Dear friends,
I trust you are keeping well.
It seems that spring has sprung in Tyler, Texas, and for that I am grateful. In the autumn, especially, I miss the cold and colours of the East Coast, especially when the higher temperatures drag on here. But it is very pleasant indeed to walk comfortably outside in the sunshine in February. This too will come in the North, but perhaps not for another month or two.
This past month had me travelling twice to DFW, first four our Diocesan Council (Synod) in Fort Worth, and then again a few weeks later for an Odyssey of the Mind competition with my oldest two boys (they both did well, one’s team won first place!). And in between that, we dealt with a couple of cases of pneumonia, some unidentified respiratory viruses, and finally a couple of cases of good, old fashioned COVID. This has meant for a interesting month, and a little less “free time” than is normal
.
Writing
This month has been a productive month of writing, but the fate of that writing is yet to be seen.
At the beginning of this month I finished a proposal for my next book that I’ve started shopping around with publishers. For the proposal, I’ve outlined the book, and then completed three full chapters (about 22,000 words or so). I’ve heard back one “no” (sad!) but it is currently under consideration with another publisher, one that I think would be a good fit for the project.
Writing is always a bit of a leap of faith, at least if you’re writing for other people. My hope and prayer is that this book finds a good home, and that I can finish up the manuscript in the next year or so.I’ve sent out a couple more popular articles and reviews that I am hoping I can share in coming weeks.
The bread and butter of pastoral writing is, of course, the sermon. Here is the most recent:
Finally, I wrote a couple short pieces for our parish newsletter, The Crucifer, including a reflection on the habit of preaching and a short primer on Lent.
Reading
This month was a good month for reading, considering the circumstances. Here are some titles I managed to finish this month.
I read Matthew D. Kim’s Preaching to People in Pain: How Suffering Can Shape Your Sermons and Connect with Your Congregation. I did not reach this book alone. But, rather, I read it with a group of local pastors - our Local Theologian Fellowship - and then we met to talk about it over coffee. It was a useful book. Kim reminded me that far more people can identify with pain and suffering than being successful, and our preaching should reflect this.
After reading Abigail Shrier’s Bad Therapy, I decided to look at Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters. This book was a harrowing and difficult read, but it helped me to see the real harm that has been inflicted upon many young people (especially girls) over the past decade or so. What is so pernicious about this, I think, is that it has been done with the best intentions.
I finished the book earlier in the month, so its already starting to fade in bits, but one lesson I learned from it was a=the sobering reminder that compassion and kindness are necessary but not sufficient for caring well for children (or anyone, really). But these have to be coupled with prudence an apprehension what is true and good.Also finished up reading Robert Hayden’s Collected Poems. I wrote about one his pieces in my last newsletter. I can’t say I jived with everything I read, but a few poems hit with special force and clarity.
A few years ago I read Peter Scazzero’s Emotionally Healthy Spirituality and learned a lot from. When Scazzero’s Emotionally Healthy Leader cued up on my Libby App, I decided to listen to it. A lot of it was useful and timely, especially his discussion of the importance and mechanics of Christian sabbath observance. But some of it felt almost a little too… not oppressive, but maybe too introspective? I mean, I think being emotionally healthy is a good, and trying to cultivate a culture that is emotionally healthy is also a good, but I think some general norms are probably enough for most organizations. The way he just dove straight into dissecting minor workplace misunderstandings felt a little heavy-handed to me.
Deacon Stephen Stine here at Christ Church lent me his copy of Margaret Atwood’s The Blind Assassin, a book I had not read. Set in the fictional Ontario town of Port Ticonderoga, the novel tracks the tragic death of Laura, through the eyes of her older sister Iris, as well as through newspaper clippings and reports. A sci-fi subplot, and furtive lovers add depth and (maybe too much) texture to the narrative. Overall I really enjoyed it.
I was picturing Stratford while reading the book, which I learned was one of the handful of towns that inspired Atwood.A few months ago Amy read Sarah Clarkson’s This Beautiful Truth and really enjoyed it and suggested I read it. I’d been plodding away with it since before Christmas, but finished last week. I enjoyed facets of the book, especially Clarkson’s description of Oxford, and her evident love of the Anglican liturgy. Sometimes, though, her prose felt a little overdone, a little too verbose, and I kind of got the feeling she was trying to reproduce the style of a Trollope or Dickens, but it just didn’t really work.
Finally, I read Superman: For All Seasons by Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale, and Bjarne Hansen. A group of guys at church look at this really fun, and wholesome story. It’s kind of early Superman tale, that works along with the four seasons, and feels almost Riverdale-y. As far as superhero comics go, it was thoughtful and heartwarming, and very human. I enjoyed it.
Listening
On of the albums I like to sink into at least once a year is Vincent Sonder. This is a homespun recording that I stumbled on years ago, but its sooo good. For me, it sounds like October, or at least the way October did in Canada. I found myself reaching for it on the dreary, rainy days this past month.
Watching
This month Amy and I finished the third and finale season of Ted Lasso. We started it and January, and after a couple of episodes were hook. I know we are late to the Lasso party, but better late than never.
Lots has been written about the series, and I don’t need to add to that pile. But I will just say that despite the shows very secular outlook, its completely soaked in grace and forgiveness. So in addition to being funny and cute, it had both of us in tears more than once.
I will miss spending my evenings with Ted and the crew.
Tasting
I had a special moment this past week on my day off, where Amy kept the boys busy so I could make a short escape to Tyler State Park, not far from where we live. I had a wonderful aesthetic experience, overlooking lake, in the warm sunshine. The view was peaceful, and other than the construction that stole away the quiet that is usually easy to come by at the park, it was a idyllic.
I brought with me a cup of Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Company Whiskey Tea that I brewed at home. This is just a malted loose black tea that has been graced with essence of Whiskey. Then, there was one last piece of carrot cake with cream icing that Amy had made the day before that I brought alone. The two paired perfectly together. And to finished, I smoked a bowl of Davidoff Scottish Mixture, which had some of the same nutty, malty goodness.
Add to this a good book, a notebook and pen, and some time to think, and it made for a wonderful hour or so.
That’s all from me for this month. I hope you enjoyed reading. If you’d like to share, please do, and expect to hear from me in a month or so.
Also, just for fun, I will share this, which for some reason was parked in our church parking lot this week:
I don’t know why it was around.
In Christ,
Cole+