Thanks so very much for the kind shout-out Daniel. I'm so sorry you're walking through a vale of tears this year, but I'm happy if my writing has helped you along that sad journey. Best wishes and blessings for a happy New Year!
Fully empathize with your thoughts about the ruralist-tradition-industrial-complex signifiers of the good life acting to exclude other kinds of good life; this is something that comes to the fore often with me because I live in a densely urban area and I bristle at the idea that such a life setting is somehow "sub-par." There are many kinds of lives which Christians ought not to dismiss out of hand. "Oases" are a good way to put what is probably the correct course; something, perhaps, like Elrond's Rivendell, or the Badger's house in The Wind in the Willows.
On aesthetics: you might find this amusing—last year I wrote at length about aesthetic subcultures and the worldviews communicated thereby. https://www.ruins.blog/p/aesthetic-subcultures
Jack Gilbert's Brief for the Defense is one of my favorite poems ever, and one that I had printed out and pasted into my planner/diary/bullet journal thing this year.
Thanks so very much for the kind shout-out Daniel. I'm so sorry you're walking through a vale of tears this year, but I'm happy if my writing has helped you along that sad journey. Best wishes and blessings for a happy New Year!
Fully empathize with your thoughts about the ruralist-tradition-industrial-complex signifiers of the good life acting to exclude other kinds of good life; this is something that comes to the fore often with me because I live in a densely urban area and I bristle at the idea that such a life setting is somehow "sub-par." There are many kinds of lives which Christians ought not to dismiss out of hand. "Oases" are a good way to put what is probably the correct course; something, perhaps, like Elrond's Rivendell, or the Badger's house in The Wind in the Willows.
On aesthetics: you might find this amusing—last year I wrote at length about aesthetic subcultures and the worldviews communicated thereby. https://www.ruins.blog/p/aesthetic-subcultures
I agree. Love the comparison of a conceptual oasis with Rivendell and Badger's house. Probably a good place to start thinking out of.
Also, will subscribe to your substack so I can figure out if I am a "Christian poptimist" or not. 😂
Ooh, I'm interested in knowing what you find out!
Jack Gilbert's Brief for the Defense is one of my favorite poems ever, and one that I had printed out and pasted into my planner/diary/bullet journal thing this year.
It’s so good. Probably one of three poems that stay stuck in my head.