was underwhelmed by Alabama’s choice (plain turkey? really?) but very proud of my home state of Texas for producing good quality ‘wiches. (h/t to Knox McCoy for the retweet on this)

🐶 Charlie Warzel has a new Substack of just some dogs. It’s literally just dogs. It’s perfect.

👴 This wholesome video of a sweet grandpa will soften all of our hearts today:

majicallynews

A post shared by 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 (@majicallynews)

Alright let’s do some good good tweets.

sarah thee tonin 🖤 @sarahndipity18

pixar movies 20 years ago: haha talking toys! pixar movies now: how do you identify your life's purpose? what structures your identity & makes you, you? how do you deal with love & loss? what can we do to find joy in life despite the meaninglessness of our existence? how do we

tyler oakley @tyleroakley

you tried your best this week. even if you don’t feel like you did much, that’s okay. we’re in the deadliest days of an uncontrolled pandemic, & we just witnessed a horrifying coup attempt. give yourself a break.

D.L. Mayfield @d_l_mayfield

new life motto (courtesy of my brother-in-law): "we'll burn that bridge when we come to it"

Heather Thompson Day @HeatherTDay

The fact that Taylor Swift wrote “we are never ever getting back together” because she knew it would be a hit, & play everywhere, while simultaneously being the type of pop music Jake Gyllenhaal hated and would drive him absolutely crazy Is the type of peak petty I love most

David Uberti @DavidUberti

Correction of the day

beth silvers @nkybeth

New parenting strategy: have Alexa play Natalie Merchant's Kind and Generous anytime my kids are nasty to each other

XVIII Airborne Corps @18airbornecorps

Capitol police officer Eugene Goodman is rightfully being hailed as a hero after singlehandedly holding back rioters from entering the Senate chambers last week. An Iraq combat vet and member of this Corps, Eugene was a hero long before last Wednesday. We celebrate his valor.

Ravi Kahlon @KahlonRav

Proud dad moment today. My 10yr old son saw a new kid sitting by himself. Another friend and he decided to hang out with him over lunch. He got this lovely note at the end of the day😢❤️

SCOTTY @MarylandMudflap

I have never looked at anyone but myself in a Zoom meeting. Never have. Never will.

hannah anderson @sometimesalight

I don't know guys... I'm starting to think that a lot of folks aren't in this for the common good.

Emily Cochrane @ESCochrane

Taking a photo with the statue of Rosa Parks in Statuary Hall.

Alyssa Limperis @alyssalimp

Me: I’ll do it when I have free time Me when I have endless free time: well not now though

Sam Sanders @samsanders

One of the worst outcomes of this political moment is that it’s led a lot of us to mistake decency for bravery.

broti gupta @BrotiGupta

Jesus, the famous “clearing things up” guy

Jon @ArfMeasures

*takes bite of Pringle* yes *nods at date then waiter* we'll have the tube

Elizabeth Teng 👩🏻‍💻📡🌌 @etengastro

am I working at my regular capacity? no. but am I prioritizing and taking care of the most important tasks? no. but am I at least taking care of myself and my mental health? also no.

Tina 🎄⛄❄ @nefertinaaa

Looking forward to reading your treasures this week! Love you guys. Take care of yourselves and your people. ❤️