tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51454805384128482232024-03-27T07:34:51.464-04:00Muddy MusingsWe live in a broken, muddy world, but it is beautiful & created for good. God can use it all for His glory.Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.comBlogger1770125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-60576699685026920282024-03-27T07:32:00.003-04:002024-03-27T07:34:16.439-04:00Where I've Been Lately: Studying, Books, Coffee<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MsWJWKbUHtLDz2cDazZ4VjVNEsCKkxga7c3HS9iMSOYFzWheHZocmt-PZiA8o5ndBnDmLR5OSj8tg2SOnt0FqSGtZm3Kzapc06lu38GmE3jaf5RwvjPVy1p33n6SOUciENOG1JfwnaQ0rs8N-7gqNsDOj3xSQ5uEZolBJ6SbKLWb0QG2OfU8QI54mnml/s2016/IMG_6997_VSCO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MsWJWKbUHtLDz2cDazZ4VjVNEsCKkxga7c3HS9iMSOYFzWheHZocmt-PZiA8o5ndBnDmLR5OSj8tg2SOnt0FqSGtZm3Kzapc06lu38GmE3jaf5RwvjPVy1p33n6SOUciENOG1JfwnaQ0rs8N-7gqNsDOj3xSQ5uEZolBJ6SbKLWb0QG2OfU8QI54mnml/w480-h640/IMG_6997_VSCO.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">A visit to an old browsing spot of mine, Parker's Books in downtown Sarasota.</span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBrsZeZqMdGpUspUxZrUwvDz1fgYpiJc1sGTbYUjeE7EQ4lmM0ALZKzh570mjMMWNVd6fYDVI1__Gmk6OPN3UEFKKfBmOnOzmtWO_KlZreh3JGO3w0ooYCo-aID2538xlIZz2OlPonfUNaRha1PGEzOMjJTpy4ITwPv5ydxP1o8ohx-WxeD2NvRu8GQUh/s2016/IMG_6992_VSCO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBrsZeZqMdGpUspUxZrUwvDz1fgYpiJc1sGTbYUjeE7EQ4lmM0ALZKzh570mjMMWNVd6fYDVI1__Gmk6OPN3UEFKKfBmOnOzmtWO_KlZreh3JGO3w0ooYCo-aID2538xlIZz2OlPonfUNaRha1PGEzOMjJTpy4ITwPv5ydxP1o8ohx-WxeD2NvRu8GQUh/w480-h640/IMG_6992_VSCO.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">The open, spacious, lovely Selby Public Library in downtown Sarasota. </span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3p1rzHuU5Jg4RRZRFspgGUHbg16vctuuHlZOF4pf-v9_7I4NEBe6u4nRFl4Z8IOrrqzaZDqZYoygNXLtHrJcL6qSI9hGFW_gfrDXcpxpG03Epx5ybLnQ0p5i4CPBL1KhC3vrhIK-iIE0UKvkL-SJwJfu-fbLUzLF3R0vHMBa_Btih7-61Bp3oowVaua2i/s2016/IMG_6985_VSCO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3p1rzHuU5Jg4RRZRFspgGUHbg16vctuuHlZOF4pf-v9_7I4NEBe6u4nRFl4Z8IOrrqzaZDqZYoygNXLtHrJcL6qSI9hGFW_gfrDXcpxpG03Epx5ybLnQ0p5i4CPBL1KhC3vrhIK-iIE0UKvkL-SJwJfu-fbLUzLF3R0vHMBa_Btih7-61Bp3oowVaua2i/w480-h640/IMG_6985_VSCO.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">Trying a new (to me!) lunch spot in Sarasota, Lila. Delicious cafe with lots of vegan and gf options.</span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-g0FMTY38uuxlfhsAhTk-Sz1SeiEhx4EaG7wvZRmaJJOf2b7TjQCHgGwEXekLy0TdnWqmzG78jIBOMEOchD-7PM_lXIK7EN9qbAvbmxjw3xJc9Dnd5lqxGKn7VWB9xYL42XiTUibE45T0zWO5taQM6wyvIzhz7yQ3iFq1qIhRpobHoL-OhlK8WtaEN4lj/s2016/IMG_6978_VSCO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-g0FMTY38uuxlfhsAhTk-Sz1SeiEhx4EaG7wvZRmaJJOf2b7TjQCHgGwEXekLy0TdnWqmzG78jIBOMEOchD-7PM_lXIK7EN9qbAvbmxjw3xJc9Dnd5lqxGKn7VWB9xYL42XiTUibE45T0zWO5taQM6wyvIzhz7yQ3iFq1qIhRpobHoL-OhlK8WtaEN4lj/w480-h640/IMG_6978_VSCO.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">Study spot on the second floor of the Selby Library. I spent a good couple hours here with the best view out the window of downtown. It's a special place that invokes good memories, as this is almost the exact spot I came to research and write my final English paper in high school on Madeleine L'Engle. Love coming back here.</span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLo-it5sCdBPKyOkgQn5WXO9yOQAnfbMKMz9VC-y6-Y36fLfAsGu1S8zsZnGGHM3z0EJZBcxI6_dlIpRH-V9WRFUK3RoBXJMgEKw0l7dx5YNsVgxy6DfE1_jiVpz_YYBNZJXaiIXEnZfsrGeBXfGv9TWw26S5MceuB9iPQQpAW5An4LIqNDZRmUz83dZ2/s2016/IMG_6968_VSCO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLo-it5sCdBPKyOkgQn5WXO9yOQAnfbMKMz9VC-y6-Y36fLfAsGu1S8zsZnGGHM3z0EJZBcxI6_dlIpRH-V9WRFUK3RoBXJMgEKw0l7dx5YNsVgxy6DfE1_jiVpz_YYBNZJXaiIXEnZfsrGeBXfGv9TWw26S5MceuB9iPQQpAW5An4LIqNDZRmUz83dZ2/w480-h640/IMG_6968_VSCO.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">This is about five minutes after I passed the big exam I have been studying for. So much relief, so much to be thankful for in the ability and blessing that it is to study and pass a tough exam.</span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxnZ5-N2l5gQfo1aC-0xb8QV2Sn5nNlMK7TPaOLh_X3kg3_r2UtLs4LKtMm_I5ORWqVh9qERndffdBu7_sEgNFv-clP9TCm0FqU2zI0_of4jei5a_dLDBGslCMWNze5-N2fbcSU2LP3Aj-fjIlLD-aGIOAmEQyTtcse5_Su89q-jOmPRYhStURkrFO8YZ/s2016/IMG_6945_VSCO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxnZ5-N2l5gQfo1aC-0xb8QV2Sn5nNlMK7TPaOLh_X3kg3_r2UtLs4LKtMm_I5ORWqVh9qERndffdBu7_sEgNFv-clP9TCm0FqU2zI0_of4jei5a_dLDBGslCMWNze5-N2fbcSU2LP3Aj-fjIlLD-aGIOAmEQyTtcse5_Su89q-jOmPRYhStURkrFO8YZ/w480-h640/IMG_6945_VSCO.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">Hello, Selby Library, my old friend.</span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjop74vAmgETvn6NPf5lwdnxN_KT8gq9I9U89X5QkX_DZufASnx_SvBSsdu1ip8vml9O5ywsaNGz1ysZmIrgon3ibXOeqFOzYLYH-iXx-Su6MQSIBtA3OQ_fpJHZ7s15UCMTR8CvsCiagsT9HpWW9ogl-cC6IVk7jC6D9eMEmpHvJRj85t1GDYrSvunLnm2/s2016/IMG_6937_VSCO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjop74vAmgETvn6NPf5lwdnxN_KT8gq9I9U89X5QkX_DZufASnx_SvBSsdu1ip8vml9O5ywsaNGz1ysZmIrgon3ibXOeqFOzYLYH-iXx-Su6MQSIBtA3OQ_fpJHZ7s15UCMTR8CvsCiagsT9HpWW9ogl-cC6IVk7jC6D9eMEmpHvJRj85t1GDYrSvunLnm2/w480-h640/IMG_6937_VSCO.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">Brunch at Project Coffee in Sarasota. Perfect study spot, delicious food and coffee. It fueled me very well for a good, productive day.</span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qXn1Rpcd_Tqblm0zGOxPVr6RBHRrocBDwYjxsBxpFHomI8EqxJo4R6FYhedZT1hw4rrxMJ_H2LfEO_04uaCx9m_nqid7ju7EPusvq46xKXptijxcUf9FDDwPsgcB8bXJjqq773CD_XkjzhyphenhyphenJv0rnh4eAknJjV8OE-XMD9kdMTl-c9_ulZbjlUsGqdTD5/s2016/IMG_6915_VSCO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qXn1Rpcd_Tqblm0zGOxPVr6RBHRrocBDwYjxsBxpFHomI8EqxJo4R6FYhedZT1hw4rrxMJ_H2LfEO_04uaCx9m_nqid7ju7EPusvq46xKXptijxcUf9FDDwPsgcB8bXJjqq773CD_XkjzhyphenhyphenJv0rnh4eAknJjV8OE-XMD9kdMTl-c9_ulZbjlUsGqdTD5/w480-h640/IMG_6915_VSCO.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">Break time for an avocado toast, matcha, and good book at Black n' Brew at the Lakeland Public Library, another regular spot for me.</span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEF0q_zF5DUBqJC9ZM-XQJjWwN6K524OxEJVrZ6FNTB1lctm6x6x6PXDC__nnTYH8Oy4sQ2WbSsY_aJkXF62wwb3407rQPIoLvKMxjsr-QFxssG7M9Z_h-5054xDmScqhE6zLcxpmNy5L-x54-6_-pxktijzI3SpzRvadIaDXWsuqNQJrryZ2ztmke6Nz/s2016/IMG_6915_VSCO%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEF0q_zF5DUBqJC9ZM-XQJjWwN6K524OxEJVrZ6FNTB1lctm6x6x6PXDC__nnTYH8Oy4sQ2WbSsY_aJkXF62wwb3407rQPIoLvKMxjsr-QFxssG7M9Z_h-5054xDmScqhE6zLcxpmNy5L-x54-6_-pxktijzI3SpzRvadIaDXWsuqNQJrryZ2ztmke6Nz/w480-h640/IMG_6915_VSCO%20(1).JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">Made a latte with an abstract tulip? Still working on my latte art skills (eh, pretend skills)</span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: times;">Hallo - It's been a while! It's also been a bit of repeat for me and my life lately, let's see it looks like - study, books, coffee. You haven't missed much. There may have been a slight variety in the pattern, but the study and coffee showed up in the routine like clockwork. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Most reading time lately has been occupied by the important studying for a big exam I very recently passed. (I did get a few pages of reading for fun squeezed in each night, don't worry.) I am so filled with thankfulness for the opportunity, and I took a great deal of time for it, and for me studying requires that time and effort. I've always been that way. Back in college the regular occurrence would be that I would sit up on my bed with my very chunky textbook and notebook studying for the next accounting exam whilst my roomie went out to a social event. When I have something important to study, I devote myself to it. I put it ahead of all other fun things I might want to do. Most people would call me "too serious". But it's just my way because I want to know the things I am studying. I also see the end date, the light at the end of the tunnel, and I push through, knowing it will pay off to accomplish a big goal.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: times;">In my long study hours, my treat has been to make myself a latte. It feels fancy and tastes delicious. I grind some fresh beans, froth some barista oat milk, and pretend I am in a coffee shop using my beautiful cup and saucer, then I would get back to my desk to study. I love studying, honestly - all the research, reading, thinking, practicing. But the big exam at the end is always the scary part I am not super fond of with all the anxious nervousness.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">So I am celebrating now! My way includes hours of reading for pleasure and sleeping beyond 5:15 am occasionally. It feels like I have all this time suddenly. It feels like a gift! And it is. Everyday is truly a gift and I am blessed to get to do good work when I am at the office, and then pursue good things in my personal time. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">I had to travel to Sarasota for the exam, and it was a real treat to my pre-test anxiety to be in an old familiar place I love and have always loved since I was a kid. Being downtown was calming, visiting some of the places I've been to countless times helped take my mind off the exam, and I felt less stressed in those hours. I browsed a bookshop I've been to so many times since high school, I sat in the library with views out the window that bring back good memories, I ate delicious food. But I took study time along the way at the coffee shop and library, so I was still productive. It was an ideal situation for me. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">All that rambling catch-up to say - thank you for being here. For stopping by my little blog door and peaking in to read a post. More to come - my schedule is all clear for lots of reading excellent books that have been patiently waiting for me to pick them up!</span></div>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-43345648574326871492024-02-13T07:40:00.001-05:002024-02-13T07:40:48.747-05:00Glimpses of January and February<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rmmQQUWRXbgD5EyDCrBu2dTFCpiRAyh-MMaHtvDht-9nTn_hmiAJXOAx4guekk01HEPYfsswrdKkRCTFXoGP1qe45mRuiYVJVY6RK23NU-YsO7kSRwuNQ9YtvjDOOFgwy1Htak9TBRatshZMObELKLA0T6uWYyfa5IZVhbJImwk5yY5mYG0h2bPWnnQZ/s1989/IMG_6805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1989" data-original-width="1492" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rmmQQUWRXbgD5EyDCrBu2dTFCpiRAyh-MMaHtvDht-9nTn_hmiAJXOAx4guekk01HEPYfsswrdKkRCTFXoGP1qe45mRuiYVJVY6RK23NU-YsO7kSRwuNQ9YtvjDOOFgwy1Htak9TBRatshZMObELKLA0T6uWYyfa5IZVhbJImwk5yY5mYG0h2bPWnnQZ/w480-h640/IMG_6805.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAzmbPhe_vmEFvHZ6dlcJG9logDmV8wpWqce7nfTFYHZzBvNyTMQmzV6OHTmnt0xSidNUTX2GGUevjf9ExqnlZUY5Qn7T7uTmPx0YQMLUYV9W5a1BZDmWLdjjiGPEeVJ-985L13L1Op2JsUt4h-nnHqrvUFOE8uu3zue-L9urkIbGRNNLllD5cUOo7CSD/s2016/IMG_6763.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAzmbPhe_vmEFvHZ6dlcJG9logDmV8wpWqce7nfTFYHZzBvNyTMQmzV6OHTmnt0xSidNUTX2GGUevjf9ExqnlZUY5Qn7T7uTmPx0YQMLUYV9W5a1BZDmWLdjjiGPEeVJ-985L13L1Op2JsUt4h-nnHqrvUFOE8uu3zue-L9urkIbGRNNLllD5cUOo7CSD/w480-h640/IMG_6763.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLvxhy_VfSKpta3p_-RnIlvENQRxt8T39tM-dzOTBp5xfQH-6k4mOVKyYVxDdDi75GtkK-NC7wC-HSnZWJYfEHzt7cgTHKES7o3wQzMETQ2pikRoDH3ZQRaM9h2CvUPS_UL-R885Fiu8YFsrT63feEbMNLnwaXdiSuyimTUvVEGeok6vuiyCksXl69TBp/s2016/IMG_6762.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLvxhy_VfSKpta3p_-RnIlvENQRxt8T39tM-dzOTBp5xfQH-6k4mOVKyYVxDdDi75GtkK-NC7wC-HSnZWJYfEHzt7cgTHKES7o3wQzMETQ2pikRoDH3ZQRaM9h2CvUPS_UL-R885Fiu8YFsrT63feEbMNLnwaXdiSuyimTUvVEGeok6vuiyCksXl69TBp/w480-h640/IMG_6762.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2DiSa17dQ3RhzH7h5_AkS2JJ_GkqpQoDirRpxKGA76Lisabu6q5M-I8k3cr3_D2AN_hwWfYEcab2YSvphbH1Yw2hSpaTqFbebLiryHRmasaHEFZgOGfVGZuYFDmRZonOEyW_tEgGCBcPiiAugVxxvmqjEXbIv3ukZ0JWE20cjfNYG0HgRploFWX9W9ZH/s2016/IMG_6694.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2DiSa17dQ3RhzH7h5_AkS2JJ_GkqpQoDirRpxKGA76Lisabu6q5M-I8k3cr3_D2AN_hwWfYEcab2YSvphbH1Yw2hSpaTqFbebLiryHRmasaHEFZgOGfVGZuYFDmRZonOEyW_tEgGCBcPiiAugVxxvmqjEXbIv3ukZ0JWE20cjfNYG0HgRploFWX9W9ZH/w480-h640/IMG_6694.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">As you can see, and I totally admit, life outside of work and studies for work involves a lot of coffee and reading. You might think me the dullest sort, but it's the books and good ideas presented to me that stretch my thoughts, and coffee that wakes up my mind in the morning. Get comfortable at the table with me, along with a good cup of coffee, and let's turn the pages of a thought-provoking book. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">A murder mystery abandoned by Dorothy L. Sayers (and finished by Jill Paton Walsh) re-visits the characters Lord Peter and Harriet, for a London based mystery that enters their circle. A murder of a new acquaintance raises so many questions, and leads them on the trail to follow the steps and timing of the murder. This felt a little bit like an unfinished work of D.L.S. (not quite as polished and brilliant as D.L.S.) but it still held some of the charm of the characters and was fun to re-visit them in a story I hadn't yet read. A good kind of escape from the real world with beloved characters.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">A book about the history in Mexico in the 1930s when they outlawed the Catholic church and murdered of all the priests, here we have one priest left and he's on the run, both from the Mexican soldiers hunting him and his own past that he's ashamed of. He feels consistently unworthy and full of sorrow for the people who have been forced to renounce their faith. It reads like Dostoyevsky with complex psychological questions and moral dilemmas and stay with you later because there are no clear answers, it's muddy and messy as humanity is.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">A book to encourage and inspire one to invoke an essentialist way of thinking; shifting your mindset that you can only hold so much in your life, and too often we fill it with nonessentials. We need to let go of those nonessentials, both material and time-consuming, so that we can focus on the essentials, the things that really matter and are important. This book spoke to me with profound reminders I've already been embracing but still have much room for improvement. It keeps coming back into thought, to help me grow in the best ways of embracing the essentials. </span></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-56576489629846252024-01-29T07:49:00.001-05:002024-01-29T07:49:44.953-05:00A Lovely Winter Day<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LhKu1DLsAE5xzPcv8Qf_vUHZA8zNSK02Qs-1LaiCaImN-vk5gclPRi59GHR_xPz-DJKP8ijomIZIXcdPHa5J5xUie_Pv_b04N7UDPusIsDaKdPKsJ0YTx4VeUoPh8f7JILaPDtJzUapI_hd1Z9wKf8hBpMEPHe96-CcFEzKL4Xm4fTvyl75p2EAD4Tf0/s2016/E26DA19A-0303-4995-BCA6-7BEE6A05A079.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LhKu1DLsAE5xzPcv8Qf_vUHZA8zNSK02Qs-1LaiCaImN-vk5gclPRi59GHR_xPz-DJKP8ijomIZIXcdPHa5J5xUie_Pv_b04N7UDPusIsDaKdPKsJ0YTx4VeUoPh8f7JILaPDtJzUapI_hd1Z9wKf8hBpMEPHe96-CcFEzKL4Xm4fTvyl75p2EAD4Tf0/w480-h640/E26DA19A-0303-4995-BCA6-7BEE6A05A079.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-k-c7xt5OyFSw7NAWtSsdh8BF2-dvX_gRXYx4YM14boOELYVRpIVl1Qc-G6b8YHGShnNH3B89UwXSU2414G-J2M3QPz89GbQwn2_w4wIpkHj_W_V5BBX9H0mA8Jw48drNACQDhC7r0194T1DXrVb2fu1oIvlHX4ojnVADvP855d3eF878SHLGZSXBpDs/s2016/C472E940-A50F-461C-86EC-730D0095DAFF.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-k-c7xt5OyFSw7NAWtSsdh8BF2-dvX_gRXYx4YM14boOELYVRpIVl1Qc-G6b8YHGShnNH3B89UwXSU2414G-J2M3QPz89GbQwn2_w4wIpkHj_W_V5BBX9H0mA8Jw48drNACQDhC7r0194T1DXrVb2fu1oIvlHX4ojnVADvP855d3eF878SHLGZSXBpDs/w480-h640/C472E940-A50F-461C-86EC-730D0095DAFF.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFg44ncDq5SKsmYZLNRQFSLfU4tbMEwccLqMkDCA4Y4Nq3BxZ_1fnXsScpKmopraCFZE6xCpnrj7hgmpbzQJZ6KAq09OexPxb_8tscJAhEGIq8N0WJUY8S0qjE57TMx33amKKhLE4CFwCUklMWhIS0tb1rBKrJkz3cDD6zJ2COogfZ7cHQ1x-C_VBhSgYq/s2016/B89C5D1F-F369-4665-A72C-8FDCE4D7AA92.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFg44ncDq5SKsmYZLNRQFSLfU4tbMEwccLqMkDCA4Y4Nq3BxZ_1fnXsScpKmopraCFZE6xCpnrj7hgmpbzQJZ6KAq09OexPxb_8tscJAhEGIq8N0WJUY8S0qjE57TMx33amKKhLE4CFwCUklMWhIS0tb1rBKrJkz3cDD6zJ2COogfZ7cHQ1x-C_VBhSgYq/w480-h640/B89C5D1F-F369-4665-A72C-8FDCE4D7AA92.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpm7pJWzOlRSt2xqzlXsA_QudokmCUoSj0dbr6QdKrCkI-LJ-jpq9aPxgAO9V-SmnFg6UOwgzY_diTksqgsbK7o1J15e9D2ydSPr994Jliu0hF4ruqhkYLUiUC7mFFScY_p1X7nRiViCfTpFcryyO28d-Ck8-voONK9zPUFhkMlVyi_z8UExlgXOFMast/s2016/571C6773-028D-4B09-9BB4-F57B5CE15D5A.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpm7pJWzOlRSt2xqzlXsA_QudokmCUoSj0dbr6QdKrCkI-LJ-jpq9aPxgAO9V-SmnFg6UOwgzY_diTksqgsbK7o1J15e9D2ydSPr994Jliu0hF4ruqhkYLUiUC7mFFScY_p1X7nRiViCfTpFcryyO28d-Ck8-voONK9zPUFhkMlVyi_z8UExlgXOFMast/w480-h640/571C6773-028D-4B09-9BB4-F57B5CE15D5A.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-J4h2hO_WFtU1YXoN4rmLi3YeJeZV9pPRPDOKmNBvdWNIBRZpyzYuP6z7OSoDGWCUuIW0HIOtY2T7wWviPBANoq0FxyErMRY3fP-4uNolzz9S06XO2_2sjhA8jGN06CHQZuY3lqX4WDz2JXmOMf3WdtnFq09Bh-rHKh-0LTKisIEUAKP-gPoEvpXxDQjd/s2016/222C5179-4598-4CE8-B6C5-6C4983F71C35.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-J4h2hO_WFtU1YXoN4rmLi3YeJeZV9pPRPDOKmNBvdWNIBRZpyzYuP6z7OSoDGWCUuIW0HIOtY2T7wWviPBANoq0FxyErMRY3fP-4uNolzz9S06XO2_2sjhA8jGN06CHQZuY3lqX4WDz2JXmOMf3WdtnFq09Bh-rHKh-0LTKisIEUAKP-gPoEvpXxDQjd/w480-h640/222C5179-4598-4CE8-B6C5-6C4983F71C35.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHylf9mgU7y9mUkBGliCqtro6p4GZ5qkILKrBO2LV4sLk9R5yzIynM1OjVR_PZym1F_sEOf-8fIZerFxcdHWIZbkbMbfJLwELilavFWpbHwNbbYyaTd6IWOWajwq5EwvOY0JZz3Wq2bdQeP5X8qjNxHzAhgXq6i57eNqj7N_ewOOUlKihPpYmok1URv6p/s2016/4BEAF477-9C69-4BA1-87FB-A6BC3607A3D8.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHylf9mgU7y9mUkBGliCqtro6p4GZ5qkILKrBO2LV4sLk9R5yzIynM1OjVR_PZym1F_sEOf-8fIZerFxcdHWIZbkbMbfJLwELilavFWpbHwNbbYyaTd6IWOWajwq5EwvOY0JZz3Wq2bdQeP5X8qjNxHzAhgXq6i57eNqj7N_ewOOUlKihPpYmok1URv6p/w480-h640/4BEAF477-9C69-4BA1-87FB-A6BC3607A3D8.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I took myself out for my birthday morning to enjoy the lovely winter weather we were blessed with. January is easily my top month, which goes against the grain of how most people view January (cold, dark, gloomy), but I love everything about it. This day was all sunshine and crisp air, but I will gladly take the cloudy days most would call gloomy. To me, clouds add interest and atmosphere, which in turn adds an inspiring element that I usually want to capture in words or a photo. