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:
Alright let’s do some good good tweets.
Looking forward to reading your treasures this week! Love you guys. Take care of yourselves and your people. ❤️
Happy Saturday, friends! It’s felt like a second and an eternity since the last Swipe Up #pandemictimes
Erin, I’ll be praying for your grandma! Please keep us posted on how she’s doing.
This was an interesting week but still contained many treasures:
✨I’ve been rewatching The Nanny and I forgot how funny that show is! It’s been great for decompressing before going to bed.
✨The Popcast AUA made me laugh out loud several times and it was much needed!
✨I ended up at urgent care a couple times this week and the doctor assigned to my case was so kind, took the time to figure out what was going on and made me feel comfortable in some anxious moments. Her name was Dr. Good 💯
✨I made delish macaroni and cheese.
✨All of your comments on my first post last week were a definite treasure for me. I felt so welcomed, so seen, hopeful and so excited to be apart of this group. Thank you!
Hello friends!
Since I'm writing this on Saturday, this may not be seen, but that's okay!
Erin - I'm currently too exhausted to pray but if I could hug you and your grandmother, I would. Sending all the positive thoughts and love your and her way.
<3