The spring term is underway at Truett Seminary. I’m teaching one class, serving as a supervisor in our Spiritual Direction Training Program, overseeing a few independent studies, and leading two retreat weekends later in the term. I’m spearheading a Lenten devotional project that the seminary will issue later this spring. I’ve been busy coordinating our team of writers, editing and compiling the work of contributors. I have a few lunches already lined up, and I’ll be meeting with a few individuals one-with-one throughout the term for regular conversation and/or spiritual direction. I did a wedding early in the month. Now, January is nearing close. The start of the term always passes quickly as we get everything up and running. The level of intensity causes the days to pass by fast.
I’m squeezing this newsletter in this evening to pass along notes about what I’ve been reading and viewing and giving a listen, as well as hyperlinks to stuff that has appeared on my website (first paragraph under “Last Words”). This year, I said fourth Friday newsletters would contain personal updates, anecdotes, or stories. So I’m sending along an acrostic poem my son wrote and a short update about my family. I wrote a little about what we’re going through in December.
This past week Molly underwent additional medical testing. We visited a specialist in Dallas. Still no diagnosis, but we did discover new pathways to pursue. She may have an iron deficiency that has contributed to her fatigue. She’ll receive a treatment for this in the next week. We’ll see if that makes a difference.
We have continued to be blessed by friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who have remembered Molly, and our family, in prayer. This morning, I played basketball at a local church with a group of men. There is a moment during our time together when we divide into smaller groups and pray. Since I’ve been part of the group for a while, a couple of the guys asked how we were doing, and other men in my small group today prayed for Molly’s complete healing. Later this morning, Molly ran into a local pastor at a tire shop who also serves as a spiritual formation mentor at Truett. He assured Molly “we” have been praying. I know he meant other members of the seminary community, but I suspect he meant other members of the local church he leads, too. A few work colleagues have also asked about our family. I’ve shared that those I work with at Truett have been “ministers” to me and to my family—that should be expected and not surprising, but I know it could be otherwise. We are grateful to be surrounded by caring, compassionate people. If you are one of those out there who are praying for us, we appreciate you and continue to welcome your prayers.
We’re not out of the woods. We’re still moving forward, though. When necessary, we swing a mean machete.
A final note: next Tuesday I’ll deliver the sermon during Truett’s weekly chapel service. The sermon will likely post to Truett’s YouTube Channel, and if it does I’ll share it. Chapel services usually stream on Truett’s Facebook feed, which you’ll have to find, if you want to catch it live. Service begins at 11 am (CST). If you’re local, come in person.
Book Notes
Ron Chernow’s Washington remains a big book, I continue moving slowly through David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest, and I’m nearing completion of Wendell Berry’s This Day: Collected & New Sabbath Poems. All these books have been here a while. I know.
I finished a couple of books this week: Paul D. Miller’s The Religion of American Greatness: What’s Wrong With Christian Nationalism and Makoto Fujimura’s Art and Faith: A Theology of Making. I plan to quote the latter in a sermon I’ll deliver next week. The former I reviewed on Amazon, if you want to look it up.
Sights and Sounds
I’ll start with an album recommendation. Check out El Bueno Y El Malo by Hermanos Gutiérrez. Listen to the opening track by clicking the link; here is NPR’s Scott Simon interviewing the duo about the album.
Molly and I watched The Lost City (2022) and Forces of Nature (1999), two romantic comedies, both starring Sandra Bullock, both disasters. If these movies were hurricanes and we evaluated them according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, The Lost City is a Category 1, while Forces of Nature is a Category 5. In the latter film Sandra Bullock co-stars with Ben Affleck in a movie that could not have been worse. Blech!
We watched Holes (2003) with the kids. We’re doing one family movie night a month this year, and that was our first pick.
I watched Gamer (2009), which I will not recommend due to excessive violence, an unserious antagonist, and an unsympathetic hero, though it does contain some criticisms of digital media, voyeurism, and online culture that continues to hold up.
Paycheck (2003) is a John Woo film that I wish I’d seen a long time ago. It is just the kind of science fiction action movie I like. Ben Affleck has a good performance in this one.
Keanu Reeves’ Exposed (2006) is a mess of a movie exploring dark themes of abuse and corruption, doing so interestingly but unsuccessfully in a surrealist style. Don’t waste your time, even if you like Keanu (which I do).
And lastly in the movie category, I watched R.I.PD. (2013), starring Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, and Kevin Bacon. Most people I know would hate this movie. I hated parts of this movie. Some of the jokes didn’t land. But it explores the spiritual realm, with all of its weirdness. It is a comic book movie. It’s basically about a police force that rounds up souls that remain on earth and refuse to move on to the afterlife. I enjoy Jeff Bridges on screen. So, overall, I liked it.
Most evenings these past few weeks have been spent watching season one of The Peripheral on Amazon (2022). It’s science fiction. I’ve read William Gibson. There are plot elements in the show that are hard to follow because of the philosophical underpinnings pertaining to space and time. There is a visceral quality to the show that turned my stomach a little. A couple of the villains are disgusting. But Chloë Grace Moretz is electric as Flynne Fisher. Her performance is outstanding. The contrast between past and future societies, and between rural folk and urban sophisticates, is profound. I loved this show. I’m looking forward to season two.
Last Words
On the blog: Theophan the Recluse on three types of prayer, Dmitri of Rostov on unceasing prayer, a review of The TEXT Bible, a good line from Socrates, the Truett Spring Convocation message, Werntz on church harm, and a cool conservation story.
Before I go, standard copy.
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Be well this week. Bless others.
Best,
BAS
P.S. - Killing isn’t allowed, but fishing is!