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">What could be better than a browse in a used bookshop (Inklings Book Shoppe located downtown now), a coffee, and a time in the lovely Hollis Garden? It felt like such an indulgence to enjoy these moments so selfishly. It was a time of not being productive, of indulging in book browsing, and writing a poem in the garden. I began to ask myself - is it okay to take time to do such a frivolous thing? The answer came easily following the trail of the question - yes. It was a couple hours of filling up my bucket. With the intensity of other things that have been occupying my time, it truly felt like a gift to take time out to be so frivolous, and it was much needed. So simple, really. I used my birthday as an excuse to take the time, but I know I should probably use a more easily contrived excuse for next time (not a once per year occurrence).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">The beautiful thing about the time was the freshness of the air and how restoring the time was for my soul. I haven't been taking time for these things lately, and I feel it deeply. It is to my own detriment that I don't set aside such times. It was perhaps perfect timing to have just finished reading <i>Essentialism</i>, a book about setting aside the things that are nonessential to have space in your life, focus on the important things, and not be bogged down by all the clutter or noise of everything trying to grab you. It is something I've already been working on in my life, but I am better equipped with some tools to allow myself to let go of things that are not essential. It's refreshing to do so. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I tend to have a sanguine view of the days ahead, not because I think the world's problems or my own will all be solved, but because I trust in the Lord who is all loving, all knowing, all seeing, and who is in charge of all creation. It means everything is in His hands, and that brings much comfort, that a higher power has ultimate oversight and it's not in human hands. The Lord is in charge, who has created and is creating. I am cheerfully confident in that, and felt it through and through as I sat in the garden penning these wind-swept words into a silly poem.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">It's a beautiful day to sit in the garden<br />A cold breeze, fresh air, but do pardon<br />My warm wool blazer and sweater layers<br />I'm inspired by the age of Dorothy L. Sayers<br />And it's delightfully cold so I may deploy<br />This perfect way to dress and enjoy<br />Perched on my select bench with views<br />That conjure the words, inspire my muse.</span></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-30734636089178643132024-01-20T08:55:00.000-05:002024-01-20T08:55:33.591-05:00The Edge of Moments<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSU5jGkxdTdD5MAT_f48W_7uI88dWD5n82Cr0Pb3YUmaDlF5bnHS7Ja-5El3yGsPHzsLvVAOPBVAg1lCRSRz6X4KjISb3OP9fT6mpyQcDfCUIj7UJVTowmtJck-Z3HwAJuehPG3hcubFfIoPXtt_lhaLAUcw9QJT1REubR0xbEPQBC57rdGPqXck9sBjVl/s2016/IMG_6674.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSU5jGkxdTdD5MAT_f48W_7uI88dWD5n82Cr0Pb3YUmaDlF5bnHS7Ja-5El3yGsPHzsLvVAOPBVAg1lCRSRz6X4KjISb3OP9fT6mpyQcDfCUIj7UJVTowmtJck-Z3HwAJuehPG3hcubFfIoPXtt_lhaLAUcw9QJT1REubR0xbEPQBC57rdGPqXck9sBjVl/w480-h640/IMG_6674.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVTg-JLSIgFUgt-f1uzUlEG1Cc2W6Yci01QHbSfx8bLqGuu35vUEGwPxOsFRoNpVVlcL7BA5Qd9rrR4NAcsB-Yw_7ldUCBEe6MK2VX60U5KCOQ2ezL7SVDJ3krEGUShue8LQPdrbscEXmoJow-FCkYs07H6VCGzl6O8uDkUH1vwFhyjq07u3c8W8NVI9m/s2016/IMG_6671.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVTg-JLSIgFUgt-f1uzUlEG1Cc2W6Yci01QHbSfx8bLqGuu35vUEGwPxOsFRoNpVVlcL7BA5Qd9rrR4NAcsB-Yw_7ldUCBEe6MK2VX60U5KCOQ2ezL7SVDJ3krEGUShue8LQPdrbscEXmoJow-FCkYs07H6VCGzl6O8uDkUH1vwFhyjq07u3c8W8NVI9m/w480-h640/IMG_6671.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82lKfp8fopcz5UY03UtXGOhX7mV0gSx30QLNNI6PygKEwTIQoLiEYlhyM4RLfdb8Ya_XjaE1WSdtwGTFxNrQdnGVTKOGDXuhUah0wf-3S452gkGk9d5NODRv1eTihh2ZYShHW0Rh2qIAabqwKP38gm-msezNyuQRAkRcMdq6-RcMIuS5-As7aNic-ViJb/s2016/IMG_6663.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82lKfp8fopcz5UY03UtXGOhX7mV0gSx30QLNNI6PygKEwTIQoLiEYlhyM4RLfdb8Ya_XjaE1WSdtwGTFxNrQdnGVTKOGDXuhUah0wf-3S452gkGk9d5NODRv1eTihh2ZYShHW0Rh2qIAabqwKP38gm-msezNyuQRAkRcMdq6-RcMIuS5-As7aNic-ViJb/w480-h640/IMG_6663.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">We are always teetering on the edge of a moment. We approach it, sometimes unaware of it until we are right at the edge of it. It could be why we can so often feel like something is about to happen and then it does. Sometimes it's the unknown that sneaks up, or it could be the <i>almost</i> known, as possibly expected.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I clammer in my mind to make sense of such a paucity. The thing small which catches me, makes me pause and stand at the edge there considering. A tacit moment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">In these quiet moments that will provide a space and draw me in - it almost says more than a speech could contain. Listening in the silence is key.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I would contain the notion that we stare into the potential as we move forward sometimes not actually seeing. Taking a breath to notice it causes me to conciliate instead of feel frenzied. Sometimes all I need when the world is cluttered around me demanding every fibre of me, is to pause and step back to see ahead of me. It can quickly shift to something beautiful with a change of perspective.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">They are gifts, each one. These moments can speed by; they don't necessarily pause for you, especially if you don't pause for them. Like the sunset sky always changing every second, the daily ritual of time is nonstop. It doesn't rest to let you rest. You must take the time and use it for these moments. Allow yourself to be drawn into the present. We stand at the brink of it, though, something...</span></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-26915600512457375242024-01-10T20:15:00.000-05:002024-01-10T20:15:24.836-05:00On Reading Challenging Books<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsbsK0Ql1zJFouJbvAd_SGaJWx6Uc3nOzXQzlyu4wyIVh-bBNP4Wbir4y0xX273pPJ5Xea3Up0M7oPQjbONz2Gw7Ppysalhn-FrF070x-Vun-OoMj_vyQuvGTVRFDKSrORKqbEMW_9spLcjxrLrs4LjaXr0CQYHj3YOAoae4VbV2Nf8rF0qOUG80kiWvq/s2016/IMG_6635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsbsK0Ql1zJFouJbvAd_SGaJWx6Uc3nOzXQzlyu4wyIVh-bBNP4Wbir4y0xX273pPJ5Xea3Up0M7oPQjbONz2Gw7Ppysalhn-FrF070x-Vun-OoMj_vyQuvGTVRFDKSrORKqbEMW_9spLcjxrLrs4LjaXr0CQYHj3YOAoae4VbV2Nf8rF0qOUG80kiWvq/w480-h640/IMG_6635.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Happy 2024 to you!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">With the freshness of a new year comes the tendency to think about ways to improve oneself in the coming 12 months. It's an admirable task that requires some reflection on the last year and the thoughts of how to work toward becoming better in some way. Whether that's through setting goals, changing habits, setting intentional tasks, everyone is different in how they might approach it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I think a lot about reading, of course, as it is one of life's greatest pleasures, but it's also one of life's gifts for learning, growing, being challenged, and developing into a better person. I often talk to people about books and in conversation I might mention some authors I love and quite frequently I hear something along the lines of - "oh that's too difficult for me to read. I don't understand any of it." While it might be true that the level of that author might be above one's level at the moment, you will never grow as a reader if you never read above your level. If you only stick to the comfortable, easy books where you know everything, you'll always feel like certain books are "off limits" because they are above your ability to understand. You are limiting yourself.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I always wonder what people are afraid of if they don't understand everything in a book. I usually explain that I also don't understand everything by that author, and maybe when I read it 5 years ago I only understand 40% of it, but certain things stick and over the years I grow into that knowledge. Then, I will read it again and grasp much more, maybe understanding 70%. We grow into the wisdom that has come before us by reading ahead of ourselves and letting it guide us. Sooner rather than later, you grow into that level of reading and it becomes your level of reading the more you do it. Which then opens the doors to a world of more books to read that once scared you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">So as I ponder these things, I think about my own reading and how I want to continue to challenge myself and put my brain to work. I want to pick up the great books. The books that will make me think deeply. The books that will get my cognitive muscles working. The books that will improve my life by teaching me great insights. To read those wiser than me. My intelligence will never grow by sitting in a comfort zone. So, here are some notes to self, as I pick up books to read this coming year. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- Put your brain to work. We are gifted with the amazing ability to think, ponder, consider, weigh morals, judge, muse, question. Use that gift. Stretch your brain and your understanding of the world.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- What is the real reason you are afraid to read something you deem is above your intelligence?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- Read outside your comfort zone. Don't just read about the topics you already know. Read topics you know very little about.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- Read above your intelligence level. It's okay to enjoy some fun books of course, but weave in the challenging ones as well. Ones you think are "too smart" for you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- Don't be afraid to feel kind of stupid as you read. Nobody else knows as you read that you didn't know about "this" or "that". </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- Don't be afraid to be confused by a book, or not understand it all. Bits and pieces will stick, and you'll come back to it later. In the meantime, it's a good brain workout.</span></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-28442941808334239002023-12-24T08:41:00.002-05:002023-12-24T08:42:46.761-05:00Christmas Cheer and Cups of Cosy<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOx9POwBQ8ZIfxMHCmmQlN6D0aboQr9lzM08eKWpxMPgN89d-kpwVcIHLkcOmindyD_kqGAZaovetC0hS7CTXQH9XZcbk688iBNx_uxcKqJAs6c5B-ObHQSSE36Rqck0J0AxKR8v0jG-QM5U9qOZfPwacVv7TH-Rzmxg8l5x6QSe069dLvMG-MQYz-M2p/s2016/IMG_6530.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOx9POwBQ8ZIfxMHCmmQlN6D0aboQr9lzM08eKWpxMPgN89d-kpwVcIHLkcOmindyD_kqGAZaovetC0hS7CTXQH9XZcbk688iBNx_uxcKqJAs6c5B-ObHQSSE36Rqck0J0AxKR8v0jG-QM5U9qOZfPwacVv7TH-Rzmxg8l5x6QSe069dLvMG-MQYz-M2p/w480-h640/IMG_6530.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfP4wGyBfgOqOWZzyhu0FOyzlGHu8GwBbWoRgN6e6hZBrmPgjD2oxOKozgIIdEJpHhXPZcMmO063nyyZh-weF51Bpg_zCm4Yv6d29nt4nO57ZIwAlwXvVYFTzmo10GzsVH5HWUu6-WMMz7h8DCAzBNFL1dSMqWSpazHnAvoFYlXYywrw2E_154rQ1DIPS/s2016/IMG_6515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfP4wGyBfgOqOWZzyhu0FOyzlGHu8GwBbWoRgN6e6hZBrmPgjD2oxOKozgIIdEJpHhXPZcMmO063nyyZh-weF51Bpg_zCm4Yv6d29nt4nO57ZIwAlwXvVYFTzmo10GzsVH5HWUu6-WMMz7h8DCAzBNFL1dSMqWSpazHnAvoFYlXYywrw2E_154rQ1DIPS/w480-h640/IMG_6515.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcM3AZGGDg5O1Sm17-MV-w9kP6JfxcnHqMfyyk_XUDJN5sYFyoT-_oCwEw6DHgHU5erdWCpIuYBCIm4qIFN8V4Izy6paxabHWZ24-NFxX2utyH_kWQyUvBxTBkUPhnNp5BBh-IBvwqKIKuWmJLnku1_lY-jYLRYg-ksp_mbAra8aK39yX5eCOF5eWidFMr/s2016/IMG_6509.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcM3AZGGDg5O1Sm17-MV-w9kP6JfxcnHqMfyyk_XUDJN5sYFyoT-_oCwEw6DHgHU5erdWCpIuYBCIm4qIFN8V4Izy6paxabHWZ24-NFxX2utyH_kWQyUvBxTBkUPhnNp5BBh-IBvwqKIKuWmJLnku1_lY-jYLRYg-ksp_mbAra8aK39yX5eCOF5eWidFMr/w480-h640/IMG_6509.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5YkSS-M2_J5bIdRYa7O6kf1LG33uNMTU4Oq4AL1azWJr5hXXKjJ3YwubJo7UJpFqXv4yF5blXoJIXao9JWv5rkPClxXIGRMsnRw-RBz2GIncWLi1yNJUmFv5LKHnXk9MtkpRiD6dGD5fwM7kjBLC2jpVak_zFvOr0Cqxb9BSqyK7mbuPjYmRMhvnL44z/s2016/IMG_6475.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5YkSS-M2_J5bIdRYa7O6kf1LG33uNMTU4Oq4AL1azWJr5hXXKjJ3YwubJo7UJpFqXv4yF5blXoJIXao9JWv5rkPClxXIGRMsnRw-RBz2GIncWLi1yNJUmFv5LKHnXk9MtkpRiD6dGD5fwM7kjBLC2jpVak_zFvOr0Cqxb9BSqyK7mbuPjYmRMhvnL44z/w480-h640/IMG_6475.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJl4sZKe_qZNlKmcS5-gL0Ghyphenhyphen-krBhYs4JLL9cT1yiIh5C5Vl3I6fEhBV9mAWY3qAhDQL0I2sFDYNwSUJ03Lj640Yg9wToG-rVtlrOB5h_G9pRUaFOnvM-US1JddpxXx111ETWD1Ya5ap2bcpaGoUwubincsybVDPmB26Fh6krbokkUjmaxtpCMu9MocMX/s2016/IMG_6472.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJl4sZKe_qZNlKmcS5-gL0Ghyphenhyphen-krBhYs4JLL9cT1yiIh5C5Vl3I6fEhBV9mAWY3qAhDQL0I2sFDYNwSUJ03Lj640Yg9wToG-rVtlrOB5h_G9pRUaFOnvM-US1JddpxXx111ETWD1Ya5ap2bcpaGoUwubincsybVDPmB26Fh6krbokkUjmaxtpCMu9MocMX/w480-h640/IMG_6472.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcryljjoPSnZxE5ape3wH8G1d6SD0bLWmQXYvXmMisVE29hzkaKWc5DhDtNqINzSelrrNefkdPCus6t0yfPRZGU1M4wF-tDqpoShhPtlhO5Wl0Myj9D7kNF7_VlE_UJCYChQlDgXozWS1yqrCcLG6DCk8OXjCdWrM7MWEzrxQ2KT-YvN8zle_rHbTXteK/s2016/IMG_6456.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcryljjoPSnZxE5ape3wH8G1d6SD0bLWmQXYvXmMisVE29hzkaKWc5DhDtNqINzSelrrNefkdPCus6t0yfPRZGU1M4wF-tDqpoShhPtlhO5Wl0Myj9D7kNF7_VlE_UJCYChQlDgXozWS1yqrCcLG6DCk8OXjCdWrM7MWEzrxQ2KT-YvN8zle_rHbTXteK/w480-h640/IMG_6456.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">By the tender mercy of our God,<br />the dawn from on high will break upon us,<br />to give light to those who sit in darkness<br />and in the shadow of death,<br />to guide our feet into a way of peace.<br /><br />-Luke 1.78-79</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><u><b>Recipe for adding Christmas cheer:</b></u></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- Ring the bell for Salvation Army </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- Advent Tea Calendar - a different tea to make every night. Cosiness in a cup</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- Pressed Books and Coffee Christmas decor and book shopping</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- Soft twinkle lights and candles to light to darkness of every evening</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- Time with family and friends with gifts and good food</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><u><b>Directions</b></u>:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- Add all ingredients to the daily agenda or the calendar (sprinkle love onto each one and enjoy the moments in your heart) and allow for reflection time on the great gift given by the tender mercy of God.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- May your heart be full, may your life be never the same when Christ comes to enter in.<br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Christmas is Near<br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">What's this feeling like a pop of cheer?<br />Truly it is because Christmas is near.<br />More of Christ and less of us<br />Can we somehow let go of fuss?<br />To dive into love, the truest love of all<br />Separate from noise to hear love's call<br />A gift we have before us, unlike any gift<br />Something we scarce imagine; if we sift<br />Our minds and hearts, we find a need within<br />the deep place - a longing like something akin<br />To the mystical between worlds desire<br />We often fill with worldly mud and mire<br />Instead of looking up from said mud to see<br />The glorious present of Love, come down to you and me. </span></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-38435922081016517342023-12-13T07:40:00.000-05:002023-12-13T07:40:09.184-05:00Prepare - Wait - Trust - Faith<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVV64kzxkwCB-5JjcpbPaKRtF9RKHpnOsVd-4Ac1oczN3cYf5iU522HWDmsdSs-f-vKGQBG25lKbns058dIoqw0T1YWYRP1mmofB3VZXoiiVAQKPIdyKaMmcIFGdoaYi2PDEs-wRGZ8DVh7-fRZ9rGFkBPpSVk6wVvj5M1XRTr4AxnvyTAyrhUzqkZ0q3d/s2016/IMG_6493.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVV64kzxkwCB-5JjcpbPaKRtF9RKHpnOsVd-4Ac1oczN3cYf5iU522HWDmsdSs-f-vKGQBG25lKbns058dIoqw0T1YWYRP1mmofB3VZXoiiVAQKPIdyKaMmcIFGdoaYi2PDEs-wRGZ8DVh7-fRZ9rGFkBPpSVk6wVvj5M1XRTr4AxnvyTAyrhUzqkZ0q3d/w480-h640/IMG_6493.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">To prepare is to harness that usually unlikeable practice of waiting, for you don’t need to prepare for something already here. Preparing leaves in its essence the unknown. To prepare is to be in the darkness before the light is switched on. Preparing is filling your oil lamps and keeping them filled. To prepare for a future hope is to trust. You may not know when or how exactly it will happen, but you trust that which you are preparing for will come. Trusting leads to faith-faith in what you may not be able to see.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">We have but faith: we cannot know;</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">For knowledge is of things we see</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">And yet we trust it comes from thee,</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">A beam in darkness: let it grow.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">(Alfred Lord Tennyson)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;"> <span class="il">Advent</span> is a season of waiting. The Latin “veni” in <span class="il">Advent</span> speaks of ‘coming’, which invokes an invitation to prepare and then wait in an eager expectation of the coming. For <span class="il">Advent</span>, imagine yourself in the unknown pre-Christ’s birth time of history when the people of the world were in a darkness because the Ancient of Days was coming, but had not yet come. They could not see. That which was ‘yet-to-come’ was left to images and metaphors, the only way was to imagine in ways humans can. The O Antiphons are prayers/poems that lead us up to Christmas, each one describing Christ from ancient days without ever naming Him. They call Him by other names in their expectations and understanding of Him being all these things. These are poems of anticipation, of waiting for the promise to be fulfilled. They are prayers of hope and longing at the same time. The names of each one:</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">-Sapientia (wisdom)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">-Adonai (Lord)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">-Radix Jesse (root of Jesse)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">-Clavis David (key of David)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">-Oriens (dayspring)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">-Rex Gentium (king of nations)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">-O Emmanuel (God with us)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">In the spirit of preparing I read poems. Poems that cause me to pause. Words that squeeze so much meaning into very few lines. Poems that encourage imaginatively living before Christ’s birth to better understand the <span class="il">Advent</span> hope. The <span class="il">Advent</span> miracle of Love-the freely given Love that came down to meet us where we are. Poems allow a hidden divine presence to dance in light between the words and carefully coined phrases. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">Poems invite us to dive into their words and images, in anticipation of what is to come–</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">If thy first glance so powerful be,</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">A mirth but open’d and seal’d up again;</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">What wonders shall we feel, when we shall see</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">Thy full-ey’d love!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">When thou shalt look us out of pain,</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">And one aspect of thine spend in delight</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">More than a thousand suns disburse in light,</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">In heaven above.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">(George Herbert)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><em><span style="font-family: times;">The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness-on them light has shined. (Isaiah 9:2)</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">Lord, You are our Lord, You are wisdom, the root, the key, the day spring, the king of all nations, and You are with us. May we seek You in all our preparation and through any darkness that surrounds us. May we pause with poetic words that draw us closer to You. To seek You always, in all things. Amen.
<i>(Written for my church's Advent Devo this year)</i></span></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-25899833911428313722023-12-04T07:39:00.000-05:002023-12-04T07:39:03.536-05:00Slowing Down in Advent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYln-ouE8Ga69VA32Hjo-b0hAuTuGVKcpMN2yJ8dmNnR3t821yyjNhgMovt5j20VF_okGHAV9cZrKSsVmVGCm8P-0AfvzF_fVOBMGEJK5aJ-yH4m6SkyzSOeotqN3i69ooY1A-OtQFCruyJ2727AF3ryNykUQV2WGWqeRAao21MXScaEYqp3Q3s318J6KK/w480-h640/2BE6F589-B750-4BC1-AF4A-1B10715EA524.JPG" width="480" /></span><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">Isaiah 40:3</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">The voice of one crying in the wilderness:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">“Prepare the way of the Lord;</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">Make straight in the desert</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">A highway for our God.</span></b></div></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: times;">It may seem counter-cultural. It sure is. It may sound challenging. Yep. That's right. You'll say, well that's not possible, my schedule is too full. I have too much going on. I don't have time. Especially this time of year when the calendar is jam-packed. Who has time to slow down to be mindful, meditative, and prayerful? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Why do we resist slowing down so much? Is it our culture? Is it us? What are we afraid of? Missing out?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">I think about this in the context of our culture and the idea of always having to keep up with everything. No matter what it is - trends, fads, music, business, slang, events. There is a sense of needing to check social media for the latest trend to latch onto, as if it is going to fill some hole in our lives, which by the way you didn't know existed until the trending video told you. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">It's not that there is anything wrong in these things in themselves, until and unless they become the thing you idolize. And we all idolize something. If it's not God, then it's something of this world. A person, a trend, any other thing, anything can become an idol. It is so easy to let something other than God fall into your number one place of idolizing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Advent is all about preparing. Why do we need to prepare? Because our hearts so easily gravitate toward selfish desires rather than opening to the heart of God and letting go of our desires. We need the reminder to draw back closer to Him and let go of those things that keep us "needing" the things we idolize, being chained to them. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Advent comes once per year, and we most definitely need the reminder to re-tune our hearts. But we can casually shrug it off and keep on going business as usual indulging in the cheerfulness of secular Christmas, or we can pause and take this time to draw closer to God and see how it changes our lives. This could be through many different avenues that cause us to go deeper such as (these are all reminders to myself and things I will be focusing on):<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">- <b>Prayer time</b>: Set aside 10 minutes (or an hour if you have it) to be in a prayerful posture. Sit with the Lord. You don't have to have words. A simple line to prayerfully repeat is all that's needed, such as "Lord, You are the true Light, prepare my heart for You."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">- <b>Advent readings and devotionals</b>: there are so many to choose from, books, videos, downloads. They are usually short and offer insightful reflective prompts to set the tone for the day. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">You can read my church's Advent Devotional online <a href="https://issuu.com/1stlkld/docs/advent_devotion_2023_one_page_at_a_time_-_final" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Contributions are by pastors and laity of the church, and you may catch my own small contribution. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">- <b>Decorate and feast with meaning: </b>practice for the coming joy. Hold the mindset of everything being in celebration of Christ. His coming, His love, the gift of Him is why we give gifts. The feasts we have are in preparation for the banquets He prepares for us. The comforts of home can remind us of the dwelling He has for us in His Kingdom, which is here, begun already. We can see glimpses of that by curating such beautiful reminders in our days.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">- <b>Quiet times for reflection</b>: funny enough my quiet times usually revolve around a cup of coffee or tea. Why is that? Making a delicious hot drink causes me to slow down and stay somewhere with it. It offers the perfect time to sit and be reflective. That can be alone or with a loved one. It can be journaling or some Bible reading and refection alone or with the other person.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Happy Advent - may this season bring the light and love of Christ into your heart.</span></div>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-87279869181539683882023-11-23T07:34:00.000-05:002023-11-23T07:34:26.352-05:00Early Sunsets, Religion Lecture, and Two Excellent Books<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CyNzHuxU-rx8SqRMse6_OfD9mAZV7wLoBWmj50okUZmRWvsEt4VEkhAnFXleainPVS8Z3knVCXs6UZjHYP8rSHV9a72iLGUMzN-92c0YvhDARgmNCH1Jpb4EUUMSYS86OZL_rNA9482iF9ibuxIK_-Fs3T-47KMd3I-dkWQS2Npdc8Xf0KPYxtk9QEOA/s2010/IMG_6139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2010" data-original-width="1427" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CyNzHuxU-rx8SqRMse6_OfD9mAZV7wLoBWmj50okUZmRWvsEt4VEkhAnFXleainPVS8Z3knVCXs6UZjHYP8rSHV9a72iLGUMzN-92c0YvhDARgmNCH1Jpb4EUUMSYS86OZL_rNA9482iF9ibuxIK_-Fs3T-47KMd3I-dkWQS2Npdc8Xf0KPYxtk9QEOA/w454-h640/IMG_6139.jpg" width="454" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rVV6SXiR0LdnGT1Tkky0E_wo2WQs5g3uUnLSgM3RtSLqoFku5ndS0o2rzX5z2Db0RVSLW3sMOEmV3HcMH3LbqKBVDGTZKvz4hkCtJ-TIy79JnvyPUjyAdVVz0VUb9Ha-RtBeIFnBUQ2amJGmVmtmi95SYakzkvwa5SsVKfoCWeml2-KDTA5VJbTmcBBw/s2016/IMG_6271.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rVV6SXiR0LdnGT1Tkky0E_wo2WQs5g3uUnLSgM3RtSLqoFku5ndS0o2rzX5z2Db0RVSLW3sMOEmV3HcMH3LbqKBVDGTZKvz4hkCtJ-TIy79JnvyPUjyAdVVz0VUb9Ha-RtBeIFnBUQ2amJGmVmtmi95SYakzkvwa5SsVKfoCWeml2-KDTA5VJbTmcBBw/w480-h640/IMG_6271.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1_lTYMU_6QznAx981aZXcDj5zzf_LqbiDidnLxr4n73E-fnYN4lAuMzUMFj9uS9pEfRhT0vrnVuO4K8qewl1sr7MbyQv7JJEDwPvLZOQAmQypErskiXTOwR6Hdj9MOkjFXI34iZPUke62qa_hbCTXHaK5eGsjDRtPNuQglxHd7ODr9URDo4OALsb2tgF/s2016/IMG_6272.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1_lTYMU_6QznAx981aZXcDj5zzf_LqbiDidnLxr4n73E-fnYN4lAuMzUMFj9uS9pEfRhT0vrnVuO4K8qewl1sr7MbyQv7JJEDwPvLZOQAmQypErskiXTOwR6Hdj9MOkjFXI34iZPUke62qa_hbCTXHaK5eGsjDRtPNuQglxHd7ODr9URDo4OALsb2tgF/w480-h640/IMG_6272.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1aesQj2nbgsoNIMPB-HigGTrBNMuBqwzGDmvjyrxIFkgtsPE4WZopZfMiyxJXk-P8iWsuLC3POkhMQqiA-l1xDzPIwOEPyCXh2MIQBTDDNo3b_T-918FrYxcT5Gm3U-hAQTR3-avRbGhCYKF_XBuuaDJ-9ugOngI8llz_dLvvvTJ0sRdQr-N2FTwN3vU/s2016/IMG_6280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1aesQj2nbgsoNIMPB-HigGTrBNMuBqwzGDmvjyrxIFkgtsPE4WZopZfMiyxJXk-P8iWsuLC3POkhMQqiA-l1xDzPIwOEPyCXh2MIQBTDDNo3b_T-918FrYxcT5Gm3U-hAQTR3-avRbGhCYKF_XBuuaDJ-9ugOngI8llz_dLvvvTJ0sRdQr-N2FTwN3vU/w480-h640/IMG_6280.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoFe5tgmrweRxV4-6sZa0KiMXqRsLsDN_GTCndNscNG28YnOv4S6AMu0IBK1KPgRHKGjSTmJ3ljhrh4T52AimQxYTEpd5m4atzWpZavFXHe_-L0Db9WCat9Lti3pZf2fYnuKJti15OGLSKAgZIgLTVheWsJXBEzM8R2Lbx8seQIkettt-9u9ioesSPFfK/s2016/IMG_6288.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoFe5tgmrweRxV4-6sZa0KiMXqRsLsDN_GTCndNscNG28YnOv4S6AMu0IBK1KPgRHKGjSTmJ3ljhrh4T52AimQxYTEpd5m4atzWpZavFXHe_-L0Db9WCat9Lti3pZf2fYnuKJti15OGLSKAgZIgLTVheWsJXBEzM8R2Lbx8seQIkettt-9u9ioesSPFfK/w480-h640/IMG_6288.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br />Writing this from the horizon of Thanksgiving, eager to see some family and eat yummy traditional American Thanksgiving food (turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, etc). The last few weeks have been packed tightly with things to take my attention away from being an acceptably consistent blogger. Attempting to remedy that now!<br /><br />So as schedules are busy and the holidays invite many times of lovely gatherings, it is my study to focus and enjoy the little things that bring some joy to an everyday. Here are some things I've been enjoying lately:</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- Early sunsets might be disliked by the majority of people (with that pesky time change a few weeks ago), but you cannot deny these Autumnal sunsets are beautiful and they remind me that Winter is coming. Colder air is on the way, which delights me and I get set in my mind to all sorts of dreamy notions. Also, when the sun sets before I leave work, I get to see Jupiter and Venus in the sky on my way home. I love seeing the planets in the clear sky. Yes, I will always be an astronomy nerd, but also the mysterious creation of God is astounding. Sometimes we lose sight of what is beyond our small lives as we grind through our everyday workflow. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- A religion lecture at Florida Southern College. Having the opportunity to return to campus and sit in my favourite room "The Hollis Room" (the original library was in this room; it's a Frank Lloyd Wright treasure) was so fun for me. The lecture was given by Dr. Ian McFarland from Emory University. His talk was titled "Christian Hope and the Goodness of Creation". He had written books on this topic, so he knew what he was talking about. He read an academic paper that was dense and so full I had a hard time keeping up with notes I wanted to jot down. There were many interesting ideas I would like to dive into sometime, such as escatalogical forgetfulness, and he used an illustration of Dante forgetting after drinking from the river Lethe. I was fascinated by his ideas on re-memory in the process of redeeming sin or painful experiences. He argued how scars are resistance to the evil that caused the harm and that this present life is where the contours of eternity are showing themselves. So many deep insights I could swim in for awhile. Getting to be a student (there were lots of students there, but it was open to the public), listen to a very knowledgeable professor, take notes, and learn more about something I am keenly interested in sums up many of the best ways to spend an evening. I wish there were more of these kinds of events!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">- Two books I am reading right now are absolutory delightful. One is a book of aphorisms <i>The Pocket Oracle and the Art of Prudence</i>, wisdom on how to work well with people and live a life ruled by prudence. It was written over 350 years ago by Baltasar Gracian, a Spanish Jesuit Priest who published this book of wisdom in 1647. These nuggets of advice are often rather cold and calculating, and so applicable to the world we live in today. It's uncanny, and I am taking notes. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">The other book is <i>White Holes</i> (a black hole in time reversed, so fascinating) by Carlo Rovelli, who is the poet of theoretical physicis. He imaginatively takes the reader on a journey into a black hole and across the quantum line briefly before magically exiting by way of a white hole. Time is in reverse and I am utterly astounded and love following this journey. What I love even more is his use of the parallel journey of Dante in <i>The Divine Comedy</i>, with his trek through the Inferno, Purgatorio, and rising to Paradiso. It's beautifully corresponded, these two stories, and I absolutely love the marriage of science and literature through the imagination. I have been aching to re-read <i>The Divine Comedy</i> again, and now even more so. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Happy Thanksgiving! Many blessings to you and your loved ones.</span></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-32174726802410951072023-11-08T07:32:00.000-05:002023-11-08T07:32:47.916-05:00What are you reading this Autumn?<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjnBazLc9RnoE3dy0uKzExwQoW9Fdzw6HIAF3WFmF-HskHCiKpEpTOjLbGDjOcTPcfN6Z60_5NcLRX88Ekh7PKaW9PGn_Rus2OQeRJrmyceUApnClACc8uYHfs4UgfdVXsf2LtpLZzClTFKERVivmKPlGgawZzkM-BT9NtwViBcQj2eFxrdVgfwmiJQt0/s2016/IMG_6214.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjnBazLc9RnoE3dy0uKzExwQoW9Fdzw6HIAF3WFmF-HskHCiKpEpTOjLbGDjOcTPcfN6Z60_5NcLRX88Ekh7PKaW9PGn_Rus2OQeRJrmyceUApnClACc8uYHfs4UgfdVXsf2LtpLZzClTFKERVivmKPlGgawZzkM-BT9NtwViBcQj2eFxrdVgfwmiJQt0/w480-h640/IMG_6214.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRZ2slysI8KxmOjOO5q9EAB9NAVxhcPRwzYWjNZZFt1YsOoiynnvBYJ5UdNeuN3mtkhyphenhyphen6SF1dAhKpiorpK2Ne5L6iOX_OAYzTcgtwRVJDKfqUMvBtyRelEOC0t8E2I6-egPVlTRp5RMawej3IO7SDLWoANK16IIoTt27GOeluux58vOh66mQ9bVkr5amm/s2016/IMG_6211.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRZ2slysI8KxmOjOO5q9EAB9NAVxhcPRwzYWjNZZFt1YsOoiynnvBYJ5UdNeuN3mtkhyphenhyphen6SF1dAhKpiorpK2Ne5L6iOX_OAYzTcgtwRVJDKfqUMvBtyRelEOC0t8E2I6-egPVlTRp5RMawej3IO7SDLWoANK16IIoTt27GOeluux58vOh66mQ9bVkr5amm/w480-h640/IMG_6211.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0h8AjOZ2cm7L0Q7RSJOsngfuy0YMIBR-F-xvR8Ydu1W3jAxNEzQL0__Kj_VPw1RbNldEXGTdKiSxraljDscjusuiB4zAJoL8qnXVkx7g7L-zVnb10SoVakXaH8FWBSMzLMMxRd8zLlTxtiXRNVkFf9xDe2hsvdOtYbFStJX5Przl5nRv-OR2vZbKLJky/s2016/IMG_6121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0h8AjOZ2cm7L0Q7RSJOsngfuy0YMIBR-F-xvR8Ydu1W3jAxNEzQL0__Kj_VPw1RbNldEXGTdKiSxraljDscjusuiB4zAJoL8qnXVkx7g7L-zVnb10SoVakXaH8FWBSMzLMMxRd8zLlTxtiXRNVkFf9xDe2hsvdOtYbFStJX5Przl5nRv-OR2vZbKLJky/w480-h640/IMG_6121.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnzgaCXmoI24N4eImwb9VpIqpDFkyVi_oAQgPSldjlxdMjmTbnevkF50ox-_N-HrGtfk9t1aO6aRuxExbTv35uHgDsY6thTxVrt9Jv1FddqcKM6U9qulyUldbLK2ivlbHeghJ1Faou6NDq81TAf6Jur5_x3787eB0fjFhH28ZW9ZEZ1sUvgnEZ88i1eeq/s2016/IMG_6059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnzgaCXmoI24N4eImwb9VpIqpDFkyVi_oAQgPSldjlxdMjmTbnevkF50ox-_N-HrGtfk9t1aO6aRuxExbTv35uHgDsY6thTxVrt9Jv1FddqcKM6U9qulyUldbLK2ivlbHeghJ1Faou6NDq81TAf6Jur5_x3787eB0fjFhH28ZW9ZEZ1sUvgnEZ88i1eeq/w480-h640/IMG_6059.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4ajO-hi5_3mCTm72-uvrquebyYhya0yC3KYeIElJwIcCh-ILWc1xwOwvotdRjUaWOKGJOGxzQv_VqbsTLZqflCec6e0Q9VhZkLHYmBfieFE34EQaNnM4B_vgmZw91GOimXAHe8pTIL-2-Bw5WshUMiNnglQnWH7aO1eNGJRgMiarJdezmA6Fzo9lG1q2/s2016/IMG_6223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4ajO-hi5_3mCTm72-uvrquebyYhya0yC3KYeIElJwIcCh-ILWc1xwOwvotdRjUaWOKGJOGxzQv_VqbsTLZqflCec6e0Q9VhZkLHYmBfieFE34EQaNnM4B_vgmZw91GOimXAHe8pTIL-2-Bw5WshUMiNnglQnWH7aO1eNGJRgMiarJdezmA6Fzo9lG1q2/w480-h640/IMG_6223.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Does the Autumn weather inspire your reading? Or are you a mood reader? Or do you run by a list of what to read next? I have my stack(s) of TBR and when I finish a book I have the great joy of picking out the next one to read that jumps out at me. I like to read seasonally with a book now and then which fits the time of year. I read many books at the same time, so it's fun to throw a seasonal one or two in there. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><b><u><i>Books Parts</i> edited by Dennis Duncan and Adam Smyth<br /></u></b>This fascinating book deconstructs the book as an object - as a collection of essays on the different parts of a book. It felt like analyzing the anatomy of a book and it was such fun to read the history of such book parts as the front pieces (does any book have those now?), end papers, table of contents, copywrite page, notes to the reader, footnotes, pagination, indexes, blurbs, etc. As someone who is not only interested in good books for their thoughts and words, I am also keenly fascinated by the object itself - the history of how a part came into existence and how that might have changed through the centuries. So, I am a self-confessed book nerd in all aspects of the book.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;">Thomas Aquinas Selected Writings</i><br />This is my morning book. It's a whopper - over 800 pages, and it's just a "selection". As I am drinking my coffee I read a few pages of Thomas Aquinas. If I am reading a book of philosophy, I read it early in the morning - it's my most clear-minded, well-focused time to read something that needs deeper attention. Aquinas is a Saint, he lived from 1225-1274 and was a theologian and philosopher. He draws on the ideas of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Augustine and is one of the greatest medieval philosophers. He asks the deep questions on faith, goodness, God, conscience, being, faith, reason, etc. He was able to argue both sides of the answer, and then answer based on Christian belief. It's fascinating, thought-provoking, and I am learning so much about building the argument and being able to see both sides of it as if in a debate. I am almost halfway through enjoying my morning philosophy with Saint Thomas.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;">Poetry by Heart</i><u style="font-weight: bold;"> edited by Andrew Motion</u><br />I stumbled upon this book of poems as I was looking for a new collection to enjoy (you can never go wrong with a good collection of poetry) and this one was based on the premise of memorizing poems and also reading them aloud, as poetry to meant to be read. It's a collection of poems ranging from the first English poetry to modern days and I am reading some poems I've never heard of before. Another thing I love about this book is there are QR Codes with a link to <a href="https://poetryarchive.org/" target="_blank">The Poetry Archive </a>where I can listen to the poem being read, and enjoy it as it is meant to be enjoyed. Hearing a poem read forces me to slowly read each line with the speaker, and process the words in a deeper way.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;">The Brontës</i><u style="font-weight: bold;"> by Patricia Ingham</u><br />I will read any book on the Brontës. The lives of the creative siblings as they lived in the early-mid 1800s Yorkshire England endlessly intrigue and inspire me. I've read many books on them and still learn more with every book. I found this book on my last visit to Oxford, at an Oxfam charity shop. Reading about this familiar family of siblings (Charlotte, Emily, Anne, and brother Branwell) I thought about how intelligent they were by their own pursuits. They read all the old and new books, with no restrictions from their curate father, and kept up on all the political news, which would include the wars with Napoleon and triumph of the Duke of Wellington. It all inspired them to create their own worlds with characters and political turmoil that drew from what what going on their world at the time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><b><u>Leaf Peeping by Erin Vivid Riley<br /></u></b>I am such a sucker for books on trees, leaves, and the world of forests. I can probably thank my Dad for that. His father worked for the U.S. Forest Service, so he spent his childhood travelling as a family to all the many national forests as grandpa had to travel there for work (he had a supervisory role of some kind). Therefore, in my childhood, Dad always wanted to go camping and hiking. To be out in the forests of North Carolina, Georgia, and everywhere else we journeyed to. His idea of a vacation was being out in nature. It reminded me of my childhood when we would go to North Carolina almost every Autumn to see the leaves - we were "leaf lookers" and even had the sweatshirts to prove it. This little nature book was pure delight. I loved the lessons on why leaves change colour, a guide on how to identify different types of leaves and trees, the varieties of trees and where they grow best, the regions of the U.S. and some other countries forests for the Autumnal trees. Dotted with some quotes, cute ideas for a nature outing, and fun facts. I will revisit this little book many times again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I <i>leaf</i> you with our classic family shot of one of our roadside stops in North Carolina - my mom and I wearing the very stylish Franklin, NC leaf looker sweatshirts (none of the boys seemed to want to be so stylish), and I hold a vintage camera to capture all the magical scenes of trees and leaves. I wonder if any of my photos actually turned out. :)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZNfNvhIjg6tB6rW3zRyIrniixRu_c6qA5OAoU-HgkJB354SUoXfpxjNjC0j4NxxDeQSJOyaWRqedt2EyNhiI74CphKgG4vgE_d9gnWu_x79Afl0TyxWOSuIAy5fxCpjousfIxL_8W4dg8d_2WEWYLa-9A9WqUZ9jwRAyzBcZjdE0EkLQHcWjpnDddSQr/s612/1010493_662266865489_1356112427_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZNfNvhIjg6tB6rW3zRyIrniixRu_c6qA5OAoU-HgkJB354SUoXfpxjNjC0j4NxxDeQSJOyaWRqedt2EyNhiI74CphKgG4vgE_d9gnWu_x79Afl0TyxWOSuIAy5fxCpjousfIxL_8W4dg8d_2WEWYLa-9A9WqUZ9jwRAyzBcZjdE0EkLQHcWjpnDddSQr/w640-h640/1010493_662266865489_1356112427_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-74085536432692571952023-11-01T07:17:00.001-04:002023-11-01T07:17:58.972-04:00Author Spotlight Night - Epilogue<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsDiVbuaCsBruCD1zCFdgi7LJPvzMOn2A53Bkca-urG4dSbd8v156zAeOpdNCtxeE7GBj7k4K6nUx5gKZtdlO1n7XUNd1i85nEdKtANVukujSDgPzkUGWL65khERgD4_K8Po5hb1F2QWcHCX5oluF30VNWog-5gaDPuYoF8vkmRce6dH2eB1VsaT1jnqM/s1280/Resized_20231024_175313.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="1280" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsDiVbuaCsBruCD1zCFdgi7LJPvzMOn2A53Bkca-urG4dSbd8v156zAeOpdNCtxeE7GBj7k4K6nUx5gKZtdlO1n7XUNd1i85nEdKtANVukujSDgPzkUGWL65khERgD4_K8Po5hb1F2QWcHCX5oluF30VNWog-5gaDPuYoF8vkmRce6dH2eB1VsaT1jnqM/w640-h288/Resized_20231024_175313.JPEG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2ybSR53Ujx8IKo1qHH4h7rEZruMQOZjDO6ig4gmSPgxoFRjkfGu2cySGxZ-j1ozYikj29XsGlIC0bTYZt-MIKXXvfjuAZRxEptZzL_I9h6pIaK2gx3AjKKutU9Js6WuIH4KpGRi5O2EKPPyvIbiYiSVBzCrQ4J8gfBy-d22C_-LY6mttLyCDC0X60_lz/s480/IMG_4898.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2ybSR53Ujx8IKo1qHH4h7rEZruMQOZjDO6ig4gmSPgxoFRjkfGu2cySGxZ-j1ozYikj29XsGlIC0bTYZt-MIKXXvfjuAZRxEptZzL_I9h6pIaK2gx3AjKKutU9Js6WuIH4KpGRi5O2EKPPyvIbiYiSVBzCrQ4J8gfBy-d22C_-LY6mttLyCDC0X60_lz/w480-h640/IMG_4898.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpxXJXR_wOfY63qzVX-K27Fw_wIMxrduNr1QgoUMmfA3VAvrnpl9xbVRf_uvO7gjMqKXqi77o-HgYIIf4QH5teLJx3CK5Z5xx3wdifrtbd2Dn6SzmbJLFZl0Em6v278T0lFp0Fd7d2OUn4GYGzBQYoMktR-tGnTwKxQlYk2nnflv2jT6n0zBOFa4szZDN/s480/IMG_4895.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpxXJXR_wOfY63qzVX-K27Fw_wIMxrduNr1QgoUMmfA3VAvrnpl9xbVRf_uvO7gjMqKXqi77o-HgYIIf4QH5teLJx3CK5Z5xx3wdifrtbd2Dn6SzmbJLFZl0Em6v278T0lFp0Fd7d2OUn4GYGzBQYoMktR-tGnTwKxQlYk2nnflv2jT6n0zBOFa4szZDN/w480-h640/IMG_4895.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgWcX7sglLMO1ym3mg1_1LKLnIBv9_DiX4VwxpXT7LcLrPh5Esay2_NonFK493MigtX8W0OXXwrw0SE8Qsc6Ot2QvsJlhoesRAiQhlxdMj0H8tyqvnJWbOuZg7LKvCiJOK8TcX3j0yUTU9Xc1vysUaKT9badsbGhMY61LMLGsfBvyk1axfxDhh6H6ADH_/s1600/image000000.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgWcX7sglLMO1ym3mg1_1LKLnIBv9_DiX4VwxpXT7LcLrPh5Esay2_NonFK493MigtX8W0OXXwrw0SE8Qsc6Ot2QvsJlhoesRAiQhlxdMj0H8tyqvnJWbOuZg7LKvCiJOK8TcX3j0yUTU9Xc1vysUaKT9badsbGhMY61LMLGsfBvyk1axfxDhh6H6ADH_/w480-h640/image000000.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicllcRK-IwhxlPJUmL4H6xZ9fDd6uVto1qPt3p1gIvx8dj_EWqm6rlvrAzvUDZ4jRIrF-u34FZtkf5Tz79igfq38LCoJkqmG0ZuPc4K1oTC0D3Hja9Uj4HFoyX_lM5-Mk1rAjyrSggr47HVLDpb8Od3P6hChyphenhyphenChPJhmgZ44vDhtnGfLHQSmsT2uV3-acqQ/s1280/IMG_6133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1023" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicllcRK-IwhxlPJUmL4H6xZ9fDd6uVto1qPt3p1gIvx8dj_EWqm6rlvrAzvUDZ4jRIrF-u34FZtkf5Tz79igfq38LCoJkqmG0ZuPc4K1oTC0D3Hja9Uj4HFoyX_lM5-Mk1rAjyrSggr47HVLDpb8Od3P6hChyphenhyphenChPJhmgZ44vDhtnGfLHQSmsT2uV3-acqQ/w512-h640/IMG_6133.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: times;">Last week was the author spotlight night at our downtown independent book shop <a href="https://www.pressedlkld.com/" target="_blank">Pressed Books & Coffee</a>, which was such a delightful evening! I am so grateful I was included in the event and that many family and friends came out to support it. It was the first time I've been able to talk about my trilogy, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B8XDM9LM?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_bs_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1697401728&sr=1-5" target="_blank">Selador</a></i>, in public!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">There were four authors there that night. We each had a table we could set-up and decorate to sell our books to the lovely people who took time to come out and hear what we had to say about books. Then we sat up on tall chairs in front of the attendees (I always feel odd sitting in tall chairs when I can't touch the ground) sharing a bit of our writing journey and our books. You know, when I dreamed about becoming an author years and years ago, I never thought about the aftermath of finishing a book - the "selling it" part! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Here was my first chance to "sell" my books to folks who came out to Pressed with curious minds. Many people I did not know. It was my job to talk about my journey as an author and explain why they should read my books. To be honest, I wasn't sure how that would feel - would it be stressful, would it be well received, would I hate talking in front of people? Well, to spare you, dear reader, the anticipation, I loved it! I loved having the opportunity to share some of my writing journey, throwing in a few older/wiser authors who inspire me, some of my passion for reading, explain why I think everyone should read more <b>good</b> books, and give a little glimpse of what deeper truths I tuck away in my books. I was hoping it would inspire those present to read more, whether it's my books or not, but to engage with good books written today and from older and wiser authors. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">It was a great joy to have dear family and friends present. Some of them haven't read my books and might have heard something to stir their hearts. I loved meeting several friendly people who bought the full set of my books, sharing with me why they were super interested in my talk and my story (many fans of fantasy!). I loved watching my ten year old niece buy each author's book and carry them in her arms the rest of the time, not letting them go, like the treasures they are. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I am so thankful to everyone who came out that evening. It meant so very much. I deeply appreciate Christina, the owner of Pressed, who had this lovely idea of having local author spotlight nights these last few months, and who helped direct the evening beautifully. Thank you to my friends and family who took photos since I couldn't. These memories will stay with me for many years to come. My first public book event! </span></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-83508255305316944582023-10-17T07:04:00.001-04:002023-11-01T07:19:16.381-04:00Author Spotlight Night - Intro<p><span style="font-family: times;"> <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoGbgNxNnCGF8o8sJX7Uo-J5TAhC8VWa5AtUwSDC1RgFTHuKKXkl29IiSihOnpBV1KMTANGTbuKJGCWyqM-ld8Ql1BXPal9E4G260Mbato_MHGntA8Yr0vZUv6WRcMaPe54DRgsCuinln3zbAfwwlNb-JeV2afoXsGaQ8DcmPkO7EbFtVx0q0pGwveMi6/s1318/IMG_6032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1318" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoGbgNxNnCGF8o8sJX7Uo-J5TAhC8VWa5AtUwSDC1RgFTHuKKXkl29IiSihOnpBV1KMTANGTbuKJGCWyqM-ld8Ql1BXPal9E4G260Mbato_MHGntA8Yr0vZUv6WRcMaPe54DRgsCuinln3zbAfwwlNb-JeV2afoXsGaQ8DcmPkO7EbFtVx0q0pGwveMi6/w568-h640/IMG_6032.jpg" width="568" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyc_2rD5Q5TmzF0AKG7TZ3xrflr3DXVpKLcd9gX53AOVImFE1-4Z8-HvuplnU-DcWhbrAMUXvKm2j-ir8gilcI3iMucUuDsfzsy4V0pW15p8PARuP4JSfenueRplfjx1qHita0PIWcYUeMMFXQC9PUk8OoZ5XvBToALJ9Qn64f4RPckHVSK7I_K2DjlUu/s1264/IMG_6033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1264" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyc_2rD5Q5TmzF0AKG7TZ3xrflr3DXVpKLcd9gX53AOVImFE1-4Z8-HvuplnU-DcWhbrAMUXvKm2j-ir8gilcI3iMucUuDsfzsy4V0pW15p8PARuP4JSfenueRplfjx1qHita0PIWcYUeMMFXQC9PUk8OoZ5XvBToALJ9Qn64f4RPckHVSK7I_K2DjlUu/w592-h640/IMG_6033.jpg" width="592" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">Attention bookish friends and locals! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br />You are invited and warmly welcome to join me at <a href="https://www.pressedlkld.com/" target="_blank">Pressed Books & Coffee </a>on Tuesday 10/24 at 6 pm where I will be part of a local author panel discussion. I am so thankful to be part of this event, where I will have the opportunity to talk about my books and my love of books!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">I haven't had the opportunity to talk in public about my <i><b>Selador</b></i> trilogy, so I am really excited to share more about it and inspire some readers. Anytime I have the chance to insert some notion about the imagination and deeper truths in good stories, I am thrilled, because it gives me the open door to talk about those authors who are much older and wiser than me, who offer insights into what we strive for - the good, the true, and the beautiful. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you haven't read my books, feel free to check them out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B8XDM9LM?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_bs_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1697401728&sr=1-5" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">Come at 6 pm to grab a drink from the coffee/tea bar and a comfy seat. Bring cash to buy my books after the talk and Q&A session (there will be <b><u>special one-night only pricing</u></b>!). I look forward to seeing lots of lovely locals and introducing them to the realm of Selador. </span></div><p></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-45538228703783559892023-10-11T07:16:00.000-04:002023-10-11T07:16:34.544-04:00Autumnal tones with T.S. Eliot<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RyDf9zQ7Xzq9XzukV95rlXORBi-zDd4JF9ZryNXAn-yGtNqaVma3BqMiircEJvjAdDrcnz9qarpzMDJgHCzenpQe6f5Yk7-MjMmdbf5tBq4uiCb8neuOrzhh1eQ-ZLeNlhcHG4uLjcSa1weBWQWbBwDiMk5-w7NWH7tRCtRm8TRG6Hqtzip3PJz8SqoI/s2016/F8BA2C2A-AB4D-4AB9-A6D6-EA0B30DF4EB8.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RyDf9zQ7Xzq9XzukV95rlXORBi-zDd4JF9ZryNXAn-yGtNqaVma3BqMiircEJvjAdDrcnz9qarpzMDJgHCzenpQe6f5Yk7-MjMmdbf5tBq4uiCb8neuOrzhh1eQ-ZLeNlhcHG4uLjcSa1weBWQWbBwDiMk5-w7NWH7tRCtRm8TRG6Hqtzip3PJz8SqoI/w480-h640/F8BA2C2A-AB4D-4AB9-A6D6-EA0B30DF4EB8.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Autumnal tones for October. T.S. Eliot's book of poems offer that look of browned leaves on the trees about to fall and twirl into piles on the ground. I’ve been revisiting with depth and appreciation the mysterious poems of T.S. Eliot. His poems are stunningly deep, mystifying, musical, and wonderful to get lost in. I look forward to every snippet of time I can steal to pick this up.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times;">Dust in the air suspended</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Marks the place where a story ended.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Dust inbreathed was a house -</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">The wall, the wainscot and the mouse.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">The only hope, or else despair</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Lies in the choice of pyre or pyre -</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">To be redeemed from fire by fire.</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I have written about Eliot before, because I revisit his poems every now and then and it comes out into the form of a blog post. He was born in St. Louis but moved to London, went to Oxford, but preferred London so he lived there and eventfully became the literary editor and director of Faber & Faber (publishers in London - notice this is a Faber and Faber edition, which only seemed appropriate). He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1948. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Eliot's poetry is notoriously difficult to understand - tending toward elusiveness and obscure notions sometimes. Nebulous yet rich with imagery. Modern and in the style stream-of-consciousness, my re-reading of his poems is now causing me to notice how musical and rhyme-filled his verses are, which I am really enjoying. I can see all the details of well-structured and well-thought words selected.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">His poems kind of split in two - his pre-Christian writing and then when he became an Anglican his themes were changed to reflect his deep spiritual transformation and deeper exploration of the mysteries of faith. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Reading his very early, well-known "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" I am struck with how I love his word usage, repeating phrases or words, personification of the yellow fog, and alliterative usage that slips off the tongue with enjoyment. I bold the beginnings of the lines below, so delightfully alliterative (you can hear the L sound leading each line):</span></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;"></span></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;"><span>The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes,</span> </span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;">The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-pane,</span></blockquote><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Licked</b> its tongue into the corners of the evening, </span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Lingered</b> upon the pools that stand in drains,</span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Let</b> fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys, </span></blockquote><p></p></blockquote><blockquote><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Slipped</b> by the terrace, made a sudden leap, </span></blockquote><p></p></blockquote><blockquote><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;">And seeing that it was a soft October night, </span></blockquote><p></p></blockquote><blockquote><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;">Curled once about the house, and fell asleep. </span></blockquote><p></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times;">In his later poems, he charges his language with mystical notions and then comes back to similar images and themes through his poems, especially in his wonderfully mystical and mysterious "Four Quartets", a set of 4 poems circling around the ideas of time, space, love, the infinite, light, roses, and fire. He is pulling from numerous literary sources, many I am sure I don't even know of, but I recognize the ideas of Dante and Julian of Norwich throughout. </span></p><p></p><blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;">The light is still<br />At the still point of the turning world.</span></blockquote></blockquote><p></p><p></p><blockquote></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">The paradoxical nature of his wordplay makes me pause, smile, and read again. Read the line again, and let it swirl in your thoughts. He revisits this idea later.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">And he ends his Four Quartets with some of my favourite lines of poetry, well-known, I won't include the whole passage that I am so fond of, but just these last lines are straight out of Julian of Norwich (all shall be well) and Dante (fire and the rose). It's just stunning poetry.</span></p><p></p><blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;">And all shall be well and<br />All manner of thing shall be well<br />When the tongues of flame are in-folded<br />Into the crowned knot of fire<br />And the fire and the rose are one.</span></blockquote></blockquote><p></p><p></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-91497792602941692212023-09-27T07:15:00.000-04:002023-09-27T07:15:11.523-04:00Darkling Mornings<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsp1MDGOows4lTjYgzc6mUpbrxKNzTKA3GHRV-6unLUihiQ2sf7eW2a9Cn7Q6nk2rYcsppW5q7p3Ov6mdFEzo30fkumP42PGihNS34v9a8f62kbyUlv81wBRXl0Cfe6BBVulXNgYIOy7sGwzt5r0D5wzZ6x6Z42G2rIidtv_s5Y-ReKTCsWWo9Czp1Kkr/s2016/IMG_5819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsp1MDGOows4lTjYgzc6mUpbrxKNzTKA3GHRV-6unLUihiQ2sf7eW2a9Cn7Q6nk2rYcsppW5q7p3Ov6mdFEzo30fkumP42PGihNS34v9a8f62kbyUlv81wBRXl0Cfe6BBVulXNgYIOy7sGwzt5r0D5wzZ6x6Z42G2rIidtv_s5Y-ReKTCsWWo9Czp1Kkr/w480-h640/IMG_5819.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">We enter the time of year when the mornings are slow to rise. We wake when it's completely dark. The seasonal shift is starting. It may not feeling like it outside yet - wait, was that a drop of 3 degrees overnight? A little happy dance proceeds in my head. Still, it comes slowly. Subtlety. Do we notice? I try to shake the vibes of summer off with some autumnal decor inside my home, but it only goes so far. It fools me inside, but stepping out I am jolted back to reality.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Atmosphere. That's one of my favourite things about Autumn. We are moved into the atmosphere of warmth and spices, sweaters and academic beginnings. I always loved the start of a new academic year with new pens, notebooks, and fresh classes. Do you ever miss anything about a new school year or are you glad those days are well behind you?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Isn't there something mysterious and inviting about a beginning? Even if it's not a beginning for us, we are well out of school perhaps, and yet, a seasonal shift can remind us of new beginnings. We can make a new beginning anytime, mark the calendar. No need for a new year, simply call it a new day. The Autumn season of fruitfulness and harvest reminds me that it's something new (the paradox of being annually new to us, the revolving cycle we seem to need reminders of) and something mysterious in that aspect of life. As T.S. Eliot wrote - <i>But our beginnings never know our ends!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Yet each start to a season gently reminds us that a beginning is hopeful. A darkling morning is shrouded in darkness. It may seem like the darkness goes on and on, but it doesn't. Just below the horizon is a star that will rise as a gift of a new day. And every day is a new beginning. We start everyday not knowing how that day will end. Sure, we have our calendar and schedules set. We plan it out. Yet there may be a good or perhaps an unwelcomed interruption that takes us off to an alternative. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Welcome</span><span style="font-family: times;"> Autumn. Welcome darkling mornings. I reach for my thick black notebook and deep navy pen to sketch out the jots of my mind. Balancing sips of coffee and ink marks on the pages, I hold dear these quiet spaces that the start of a day can give me. Meditative, thoughtful, mind awakened. Reflections on the past and present - they collide on the page sometimes in an ink explosion fueled by the mind at work. It's here in the darkling space that I prepare most diligently for the light and duty of a new day. </span></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-38328291443882231942023-09-20T07:15:00.000-04:002023-09-20T07:15:42.025-04:00Emily Brontë - Notebook of Poems<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYK9L1716i8Jg5eHXyuVz3664CMHj_-VCQVNycahy61c46qE-kpF3WO1s8hfVuQqJiY2xYzvt9OdhsnNkH3cbgFURRiybCK8iXOJS5TV3qy08KmflPCLEH2R2tsG7NKTa13Op3SM6Z7FWjqkShlMhR0cK0BIs4Boh90Y01GBhJwmwCPZ0GCWDV2d5GDAc/s2016/IMG_5812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYK9L1716i8Jg5eHXyuVz3664CMHj_-VCQVNycahy61c46qE-kpF3WO1s8hfVuQqJiY2xYzvt9OdhsnNkH3cbgFURRiybCK8iXOJS5TV3qy08KmflPCLEH2R2tsG7NKTa13Op3SM6Z7FWjqkShlMhR0cK0BIs4Boh90Y01GBhJwmwCPZ0GCWDV2d5GDAc/w480-h640/IMG_5812.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5uyVZkOU34V630DQVJ3O4a8ciYmsmMm9Nx_rGSH1nzo6W2GZoZA4y-QHalCFbOpCP1j8MAyC7QI0cJ1O5_1lV5JSruVxUXI3AluVlsmnPJiIQ8rzyfVxe7mr5oKZeaPerJiTz2hAWZaMqne0BSgBughmAGlVspLVRcXHGncJQNbB0l5abUC6f6eaFCurl" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="967" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5uyVZkOU34V630DQVJ3O4a8ciYmsmMm9Nx_rGSH1nzo6W2GZoZA4y-QHalCFbOpCP1j8MAyC7QI0cJ1O5_1lV5JSruVxUXI3AluVlsmnPJiIQ8rzyfVxe7mr5oKZeaPerJiTz2hAWZaMqne0BSgBughmAGlVspLVRcXHGncJQNbB0l5abUC6f6eaFCurl=w523-h640" width="523" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBTJS1AxrGcBlUb_tArSH97iAQAVZ95lOxsjTi3X5ERWCJZlZ3KjcVlVcS7l3qLyxmW2UlsUnoVQwSbBRznIgM582Wkwrr_wgYJawVfbdek-uhmAtSWq9TcQXjMjF0EymqnWvGaw0ubb92fbfnQ5PipNtCE960htFXkSMXHNRGI1h6d3MjvpYhp9Ck_TgA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBTJS1AxrGcBlUb_tArSH97iAQAVZ95lOxsjTi3X5ERWCJZlZ3KjcVlVcS7l3qLyxmW2UlsUnoVQwSbBRznIgM582Wkwrr_wgYJawVfbdek-uhmAtSWq9TcQXjMjF0EymqnWvGaw0ubb92fbfnQ5PipNtCE960htFXkSMXHNRGI1h6d3MjvpYhp9Ck_TgA=w426-h640" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br />I have fallen into the world of amazing manuscripts. These are images of the original manuscript (notebook of poems) of Emily Brontë. The British Library has these kinds of images of priceless manuscripts online, and this was the first one I clicked on to view. These were the first set of random pages I turned to, and as I took a moment to look closely, I felt like I had just stepped into the reading room at the British Library in London. I am here to do research for the book I am writing, which of course required me to view the original notebook of Emily Brontë's poems. How amazing that more an 180 years later, I can view this handwritten notebook from a secluded poet who lived in Yorkshire England?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">The manuscript is in her handwriting of course, and it is a bit difficult to read some words, same with all my notebooks. So I am practicing my transcription skills for my future self to visit The British Library or Bodleian Library, you know, for when I am writing a book and need to do research by viewing several original manuscripts or rare copies of books. Here is a little bit of one of the poems above, which I had never read before, and couldn't find in my Emily Brontë collection of poems.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times;">October 29, 1839</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">The wind I hear it sighing<br />With Autumn's saddest sound<br />Withered leaves as thick are lying<br />As Spring-flowers on the ground.<br /><br />This dark night has won me<br />To wander far away.<br />Old feelings gather fast upon me<br />Like vulture round their prey.</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times;">Emily invokes all those Autumnal feelings of melancholy and nostalgia for something dear that has been lost. The wind and withered leaves sweep around her like memories which remind her of such a loss. Perhaps her walk on the windswept moors that early evening brought these words into her head swirling with the leaves on the ground. She hears the sighing wind, the sad sounds. She associates the withered leaves to a time of Spring time blooms which hold an abundance of promise, whereas Autumn takes the bloom away. It's a darkening night and she is caught into a time of melancholy. Wrapped in a shawl perhaps, sitting over a slowly diminishing candlestick, she scribbles these words in her notebook. Sitting near a window she hears and sees the Autumnal night grow deeper and more raw.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">She climbs into her comfort - her words - flowing out of her pen with ease. It's her source of getting feelings out. Onto the page and out of her cluttered mind. She still has chores to do, but the poem only takes the time of drinking a cup of tea to write. She empties her cup and closes her notebook, sliding it into a small alcove of the bookshelf. Then, rises with a stretch, takes her tea cup to wash up, and works on making bread for the next day, with these words still rummaging around in her mind. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-78797486338294019222023-09-13T07:00:00.000-04:002023-09-13T07:00:16.818-04:00Tea Break Daydream (Oxford)<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lhCHH0x1_iPujGz9qp5izn4c9BAKvOpnQCzeKTeN49J95sfiVDzg_R6_kmCoL5P29PM5EFZDXRptAy0rKLpmRW6OMynHu7VpQxhEErt2KudhB6Q0CJUIRq7JaPU7oqHEHzefwiM-RTtmT64C--ps30ENmMaZe__eWOZmUkmuRU8kzsHulPLb1ez60Eyd/s2048/IMG_20230322_155207797_HDR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lhCHH0x1_iPujGz9qp5izn4c9BAKvOpnQCzeKTeN49J95sfiVDzg_R6_kmCoL5P29PM5EFZDXRptAy0rKLpmRW6OMynHu7VpQxhEErt2KudhB6Q0CJUIRq7JaPU7oqHEHzefwiM-RTtmT64C--ps30ENmMaZe__eWOZmUkmuRU8kzsHulPLb1ez60Eyd/w480-h640/IMG_20230322_155207797_HDR.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yL07IP5nsqG6RTVEU5Lb-_vdwrQjUZDvFjLcMr82sKPewsCLoCidzBKyAqAYB6SmuF8HSlUxGiCFf9awShogUyAnUbv_46l7R7RnSPlTVuiu_jeWVNl6WIBPT0s0qM2ckSmx-lk1FULAMkZ75_36l23zmFbaXMrHdqv34p4JA_NME1JNY8q8Z7oBr5Yb/w480-h640/IMG_3654.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxbn_8xGNbgkmBzA7hSh5QFYVhWfLd6q5VGKKvCNYoIr3c3K7nhwidcP2YvtEQiswk48B_BMm3GvXWSagHs-4y5vQdj0C3e1lmt14ygrQidgJIXwCUjDrKSrcTL9gWJ0nmGuZWIN6iY4oOHkaI7dnegPCMbmPNGPYUsP2pkTj8FE61rgeiiF5ZP3e2mBL/s2016/IMG_3621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxbn_8xGNbgkmBzA7hSh5QFYVhWfLd6q5VGKKvCNYoIr3c3K7nhwidcP2YvtEQiswk48B_BMm3GvXWSagHs-4y5vQdj0C3e1lmt14ygrQidgJIXwCUjDrKSrcTL9gWJ0nmGuZWIN6iY4oOHkaI7dnegPCMbmPNGPYUsP2pkTj8FE61rgeiiF5ZP3e2mBL/w480-h640/IMG_3621.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDf7CEVF1TpE8RAn_kj4--KwQ6OhEd7nKl2Ic626csA5D6Yw4q6qVXwNFy47i9VfTjN7X7WhrttCue26Rq_bsUOMWB3MuBdAV3FK6BW11nYWP4a095yqvp3KoWO6RRX7wYLMlCcJo8n9mLf2d3JozDZEywLmOwIdv4EYJCQghfQ5nUMJ7gsyypDnxNhHo0/s2016/IMG_3574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDf7CEVF1TpE8RAn_kj4--KwQ6OhEd7nKl2Ic626csA5D6Yw4q6qVXwNFy47i9VfTjN7X7WhrttCue26Rq_bsUOMWB3MuBdAV3FK6BW11nYWP4a095yqvp3KoWO6RRX7wYLMlCcJo8n9mLf2d3JozDZEywLmOwIdv4EYJCQghfQ5nUMJ7gsyypDnxNhHo0/w480-h640/IMG_3574.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpdjdtAknowVx09-L7HX5h8bUd_63GWwnl4ODEcIJll02XFw5N-y6B5SeEfRJGBYyc6aMZ_5o4ESLQ8Bn4w0ZU_w7h2bSX0Mhza4kJubzOuioDGp7y-BdM8jf6izrM0lZokk0Fa3-4gklydZ_5WS9ZBh_zaMSuS1i964tuw9xkZPi74vfLK9QAD8ccNzn/s2016/IMG_3520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpdjdtAknowVx09-L7HX5h8bUd_63GWwnl4ODEcIJll02XFw5N-y6B5SeEfRJGBYyc6aMZ_5o4ESLQ8Bn4w0ZU_w7h2bSX0Mhza4kJubzOuioDGp7y-BdM8jf6izrM0lZokk0Fa3-4gklydZ_5WS9ZBh_zaMSuS1i964tuw9xkZPi74vfLK9QAD8ccNzn/w480-h640/IMG_3520.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSG5KKbNzx9mBd1Ycctd3QOcZlqrDA3pA4UkHRjeovPwCOwCf2kToAyuDoKk6AStIXSSgjWQnqfJFmuyikPHsXUCqkKWbOVhMViKqj-kBKvn2a6A_cOpS1aqdA63_EK8xkK6GpDanN2HRzd0Og72Komk88BKPP0lCwxc2j0XMzOjaoi5GaNX_vDV2HYf1/s2016/IMG_3465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSG5KKbNzx9mBd1Ycctd3QOcZlqrDA3pA4UkHRjeovPwCOwCf2kToAyuDoKk6AStIXSSgjWQnqfJFmuyikPHsXUCqkKWbOVhMViKqj-kBKvn2a6A_cOpS1aqdA63_EK8xkK6GpDanN2HRzd0Og72Komk88BKPP0lCwxc2j0XMzOjaoi5GaNX_vDV2HYf1/w480-h640/IMG_3465.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Pausing for a happy tea break daydream moment. Oxford style.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">When life brings along a cold/sinus situation and you feel somewhat disheartened because you just don't feel your best and as a result carry that pretty worthless vibe, you might start to daydream about a time and place where you are simply filled with joy and in the happy-mode. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Pardon my daydreaming - these were all photos from this last visit in March 2023, but I hadn't shared yet. I take a lot of photos, you know, every few steps offers another stunning view, building, or quintessential scene of Oxford that fills me with joy. Even if I have seen that view 1,000 times before, the light is different that day, the mood of the sky changes, the people passing differs. It makes for the best kind of photography - always something interesting to observe. I love watching academic scenes in an ancient city. It's just marvelous. Bikes clacking by (I still don't know how they bike along High Street in all the hectic bike/bus chaos - I watch in amazement), students with books filling their satchels/backpacks, raincoats and trenches adorn everyone if there's a cloud in the sky, but when it's bright out, everyone's outside clinging to the sunshine. The flowers burst a bit more openly when the sun comes out. Yet even in a shadier spot at the base of an old tree, the Hellebores look quite lovely and content.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I love the way the light slants into big windows at Christ Church and along the narrow roads and how the light shifts through the day. I love how some of the best people and city watching spots are at Waterstone's bookstore and Black Sheep Coffee on two of the very busy corners in the centre of the city. They are essential places to spend some time. I love moody and picture perfect Turl Street, my favourite street in the city. It gets filled quickly each day with delivery trucks but if you can catch it without any cars looking down toward the grand Lincoln College Library spire (used to be a church) with the craggy branches of the huge horse chestnut tree peaking into the periphery you just can't help but smile at how beautiful it all is.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I wish we paused more. In England it is a culturally normal thing to take a tea break - I'm talking a fresh brewed pot of tea and maybe a treat to go with it, multiple times a day. Maybe not everyone does that, I am totally romanizing my experiences, but there's a reason why there are countless cafes - because people go there all hours of the day, for a tea/coffee break. I love it so much. I'm going to go make a small pot of Earl Grey in honour of this paragraph. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Oxford has secrets - doors and passages that are ornate and inviting but you may not know what lies beyond. Sure, the street view is a stunner, but the colleges themselves are within walls as you walk by on the streets. Pass through the doorway and you enter another world. It might be a garden so quiet and peaceful. It might be a chapel, ancient and beautiful. It might be a dining hall buzzing with students and clanging tea cups and saucers filled with tea. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I could carry on with this tea break daydream for awhile. but eventually one runs out of tea in the pot. Until the next tea break... </span></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-57434655216381490522023-09-06T07:31:00.000-04:002023-09-06T07:31:08.286-04:00Freshly Brewed Reads<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86XjN-yvx2cW60WyERO1qm17QXO3Gtrqk9adXlL0PG74_r-a6N1dV9y3wn7P55lbM5-D84cuv214Opj2HezLhQZGBvA8z66SMjhdeWneUWWzhfIGgN_s7Apn5rPtZn9FXOcweVUd--_9DdOAQ03evNcI6sl0fGOCPA8uR2eqbwWp0fM8I-9DFgg-xmmjD/s1861/IMG_5723.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1861" data-original-width="1432" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86XjN-yvx2cW60WyERO1qm17QXO3Gtrqk9adXlL0PG74_r-a6N1dV9y3wn7P55lbM5-D84cuv214Opj2HezLhQZGBvA8z66SMjhdeWneUWWzhfIGgN_s7Apn5rPtZn9FXOcweVUd--_9DdOAQ03evNcI6sl0fGOCPA8uR2eqbwWp0fM8I-9DFgg-xmmjD/w492-h640/IMG_5723.jpg" width="492" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEn2cV4OAoe5TBxjRm_6mLyp2cTo5nN_gWCWKOWKY7OHaqrL4V5Ah5cEdS5skW1Cl2P2EK0zgDh4HhCZa21_fTWVLNf8Ccrg8xY39W9mXqehUaRfG9goP4dV6FvuBsOGcCxD4HdmjwCRGRaQlG9z8xqIei7R41fMQ9B17rfvUmywHPz-t2t2Ya4XHnP8H/s2016/IMG_5708.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEn2cV4OAoe5TBxjRm_6mLyp2cTo5nN_gWCWKOWKY7OHaqrL4V5Ah5cEdS5skW1Cl2P2EK0zgDh4HhCZa21_fTWVLNf8Ccrg8xY39W9mXqehUaRfG9goP4dV6FvuBsOGcCxD4HdmjwCRGRaQlG9z8xqIei7R41fMQ9B17rfvUmywHPz-t2t2Ya4XHnP8H/w480-h640/IMG_5708.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><b>Philosophers say that nothing is visible that is not endowed with light and colour. </b></span><div><span style="font-family: times;">- Leon Battista Alberti<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: times;">The coffee is freshly brewed (working on my barista skills over here), but the books are quite old. Older than this country. But I love when old books lean into this modern age speaking to the reader from the past in ways we don't pay attention to these days. Funnily, I have read these two books right alongside each other, and they are roughly written from the same time period, around 1400-1435.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">I have been aching to go to one of the amazing art museums I have been to in England. My favourites being The Ashmolean in Oxford, the V&A in London, and the National Gallery in London. Note, I am not including the libraries in this listing - I am thinking of art and artifacts. Books and libraries are their own category which I need not even say how I yearn for places like The Bodleian in Oxford and the British Library in London all the time. I need to go back to The British Museum as I only saw some of the ground floor on my one visit there. </span></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-weight: 700;">Painting was honoured by our ancestors</span><span style="font-family: times; font-weight: 700;"> with this special distinction that, whereas all other artists were called craftsman, the painter alone was not counted among their number.</span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times;">When I stumbled on this slim volume <i>On Painting</i> by Leon Battista Alberti, it felt providential to meet with a master of the art of painting, to give me just a glimpse of that world I am seeking to enjoy more of. The cover painting, by the way is "The Hunt in the Forest" by Paolo Uccello, which is in The Ashmolean, so I have seen on several occasions in person. From 1435, Alberti sets out his theories of dimension and perspective on painting. It is written for the painter, and was hugely influential to the Italian Renaissance artists and Leonardo da Vinci later on. It brought me back to geometry class in high school, which I enjoyed, and he notes that you cannot be a painter without having skills and knowledge of geometry. After a geometry lesson, he details some of his thoughts on the conviction that it's our human duty to make praiseworthy and beautiful things. These creations arise mathematically, yet are rooted in nature. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b><blockquote>Alberti adopted what may be broadly described as a Christianized Stoic viewpoint in his advocacy of the inherent and divinely ordained rationale within nature as the ultimate source for our standards in art as in life.</blockquote></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Delightfully revisiting <i>Sir Gawain and the Green Knight</i> in a translation I haven't read in recent years, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The version I have read more recently a few times is Simon Armitage's translation, which he signed for me when I met him at his talk in Oxford years ago. I loved Simon's style of his translation, which focused more on the alliterative qualities of this anonymous ancient poem dated around 1400. Tolkien's translation still embraces the alliterative qualities and yet in true Tolkien style there is a beauty and flow to the language, so it feels very different. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b></b><blockquote><b>Then they looked for a long while, on that lord gazing;<br />for every man marvelled what it could mean indeed<br />that horseman and horse such a hue should come by<br />as to grow green as the grass, and greener it seemed,<br />than green enamel on gold glowing far brighter.<br />All stared that stood there and stole up nearer,<br />watching him and wondering what in the world he would do.</b></blockquote></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">It is so interesting to read the same poem by different translators. Each version invokes a different feeling of the poem, language, story, and emotion. Sir Gawain is a great example of that. His journey is emotional, as he travels into the unknown he has to face his fears, overcome temptation, and face the huge green knight in the end carrying a guilt with him. At the centre is this medieval idea of morals and chivalry with a Christian perspective, in contrast to the world and its morals. Gawain had to fight that as he was pushed into situations that challenged him. He stayed honourable and true, going against the grain and ultimately that is what saves his life.</span></div></div>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-43019558130668548292023-08-23T07:18:00.000-04:002023-08-23T07:18:17.673-04:00Those Philosophical Thinkers<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsAqFjyLRZkIK6rTHkTXZFPVb9v0uWbRyLzFJNZLN6YSy67suZhAL9SDGfjz7S6WKWdpaF8zLRM_tJUdHxX0vnPB5XplKHr0NPJ0iIHegJIhgXZ3OZ58qXrv4QZoi8nPnQdcyR0bxhdAoR5zfZfIjLh7lWT4K0dtua6MJ5JASJPUJcnFHiwoFORdz33SF/s2016/IMG_5679.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsAqFjyLRZkIK6rTHkTXZFPVb9v0uWbRyLzFJNZLN6YSy67suZhAL9SDGfjz7S6WKWdpaF8zLRM_tJUdHxX0vnPB5XplKHr0NPJ0iIHegJIhgXZ3OZ58qXrv4QZoi8nPnQdcyR0bxhdAoR5zfZfIjLh7lWT4K0dtua6MJ5JASJPUJcnFHiwoFORdz33SF/w480-h640/IMG_5679.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0QhGJ4QtvTvqPDu1b2-8EnQKi-9Q_jvsJIjZ0HcdIVz-rtlAbF9bUZaqVPUGIiRd8uG-9O8jKtobni4_GlsLMwD8_FfctI0-QF4sFxGCjUXPG1963DI0VBYmPdFgrQTmCLLGCDQMp-sk4BzvQrQPq1u2CPaCY_waltCis0tWPwHxDUvrM99dJU_cWeLv/s2016/C16BBB2A-4E66-4776-9FE6-FEEED75F3EA0.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0QhGJ4QtvTvqPDu1b2-8EnQKi-9Q_jvsJIjZ0HcdIVz-rtlAbF9bUZaqVPUGIiRd8uG-9O8jKtobni4_GlsLMwD8_FfctI0-QF4sFxGCjUXPG1963DI0VBYmPdFgrQTmCLLGCDQMp-sk4BzvQrQPq1u2CPaCY_waltCis0tWPwHxDUvrM99dJU_cWeLv/w480-h640/C16BBB2A-4E66-4776-9FE6-FEEED75F3EA0.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU1uQCVpo11tpyvb-dHXTknvGEy_bXcumF7FuqdI2OPnTqBcfDqeoIf-rXKOOEvUMkMXbdidPpfchLjDOc7Q-i1QdR0T-QWADxoONlzBY6UwWA3gTwYuQAvBJutRh5uyJpd71K1jhyWv8Y_YANm0oK-EkIQOxrXEaAMBM8ecR6yjA7UgFyGFU50l094wL/s2016/80EFC872-907C-4525-8696-BA0B5696840D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU1uQCVpo11tpyvb-dHXTknvGEy_bXcumF7FuqdI2OPnTqBcfDqeoIf-rXKOOEvUMkMXbdidPpfchLjDOc7Q-i1QdR0T-QWADxoONlzBY6UwWA3gTwYuQAvBJutRh5uyJpd71K1jhyWv8Y_YANm0oK-EkIQOxrXEaAMBM8ecR6yjA7UgFyGFU50l094wL/w480-h640/80EFC872-907C-4525-8696-BA0B5696840D.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b>When the background to our lives changes, our words may no longer work as they used to, and possibilities for seeing and understanding each other and the world may be lost. Sometimes, when it matters most, what another person is doing (what we are doing) can be obscure and dark. This is when philosophy comes into its own.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b>- <i>Metaphysical Animals</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">What could appeal to me more than a romp around Oxford in the 1930s - 1950s, visiting one of the best bookshops, Blackwell's and the Oxford colleges for lectures and meetings, studying philosophy with those thinkers of the time, discovering how these four women entered daringly into a man's world and stood their own, becoming philosophers, showing they have the brains and courage to stand up the new standards of logical positivism and other newer versions of philosophy that fitted life's meaning into equations but choosing to leave morality out of the equations. These women (Elizabeth Anscombe, Iris Murdoch, Mary Midgely, and Philippa Foot) wanted to go back to moral philosophy teaching - about how to live a good life, asking what is moral and good, what is truth? Back to Plato and Aristotle. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Side note, I was thrilled to read the recap of the debate in the Oxford Socratic Club with President C.S. Lewis and Elizabeth Anscombe on her criticism of one chapter (on naturalism) of Lewis's book that had just been published, <i>Miracles. </i>That debate has become a widely spread false story that her critique made him scuttle away and write children's books after that. Lewis invited debate, he encouraged it. He thrived on debating and was one of the best. He might have been caught in a good argument in that debate, and he proceeded to modify/edit that chapter in <i>Miracles</i>. Elizabeth, a Catholic, even noted in a letter to Wittgenstein afterwards that Lewis was more civil that she expected. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">WWII came along and cleared out the Oxford scenes so that as the men left for war, the old male tutors and the women who all stayed continued their education and the old ways of philosophy were able to be resurrected. At least for a time...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Philosophy asks the impossible questions. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">I enjoyed Iris Murdoch's first philosophical question at the age of 6 - "The snowdrop hangs its head, why?" "A thought provoking question," she reflected as an adult, "a good introduction to a world which is full of mysteries."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">I've grown to love the idea of living into the unanswered questions and thereby embracing mystery. Rainer Maria Rilke introduced me to this amazingly poignant idea of how to live with questions in <i>Letters to a Young Poet</i>. Perhaps that seems lazy or passive, but it is actually an invitation to be actively watching and observing when you might live into an unanswered questions. One day, Rilke wrote, you may just live into the answer. But you must be awake to notice it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">This is where philosophy comes in. Our world shows us the shadow things, the crumbling is before us. We have deep questions. We want a nicely summed up answer, even though we know that isn't likely going to occur. In fact, it may only raise more questions. This, we don't like. However, this is what we should participate with, in a philosophical sense.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">We can take consolation in philosophy, following the ideas of Boethius, who was wrongfully imprisoned and put to death. He wrote <i>Consolations of Philosophy </i>in 524 whilst in prison. In this slim book, he has a conversation with the "nurse" philosophy. Why would he turn to philosophy in his last weeks/days? Because it can tackle the toughest questions about life, circumstances, fortune, good and evil, fate, free will. It's a way to ask God these tough questions, just like Job did, and approach Him, not necessarily expecting answers, but taking comfort in the exploration along with knowing you don't have to rely on answers, but only God and His goodness. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Hidden away in peace<br />And sure of your strong-built walls,<br />You will lead a life serene<br />And smile at the raging storm.<br /><br />(<i>Consolations of Philosophy</i>, Boethius)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Reading one book leads to many other books, providing branches outward to other books and thinkers. That's exactly what this book did and it's one of my favourite things when that happens.</span></div>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-68241367282178281592023-08-16T07:09:00.001-04:002023-08-16T07:09:48.116-04:00Joy is the Fundamental Thing<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3E6W-po7j4kL6RwqFatZ-1h4JMxrqtzyVwJCuV3H1Grvf-9u2zf3hI3cSnyadkUKg7ARuXNHmeXO0YI0xBmNsNx66ZkLE4bdt86QBYkCcXOpSfoysvr7lNzUZgFATobxEAVqAQJsLcG4kk8Q5tAZ4UUOncBg2AwQZVD0cDy9vWZY39aAObx_710KZK2H/s1969/IMG_5539.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1969" data-original-width="1509" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3E6W-po7j4kL6RwqFatZ-1h4JMxrqtzyVwJCuV3H1Grvf-9u2zf3hI3cSnyadkUKg7ARuXNHmeXO0YI0xBmNsNx66ZkLE4bdt86QBYkCcXOpSfoysvr7lNzUZgFATobxEAVqAQJsLcG4kk8Q5tAZ4UUOncBg2AwQZVD0cDy9vWZY39aAObx_710KZK2H/w490-h640/IMG_5539.jpg" width="490" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Man is more himself, man is more manlike, when joy is the fundamental thing in him, and grief the superficial. Melancholy should be an innocent interlude, a tender and fugitive frame of mind; praise should be the permanent pulsation of the soul. Pessimism is at best an emotional half-holiday; joy is the uproarious labour by which all things lives.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b>- <i>Orthodoxy</i>, G.K. Chesterton</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">This is the second time I have copied this passage out my hand today, because I love it so much. It is a brief summation of the way I hope and pray the I live all the time, being my best self by way of joy. Joy is the big secret of Christianity. Joy is where all things collide with beautiful sparkle of the eternal. Nothing, no circumstances can crush joy - it does not depend on emotion or a daily event happening or not. It is connection with God. It is being more you, deeper in who you are, through God.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Orthodoxy</i> is the spiritual journey Chesterton traces to explain, in his metaphorical, imaginative, and paradoxical ways, how he built the case and came to believe. He gives this wonderful image at the beginning of a man leaving in his sailboat from the shores of England to discover the new religion - the thing he's been searching for. Through all the exploring, he ends up landing on the same shore he left from, the same England, yet with new eyes of discovery. This is his journey of how everything he was searching for he found in Christianity, which had been there all along. He found that it filled the hole that nothing else could fill.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">This passage makes makes me delight. It makes me feel whimsical. It opens my mind to the possibilities of life that is alive with joy, and has some small interludes of melancholy when life turns that way, which acts as a springboard into the joy of praise for all the blessings of being alive.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Somehow, with the grace of God, I managed to complete leading a class study of <i>Orthodoxy</i> and came out alive. It is a tough book, but well worth the effort, and it's not too long (under 200 pages). Though I have read it several times since college, it is a challenge. It's one thing to read it on your own and get the general ideas and take away some important key points, whilst skipping the need to fully understand every aspect. It's another thing to lead a class who has never read Chesterton before and perhaps did not enjoy his way of writing. I spent a lot of time digging into this book and learned so much. It's always the great benefit of leading a book study - I become the one in fact who gains so much from all the preparation I did. It is something I love doing. And we all got through! I hope more than anything, to convey interesting ideas to explore more deeply, thanks to Chesterton. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Joy, which was the small publicity of the pagan, is the gigantic secret of the Christian.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Ah yes, joy is the nugget so fundamental to Christianity. It is the secret that might be forgotten most often. Jesus kind of hid his joy whilst here on earth, yet perhaps displaying snippets of it when he spent time with friends at the wedding (where he chose to perform a miracle so the enjoyment of friends could continue) and many dinner parties he attended. I love the way Chesterton ends the book with joy, and the idea of Jesus's mirth. Something we can imagine with a swelling of joy within ourselves.</span></div>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-30671489543373437182023-08-02T06:50:00.000-04:002023-08-02T06:50:26.053-04:00Praise for Pausing<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUn1hTA-aHL78H1tgEVw2_MTTPdzrwrmDyfdYh_axQgq_oODdrzvL4TWDh51QhPk4vvwFhtFkt6UvPxoD7G4sZAphFpA4jrayRG_do_m9ZbTzElJMlHWBMZ0uywYhB9NRt5Tu5NJ33-rHJHQly4P6dVKdKTGvW89zQafHsypTs4U_ToocAPdEBrnxvbtoZ/s1902/IMG_5537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1902" data-original-width="1426" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUn1hTA-aHL78H1tgEVw2_MTTPdzrwrmDyfdYh_axQgq_oODdrzvL4TWDh51QhPk4vvwFhtFkt6UvPxoD7G4sZAphFpA4jrayRG_do_m9ZbTzElJMlHWBMZ0uywYhB9NRt5Tu5NJ33-rHJHQly4P6dVKdKTGvW89zQafHsypTs4U_ToocAPdEBrnxvbtoZ/w480-h640/IMG_5537.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2P0gSd63qzZDfHpKgjbu-q-Y6ooVV0-2bFOm9MVny1PJAsb4fq-KujSU-sjrQhvdfMnOge1NeTS7gXawkh8GwUlm0vn2E9bZkaXywTcEGdcTMQ7ZXDRh0a181smarDqZDDXnVqP4A-gXFRN59_lcTsvvxQBayR6_7mDkBKqxm4-nqicu9yB8Grc3FRvVg/s2016/IMG_5242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2P0gSd63qzZDfHpKgjbu-q-Y6ooVV0-2bFOm9MVny1PJAsb4fq-KujSU-sjrQhvdfMnOge1NeTS7gXawkh8GwUlm0vn2E9bZkaXywTcEGdcTMQ7ZXDRh0a181smarDqZDDXnVqP4A-gXFRN59_lcTsvvxQBayR6_7mDkBKqxm4-nqicu9yB8Grc3FRvVg/w480-h640/IMG_5242.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Two books I have recently picked up to read have been an encouraging presence to remind me to pause and appreciate. One about nature. One about monastic life around the world. Each one with the reminders that unplugging from the world for a bit is good. To appreciate nature and the creation we've been given. And what a quiet, contemplative life looks like in different monastic traditions around the world.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">In <i>The Interior Silence</i> by Sarah Sands, we are travelling the world to different monasteries (Japan, Bhutan, England, Italy, Egypt, etc) and learning about why each place is special and set apart from the busy, distracted world that surrounds them. Some are high up in a desolate mountain peak, some are well outside a busy city in the countryside. It is a sort of tourist guide to monasteries, as our author is only staying at each place for a night or two. I would be so curious to learn about how a week or more changes the perspectives and priorities, with reflections on how it has impacted deeper thinking and inner joy from feeling closer to the Creator. The overall resounding theme of each place is <b>simplicity. </b>How can one live in the world but not be of the world? How can one live without the heavy burdens of worries, cares, and other difficult things we carry? And regarding the physical carrying of burdens, monks don't have possessions. So there is this counter-cultural reminder of all the stuff we have and how much we don't need. I felt the urge many times to off load many of my possessions in a fell swoop.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I enjoyed getting to learn about the places she went and how different they are culturally, especially Bhutan and Egypt. I am fascinated. Those two are dramatically different, of course, but equally fascinating. I love the notion of visiting ancient places, like in Egypt, the pyramids in the distance, and a visit to Alexandria. Modern and bustling these places are, built over much of the ancient traces. It reminds me that we are all building and treading over the bones of the dead. And the wisdom of Bhutan, perhaps extreme to a point no other nation will ever want to follow (or are they ahead of us?), in measuring happiness and limiting tourism. Closing themselves off to some extent. I am not sure how that works geopolitically, but the idea of protecting the landscape, the lifestyle, the culture, and promoting values of living simply are appealing, even if viewed as backwards by most modern nations. I am listening in those quiet moments. I am delighted to visit several (from my armchair) places of peace and contemplation, of simplicity and living out generosity. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">In <i>The Brief Life of Flowers</i> by Fiona Stafford is beautifully written. Each chapter is focused on a different flower and she begins with lovely descriptions of a location and the flower thriving. We are reminded that flowers usually represent the fragility of life, and yet they also at the same time show us how new life springs up with every season. It's a beautiful illustration of the both/and philosophy rather than an either/or view of something. We can embrace both aspects of flowers and appreciate them for their gifts in nature. The author beckons us to look at history through the eyes of the flowers, including how they were used in remedies (or how they might poisonous - looking at you, Foxgloves), and draws in many art and literary connections to the flowers, which I love anytime poets and the literary world can be connected. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Since we are beyond midsummer, I will share this lovely passage from the chapter on roses:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;">Walls, sheds and garages disappear under mountainous rambling roses, which hang like suspended avalanches of pink and cream. Roses and shoot up trees to make midsummer fireworks of bright white-gold star showers, or stay close tot he ground releasing cascades of soft, small spheres over a terrace or rockery.</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times;">I first saw this book at the Oxford Botanic Garden this Spring, which is a perfect place to see such a book and read about such fascinating plants. It will always make me think of that wonderful, old botanic garden I love to visit.</span></p><p></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-71153912790313616392023-07-21T08:09:00.002-04:002023-07-21T08:09:29.249-04:00The World of War and Peace<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAro55Br4kTVFQ6OVelxHYcKCUm9n1ibiiQ6XxNuQIrEwnieAViuQ4z3zP7egQp7CWHRhVfwlvfl55NbYQ2-K-M_ueTd4ofIQNcmUCsD3G0lTNb-Ig92p0Ia7zx2OTgS8vFXaKxk_r76MwuZWr1MJouTTB_W7vZjgLhEi9m1_rMyKInH7SiCwAfalL80G/s2016/IMG_5248.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAro55Br4kTVFQ6OVelxHYcKCUm9n1ibiiQ6XxNuQIrEwnieAViuQ4z3zP7egQp7CWHRhVfwlvfl55NbYQ2-K-M_ueTd4ofIQNcmUCsD3G0lTNb-Ig92p0Ia7zx2OTgS8vFXaKxk_r76MwuZWr1MJouTTB_W7vZjgLhEi9m1_rMyKInH7SiCwAfalL80G/w480-h640/IMG_5248.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgib_tsm-mNYiIIAkB5cvXD8ChuKmzBN0arWmrZ6ySxonAUw6Z-55s6XxSndz6huPFXWA7vc5kgwUOkT558L6Wg8j7_RB9GN1KXLqWxl_AQtLba08wfQkCht7mnPfPsrxbuNm3_6SOjqZCI4aqoft44Cqp10gUBWhyibOLCIi73-ku6HZ2rqzl6FPbhb1hX/s2016/IMG_5246.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgib_tsm-mNYiIIAkB5cvXD8ChuKmzBN0arWmrZ6ySxonAUw6Z-55s6XxSndz6huPFXWA7vc5kgwUOkT558L6Wg8j7_RB9GN1KXLqWxl_AQtLba08wfQkCht7mnPfPsrxbuNm3_6SOjqZCI4aqoft44Cqp10gUBWhyibOLCIi73-ku6HZ2rqzl6FPbhb1hX/w480-h640/IMG_5246.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicISPiW1Q7ZR-8evFHjFN2sqKNgx7KnPJDVN4UPPTKlO8xigBhrKDGpCfLO7C5VeTOsFT9DsJsPErlJ4mIYdg8E5A9Jg1YS7WNOGk-h4vZ4hQe-2NAh__gjNltfaDOrVDCUa2VVeQ8tegFZxz57Xtozy1byapdD8eo7Pd7MY-YEWYsHeJZ7v1jPh-cvIqx/s1873/IMG_5245.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1873" data-original-width="1404" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicISPiW1Q7ZR-8evFHjFN2sqKNgx7KnPJDVN4UPPTKlO8xigBhrKDGpCfLO7C5VeTOsFT9DsJsPErlJ4mIYdg8E5A9Jg1YS7WNOGk-h4vZ4hQe-2NAh__gjNltfaDOrVDCUa2VVeQ8tegFZxz57Xtozy1byapdD8eo7Pd7MY-YEWYsHeJZ7v1jPh-cvIqx/w480-h640/IMG_5245.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><b>You dread crossing that line, and yet you still want to cross it. You know sooner or later you will have to go across and find out what is there beyond it, just as you must inevitably find out what lies beyond death. Yet here you are, fit and strong, carefree and excited, with men all around you just the same - strong, excited and full of life. This is what all men think when they get a sight of the enemy, or they feel it if they do not think it, and it is this feeling that gives a special lustre and a delicious edge to the awareness of everything that is now happening.</b></span><div><span style="font-family: times;">- <i>War and Peace</i><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: times;">How can one do justice to a book like this? No short or long blog post would be able to. This book is epic: it spans war time in Russia, with the impending approach of Napoleon and his French army. And yet it's small scale at the same time - It invites the reader into the families - parents, sons and daughters. Their good choices, bad choices, and everything in between. It takes you onto the battlefield dashing between bullets and explosions. Our characters we get to know are out there in danger. They are also at home dealing with those elements of family we might be familiar with.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Princess Marya stayed out on the terrace. Morning had broken into a day of hot sunshine. She could take nothing in, think of nothing, and feel nothing beyond her passionate love for her father, a love that seemed to have escaped her understanding until this moment. She hurried out into the garden sobbing, and ran down the paths between Prince Andrey's recently planted line-trees that led to the pond. </b></span></div><div></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times;">I started reading <i>War and Peace</i> well over a year ago, but had to pause it often as I very often wanted to finish another book or focus elsewhere. But I decided to devote my time recently so I could finish it. The Russian tale by Leo Tolstoy fills over 1,300 pages and covers several years during the Napoleonic War mostly the years 1805 - 1812. Each chapter is like a short episode - a scene in the family or on the battlefield. Very readable these chapters are, and if you took out the Russian notions of Counts and Princesses it could read like other family dynamics. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b>"Tell the King of Naples," said Napoleon stiffly, "that it is still not midday, and I cannot yet see my chess-board clearly. you may go."</b></span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times;">The variety of characters (real and fiction) covers a huge range. From Russian families you have Napoleon on the battlefield with his officers. His pompous confidence jumps off the pages as he treads over the land into Russia. He stomps into Moscow in his victorious march. Yet you as the reader know there is a downfall coming. His end is coming. You can catch a glimpse of this in the encounter Pierre has with a French soldier. Tolstoy captures such amazing moments of humanity.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Davout looked up again and stared closely at Pierre. For several seconds they looked at one another, and it was this look that saved Pierre. The business of staring at each other took them beyond the realm of warfare and courtrooms; they were two human beings and there was a bond between them. There was a single instant that involved an infinite sharing of experience in which they knew they were both children of humanity, and they were brothers.</b></span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times;">Pierre is capture by the French, and it is in his difficult times of being held as a prisoner that he discovers great joy in life. Pierre is a character you like from the beginning. He is large in size, large in spirit, awkward and yet loving, inheriting a fortune he doesn't really want and feels strange in. He stumbles in his status and he's always seeking out truth in his various ventures. His experience of hardship as a prisoner frees him from the binds that he had always felt around him. and you cheer him on, as he's such a likeable character. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">I've heard it said that <i>War and Peace</i> doesn't really have a plot or a story, but I would argue that it follows life, which is a big story with a plot you don't know until you've run into it. Tolstoy sneaks many of his philosophical ideas into these episodes, which is an antidote to sometimes feeling overwhelmed with scenes of battle. And then there are scenes with beautiful moments sitting beside beloved characters you've been on this long journey with that cause you to pause as a reader.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b></b><blockquote><b>"Love gets in the way of death. Love is life. Every single thing I understand, I understand only because I love. Everything is - everything exists - only because I love. Everything is bound up with love and love alone. Love is God, and dying means me, a tiny particle of love, going back to its universal and eternal source." </b></blockquote></span></div>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-7809418676922026132023-07-05T06:43:00.001-04:002023-07-05T06:43:51.305-04:00Summer Pages<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yhlcDdkEu02SGdnzV__JjrhmV-GnBj0U1V_cUe1zBc8HrNBfs6qMMVPgc3LeXR3NeUX8ulUtBiUODdeNlQN6yzb_ZEe7HuTEitihnXyPt1sG0ZVrdw9D-cyLxx9CE-CRk3U3aNa2zbGO-3OX5MTDAWCPAobvveSIjsygChK3ev6u6EyVzwLi6jBwBrjP/s1544/EEC98D9E-25D0-43FF-9659-027E1A7D10CA.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="1158" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yhlcDdkEu02SGdnzV__JjrhmV-GnBj0U1V_cUe1zBc8HrNBfs6qMMVPgc3LeXR3NeUX8ulUtBiUODdeNlQN6yzb_ZEe7HuTEitihnXyPt1sG0ZVrdw9D-cyLxx9CE-CRk3U3aNa2zbGO-3OX5MTDAWCPAobvveSIjsygChK3ev6u6EyVzwLi6jBwBrjP/w480-h640/EEC98D9E-25D0-43FF-9659-027E1A7D10CA.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lDDp02DP-HSoG-JWyQK7uiCDbuHpjc6YgHg3Hsq0M2wnMCRO3DNIE-MVd_Fhu5Q5zFtKDjVu9qRY5iTRtDdiyHstpgmynlgVf215fkYlxOIylQ3VGgMg-KLsRsAerxfvHWepKsGstw2CxnSadkD4DL-rbD4BPEW77m01FfHGR-kMuw_Q9VcKV3mfOgUC/s2016/IMG_5174.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lDDp02DP-HSoG-JWyQK7uiCDbuHpjc6YgHg3Hsq0M2wnMCRO3DNIE-MVd_Fhu5Q5zFtKDjVu9qRY5iTRtDdiyHstpgmynlgVf215fkYlxOIylQ3VGgMg-KLsRsAerxfvHWepKsGstw2CxnSadkD4DL-rbD4BPEW77m01FfHGR-kMuw_Q9VcKV3mfOgUC/w480-h640/IMG_5174.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLKxwTNObk5hxG5-4cLm6oEm6IAHVyAA3y71Hvs4ayur9pYvFaJwpr4TemcLSTscY5lhDJ58zY2R5B-CU_BMwOpwB2JSoM2u7jK7qWFCexYb1K14sDwPbBRHMtRtk8KFBnbrjxu_ZYoGe0ut-Uo40TrD02B_-9lTUVRzEfH_os6mDy4N4g71ZHsb5IV1O/s2016/IMG_5157.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLKxwTNObk5hxG5-4cLm6oEm6IAHVyAA3y71Hvs4ayur9pYvFaJwpr4TemcLSTscY5lhDJ58zY2R5B-CU_BMwOpwB2JSoM2u7jK7qWFCexYb1K14sDwPbBRHMtRtk8KFBnbrjxu_ZYoGe0ut-Uo40TrD02B_-9lTUVRzEfH_os6mDy4N4g71ZHsb5IV1O/w480-h640/IMG_5157.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1lprcu0pNd_WZRCyWoCOSk_T5AKlljx7uqZpvd3DRDcGmLywQy025EEHYLkqJLvC7LA3LgwPkFM68mL_eMVvbxP8oiFrAHaanJM5-7cEoxxxwt-BFjV4Bv9BOtIf8EsLsFkQvrQ3BJjU-zypYBblAQN4DUvT2CMG8v3Wdhq1bgDuDBb3u1Jyb_Oz1TlT/s2016/IMG_5135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1lprcu0pNd_WZRCyWoCOSk_T5AKlljx7uqZpvd3DRDcGmLywQy025EEHYLkqJLvC7LA3LgwPkFM68mL_eMVvbxP8oiFrAHaanJM5-7cEoxxxwt-BFjV4Bv9BOtIf8EsLsFkQvrQ3BJjU-zypYBblAQN4DUvT2CMG8v3Wdhq1bgDuDBb3u1Jyb_Oz1TlT/w480-h640/IMG_5135.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezl3uFtm75wPxsGv7_SSQYGEpDWTvTcLZkMvNCPqLS2z2HXkh0IdM7kZ1r1MSEbmre3LzmZCe3vEo6M5RQC383HYCpthzytfogoNQL-TG-YddeLJwe79hCSDMwSo9bfYXWvTRwkcD28CfObHPhlJZ21C1b4q7baiG-EFeXkDc56cqpV1tzcm13HCbXRSR/s2016/IMG_5118.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezl3uFtm75wPxsGv7_SSQYGEpDWTvTcLZkMvNCPqLS2z2HXkh0IdM7kZ1r1MSEbmre3LzmZCe3vEo6M5RQC383HYCpthzytfogoNQL-TG-YddeLJwe79hCSDMwSo9bfYXWvTRwkcD28CfObHPhlJZ21C1b4q7baiG-EFeXkDc56cqpV1tzcm13HCbXRSR/w480-h640/IMG_5118.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLnsZtvHPcWvpPxY6QGey_UE2LnURhfcjQOjeLtsyGTmLOibbO-2REXJEfgLAC7oHnkFFC_hborodjS70UO3Jn6sD8Sdr0s5b1C-83Vf0_L6PZCSncnd4-TM1lbLoV1Z1175RYl616CUGwk0GhOun61e5FNDdCJ2n6kkAY9ekhFVXJTKzBSmrYrSH8yZ4/s1915/IMG_5226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1915" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLnsZtvHPcWvpPxY6QGey_UE2LnURhfcjQOjeLtsyGTmLOibbO-2REXJEfgLAC7oHnkFFC_hborodjS70UO3Jn6sD8Sdr0s5b1C-83Vf0_L6PZCSncnd4-TM1lbLoV1Z1175RYl616CUGwk0GhOun61e5FNDdCJ2n6kkAY9ekhFVXJTKzBSmrYrSH8yZ4/w506-h640/IMG_5226.jpg" width="506" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: times;">The hot, sultry months of summer. What is the best way to spend these sun-soaked days so intensely hot the daily temps near the triple digits? You know what I would say - get cosy inside, get a cold drink (my current obsession is iced matcha) and read good books! That is your summer homework. Pretty simple. What are your summer reads?</span><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>At Bertram's Hotel </i></b>by Agatha Christie</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Summer is not complete unless you read a murder mystery. Taking place at a classic English hotel on a quieter street in London, Ms. Marple goes to stay at Bertram's Hotel on holiday. It's a perfectly charming hotel, the last of the truly British hotels with real muffins, butter, and tea time. Hospitality and decor is top notch, but darkness is looming underneath the surface. Strange scenes start to occur. Characters act in suspicious ways. Ms. Marple notices these things, but kind of stores them away for later. When a murder occurs just outside the hotel, things must be solved, and Ms. Marple's excellent memory is a key to solving the case.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>High Time</i></b> by Hannah Rothschild</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">In the world of finance, crypto-currency, and shorting stocks, there's a ton of room for the rich and greedy to become more rich and greedy, to cast themselves into immoral situations. A modern book is not often my cup of tea, but this one connected with the world of finance caught my eye, as well as the location at a castle in Cornwall. It is high drama, ultra rich making things worse for themselves. Deceit in the world of finance steeps into personal relationships, breaking everything apart. Ponsi schemes still work on the foolish and desperate. It was a little bit too flashy in those ways. I think the sympathy was supposed to be with the main character, as her husband set out to leave her penniless in pursuit of his ideas, but I didn't feel sympathy for her, nor anyone in the book, for every character in this world was a deceiver.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">John Milton Selected Poems</span></i></b></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">A selection of his greats. Milton wrote during the most tumultuous time in English history (their civil war). Includes some of his most well-known poems and large chunks of <i>Paradise Lost</i> and <i>Paradise</i> <i>Regained</i>. I haven't spent a long time studying and reading Milton, so I thought it was a good time to do that. Plus this lovely edition of the Penguin classic cover is hard to resist.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>The Goldfinch </i></b>by Donna Tartt </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">An explosion at a museum. The 'unintentional' act stealing a painting and keeping it hidden for years (in memory of his mother killed in the explosion), the decision made as a young teen haunts Theo and changes the course of his life into a slippery slope of a dark world. Donna Tartt is a brilliant writer. She writes about one book per decade, and each is a masterpiece in its complex way. She takes you into dark worlds, but you are so drawn in as a reader, and there are deeper truths that she is wanting to show through her characters. Philosophical questions are raised throughout the book - what is a good life? Do we choose a good life, do we make it, is it handed to us? What happens when you are turning into your father (who left you and treats you badly) when you deeply loved and admired your mother and would want to be more like her? Seeing in the distance the good you want, but not being able to get there because of different transition points and the choices made at each.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>A Sultry Month</i></b> by Alethea Haytor </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">It's June/July, 1846 in London. A heatwave spans weeks where the temperatures hit 100+ on a regular basis. This literary journey takes us into events taken from the diaries, letters, records, and news from the lives of creatives like Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Robert Browning, Thomas and Jane Carlyle, Charles Dickens, Robert Haydon. This snapshot from a hot June/July 1846 was written in the 1960s but reads like a modern group biography, of which this is a first of its kind. When it's summer now and the long-term heat wave is ever-present, it was a perfectly timed read.</span></div></div>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-78618279366126137362023-06-28T06:54:00.004-04:002023-06-28T06:54:47.274-04:00Growing with Every Step<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlc79jJFsQ2ZnYuZ7WQNCvnKx7WeY2IkYLc_JdIgZ7LZnl973wS6sM8ez6yDGiQmXJMzZ7Td6IcDO-zu1FxbmE9nJHWjyxMcBnRvTMHVK9yY9HTundMIlho8gXDwk_hY6HTuWTjIecqzLWhHOVYnCvlMzMTXre_S60pI3gZZGpYHeK5rj5PEsKrkSrqA/s2016/IMG_3658.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlc79jJFsQ2ZnYuZ7WQNCvnKx7WeY2IkYLc_JdIgZ7LZnl973wS6sM8ez6yDGiQmXJMzZ7Td6IcDO-zu1FxbmE9nJHWjyxMcBnRvTMHVK9yY9HTundMIlho8gXDwk_hY6HTuWTjIecqzLWhHOVYnCvlMzMTXre_S60pI3gZZGpYHeK5rj5PEsKrkSrqA/w480-h640/IMG_3658.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ Church College Dining Hall Staircase, Oxford</i></div></span><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">…to understand the kind of mindset that could turn a
failure into a gift. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">There is this idea of having two mindsets – fixed and growth, spans all
areas of our lives from our own intellect, business, goals, and relationships. It
can be summarized in this succinct question the author of <i>Mindset</i> poses –</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>“What are the consequences of thinking that your
intelligence or personality is something you can develop, as opposed to
something that is a fixed, deep-seated trait?”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">The author defines the fixed mindset as being ‘carved in stone.’
With only a certain set amount of knowledge and intelligence, a certain
character, and certain moral compass, the fixed mindset person is set out to
have to prove himself over and over. When faced with a challenge or difficulty,
they don’t bother to look at themselves, they complain, they do nothing, they stay in bed, they cry, they eat, they
pout, they blame others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">In contrast, the growth mindset is defined as having belief
that your ‘qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts, your
strategies, and help from others.’ The idea being that no matter what talents
or interests you have you can grow through learning and trying. This growth
minded person might wonder – why would I worry about proving myself over and
over when I could be getting better and learning more? A deep passion for
learning is fostered. When faced with a challenge, the growth mindset will move
forward focusing on the learning over time, not about being perfect now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYw6zwez3e9BcNIyQM1TBrCJTp3w4q8ZH_DCUPhY82T1DIUTt5VyxsaKjsKTHEcEEAkHu0PegebUVUzOAIT3hqxDEKqiq8S205OZhffvbkkweUmZNpfJDKXAiFjKCdYvvIUH9AW6aAcdXssBoV-YDsx4xVLhqJGrG4gunF75DPbR72pThI4u6YbGiRw/s1967/IMG_5057.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1967" data-original-width="1475" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYw6zwez3e9BcNIyQM1TBrCJTp3w4q8ZH_DCUPhY82T1DIUTt5VyxsaKjsKTHEcEEAkHu0PegebUVUzOAIT3hqxDEKqiq8S205OZhffvbkkweUmZNpfJDKXAiFjKCdYvvIUH9AW6aAcdXssBoV-YDsx4xVLhqJGrG4gunF75DPbR72pThI4u6YbGiRw/w240-h320/IMG_5057.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br />Using many examples from her life, stories she has heard,
research she has done, and from celebrities of all kinds, Carol Dweck takes the
reader through all areas of life to show how her thesis of mindsets plays out in
corporations, individuals, small groups, relationships, and parenting. She
points out that while in one area we could be growth minded, in other areas we
might still remain in a fixed mindset. We need to be attentive to this and then
it’s up to each of us to work on it. She borrows wisdom from many who have
learned this, such as the basketball coach John Wooden who said “<i>you aren’t
a failure until you start to blame</i>. What he means is that you can still be
in the process of learning from your mistakes until you deny them.” This concept
is a key to maintaining a growth mindset, for if it’s always someone else’s
fault, you are never willing to look within yourself for things to improve. Instead
ask: what can I do to learn from that experience? How can I use that as a basis
for growing and learning?<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">I remember when Enron fell from its pedestal in 2001. In the
years to come I studied their mistakes in my accounting classes in college. The
author uses Enron as a prime example of a corporation having a fixed mindset, by
putting complete faith in talent. Enron created a culture that was fixated on big
talent, worshiping the look and feel of being successful in their talent, and
thereby pushing themselves into a fixed mindset. They thought they were all
brilliant and had no flaws. With this outlook as a corporate culture, nobody
was willing to say there was any vulnerability in the company, nobody was
willing to admit a mistake or provide feedback for improvement and work
together. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">On the other side of the coin, we are reminded of some good
leaders who have restored companies by putting their ego aside, and being open
to new ideas and welcoming changes that are for good. Taking the leader
mentality from “me me me” to “we”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
company is more than one person. What these leaders with a growth mindset have
learned is to select people for their mindset, not for their status, degrees,
and certifications. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">As I was reading this book, I began to quickly notice within
myself whenever I was falling into a fixed mindset about something, and I also easily see that play out in other people. The book presented me with
the reminders and examples of keeping a growth mindset in all areas of my life.
It is very simple to remember fixed vs. growth, but it’s another thing to be
observant to it and address it. With this book and its language as a tool, I
have been able to incorporate it into my daily life, opening myself to a deeper
realized growth mindset.</span></p><p></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-30721876334627971572023-06-21T06:36:00.003-04:002023-06-21T07:24:02.348-04:00Learning from Kierkegaard<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDfKcdh2HVLNFFStJ807bUtZFUYQzCGV7YqPGRd1X0BcpwP-aYBqhfQnjJRJQMC_bS6AB5uLanEt1leWMayRoTmRFpaFsBLmDcP_aL51Bxv6Of6dGzUh63onUiMg5DkZOXorIjPyqYeles5-Cg4uQEM71AvvQjEYRTMj1dlWNi6yJmBNjPiz3zqbJIA/s1927/IMG_5114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1927" data-original-width="1445" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDfKcdh2HVLNFFStJ807bUtZFUYQzCGV7YqPGRd1X0BcpwP-aYBqhfQnjJRJQMC_bS6AB5uLanEt1leWMayRoTmRFpaFsBLmDcP_aL51Bxv6Of6dGzUh63onUiMg5DkZOXorIjPyqYeles5-Cg4uQEM71AvvQjEYRTMj1dlWNi6yJmBNjPiz3zqbJIA/w480-h640/IMG_5114.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAT6o4yLelV5LawKcgDMV1oZk08YSHjrtdVAUpJbt1eDcn53nt_QAYPOaN7PbHackbvow8D8zIkHerMlfi2Is7MIlnlqsVwLRjqGRaIZCUlxpCZ3IWAKWmt5Vux6hbtkdrLkO-NujSX6t6KyS9AD78zqtOMDGunXuJGaEs87Kfi6EAEMXrTaN1ZQ_u537/s1969/8516CEA4-513E-43D5-90FB-9CF8FD943FA3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1969" data-original-width="1477" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAT6o4yLelV5LawKcgDMV1oZk08YSHjrtdVAUpJbt1eDcn53nt_QAYPOaN7PbHackbvow8D8zIkHerMlfi2Is7MIlnlqsVwLRjqGRaIZCUlxpCZ3IWAKWmt5Vux6hbtkdrLkO-NujSX6t6KyS9AD78zqtOMDGunXuJGaEs87Kfi6EAEMXrTaN1ZQ_u537/w480-h640/8516CEA4-513E-43D5-90FB-9CF8FD943FA3.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><b>For as the Good is only a single thing, so all ways lead to the Good, even the false ones: when the repentant follows the same way back...Wherever a man may be in the world, whichever road he travels, when he wills one thing, he is on a road that leads him to Thee!<br />- Søren Kierkegaard</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">This little paperback book, <i><b>Purity of Heart, is to will one thing</b></i>, printed in 1961 is a perfect example of why I love shopping at used bookstores so much (especially in the UK), because I never know what I will find that is no longer in print and I'd never see anywhere else. Some treasure will be tucked in between other books minding their own business when suddenly my eyes will catch the spine that has the familiar and comforting name "Kierkegaard". A favourite author, thinker, philosopher, theologian, writer. I smile and gently pull the small book off the shelf. How long was it sitting there? Was it waiting for me? For a mere £3.00 this unknown title (to me) gets to come home with me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">This time, at the Oxfam Charity Bookshop on St. Giles in Oxford, I found an armful of treasure, this Søren Kierkegaard being one of them. The shop is a stone's throw away from The Eagle and Child pub and just north of the centre of Oxford. I've been in this shop countless times, and I never leave emptyhanded. Downstairs is where I found this treasure. Standing in the same spot I have stood so many times before. Finding different books each time. Each visit filling me with inspiration from these books.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Coming back to Kierkegaard's writing is like coming back to a close friend. One who doesn't let me slip by, getting comfortable in my own pride. A friend who comforts me and then challenges me. I've known him a long time, and have taken comfort in his obedient Christian thinking, he who criticized his culture at the time of being too lackadaisical, making Christianity too easy, watering it down. Kierkegaard recognized that being a true Christian has a cost. It is not easy, and he wrote books about the complexities of being a Christian, and he actually lived it out, making the tougher choices of faithfulness. This little book, however, isn't one of his creative complex debates written in a pseudonym, but rather an edifying discourse that a pastor might present to his congregation. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">This slim work is bringing the attention to remorse, confession, pardon. Seeking to will one thing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Something has come in between. The separation of sin lies in between. Each day, and day after day something is being placed in between: delay, blockage, interruption, delusion, corruption.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times;"> But life gets in the way. Through distractions and interruptions - oh how Kierkegaard knows us, even from his perspective in the 1840s! Each chapter is a discussion of one of those barriers to willing one thing (great moments, the reward disease, egocentric service of the good, willing out of fear), and then chapters to discuss the price of willing one thing (commitment, loyalty, suffering, listening, living as an "individual", occupation and vocation).</span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Only the Eternal is constructive. The wisdom of the years is confusing. Only the wisdom of eternity is edifying.</b></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times;"> It all comes down to the individual, as much of his philosophy across all his books stresses this. Kierkegaard wrote a lot about the individual, meaning, the ultimate thing that matters is our one-on-one personal relationship with God and how we portray that in the world with eternal perspective. You can follow the crowd all your years, you can try to hide behind others' thoughts and ideas without forming your own, but in the end God is desiring of you as an individual, no third party is going to speak on your behalf when you come face-to-face with God.</span></p><blockquote><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">For in the outside world, the crowd is busy making a noise. The one makes a noise because he heads the crowd, the many because they are members of the crowd. But the all-knowing One, who in spite of anyone is able to observe it all, does not desire the crowd. He desires the individual; He will deal only with the individual, quite unconcerned as to whether the individual be high or low station, whether he be distinguished or wretched....Each one shall render account to God as an individual. The King shall render account as an individual; and the most wretched beggar, as an individual. No one may pride himself at being more than an individual, and no one despondently think the he is not an individual, perhaps because here in earth's busyness he had not as much as a name, but was named after a number.</span></b></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times;">How do we, then, live our lives? Kierkegaard challenges us with questions to probe us - if you throw yourself into the world around you, directing attention outwards, relating yourself as yourself the individual with eternal responsibility? Or do you fold into the crowd, excusing yourself with others, blending in and avoiding any topic that indeed falls into anything about responsibility? Kierkegaard is talking here about eternal responsibility, things that matter, the big questions. Avoiding thinking for yourself by "joining the crowd in its defiance, thinking that you were many" and hiding in the crowd's strength. You are not "many". But in eternity, it will be asked of you whether you may have damaged a good thing, and you, the individual must answer, as eternity strips away the crowd.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Yes, Kierkegaard is challenging. He is complex. I wrote in the margins toward the beginning of the book next to a certain passage - "S.K., always making things more difficult". And it's true. He even wrote about how he makes things more difficult and complex, but he is writing about truth and deep philosophical issues of humanity, and he doesn't shy away from the true cost of being a disciple of Jesus. He was frustrated with Christianity being watered down, to make people feel good and smoothly fit into culture. He saw the danger of this. I think his words feel more important today than they were in his day.</span></p><p></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5145480538412848223.post-91307664630586588572023-06-07T07:07:00.000-04:002023-06-07T07:07:33.201-04:00Coffee with Augustine and Plato<p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybvDQRuuZkRke3v9tnEwYpDV3LLzh9Mpg4uxxsHvHv64bFq2zhOVyKkevvl9i9nwkfQI9_pyaY8-hjh-0gl4Teio-Go7laBYHJJj57gWbJtHtXfEnTcISH527dlI7ATbDm0lt4UuSezEuLkyy5azF5cE24nBBk8_sN6piLEQw_UsO361-O-cP6nEXBg/s2003/A16C10FE-EA6B-40DC-B500-1C7A1FEE677D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2003" data-original-width="1484" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybvDQRuuZkRke3v9tnEwYpDV3LLzh9Mpg4uxxsHvHv64bFq2zhOVyKkevvl9i9nwkfQI9_pyaY8-hjh-0gl4Teio-Go7laBYHJJj57gWbJtHtXfEnTcISH527dlI7ATbDm0lt4UuSezEuLkyy5azF5cE24nBBk8_sN6piLEQw_UsO361-O-cP6nEXBg/w474-h640/A16C10FE-EA6B-40DC-B500-1C7A1FEE677D.JPG" width="474" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Lately I have been sharing many mugs of coffee with some great thinkers of antiquity and late antiquity. I dance around these two thinkers quite often, as they are referenced and discussed in many books I read. Rather serendipitously I have been reading them at the same time, almost as if they were speaking to one another, though from different centuries 375 BC to 400 AD. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><b></b></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;"><b>"...no two of us are born exactly alike. We have different natural aptitudes, which fit us for different jobs."<br />"We have indeed."<br />"So do we do better to exercise one skill or to try to practice several?"<br />"To stick to one," he said.</b></span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">"He" is Socrates. After Socrates died (executed by the re-instated democracy after an uprising), 30 years later Plato wrote <i>The Republic</i>, putting together conversations including Socrates and friends, to engage in what they would have discussed as philosophers. As they discuss their version of an ideal city if they could build their own, they lay out the dynamics of a society in their terms. An overarching theme of Socrates is unity of the virtues - he believed it wasn't possible to possess one without the others. Embracing good in truth, and what is best for the whole of the community is also mentioned again and again. Things that none of us would have trouble with. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">The ancient world of politics of Rome and Greece, however, would be rather disturbing to us today. Equality is not what we view as equality. Justice is not what we would view as justice. Grasping the ideas and society of their pre-Christian era, while full of familiar terms and some similar aspects, seems like a foreign landscape at times. An ancient realm before Christ had no thoughts toward God as we would think of God, in the scope of our post-Christian modern day. But they believed in gods, and sacrificed to them for good fortune.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Plato writes his arguments through Socrates's dialogues that in their created ideal city philosophers would be the rulers. As nobody else is as detached from money, power, and selfish inclinations than philosophers. <i>The Republic</i> is set out to be a sort of "constitution" for this newly established (imagined) city.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Augustine came later, after Christ, and was the Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) for the majority of his life (he lived 354 AD - 440 AD). He knew Plato's writings, indeed, he was a Platonist before he converted to Christianity. He uses Plato's parables in his own teachings. You can sense his prior learning as a philosopher infused in his writings.<br /></span></p><blockquote style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: times;">No one doubts that we are driven towards knowledge by a twofold force: the force of authority and the force of reason. I am, therefore, resolved never ever to deviate from the authority of Christ, for I find none so powerful. But as to what the most subtle reasoning can pursue - for I am so stirred up that I yearn impatiently to apprehend what the truth is, not only by believing but also by understanding - I am confident at the moment that what I will fund among the Platonists will not be opposed to our sacred mysteries.</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times;">Augustine wrote about a different city, <i>The City of God</i>, which is in fact one of his great books (a hefty one as well, over 1,100 pages) in which he targets paganism. He writes human history from the clashing aspects between two cities - the earthly city and the City of God. Or in the Biblical sense - Babylon and Jerusalem. Augustine himself said "Both cities are now mixed up together; at the end they will be separated." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Often authors and thinkers do speak to one another across space and time. Across the ages. Across the room. My Plato book was jumping up from my coffee table to my desk where Augustine was sitting when he heard his name mentioned. How fun it is to be amongst such authors, ready to jump at the chance to dialogue.</span></p><p></p>Kacie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16049464922388876621noreply@blogger.com0