Pilgrimage to a Bookshop

Praying To and From the Shelves

In the middle of December I traveled to Bastrop, Texas to visit The Painted Porch Bookshop. A friend of mine rode along. We browsed the shelves. I purchased a couple of books. Then we went to lunch at Neighbor’s Kitchen & Yard.

You may have heard of The Painted Porch. It’s owned by Ryan Holiday, a writer and podcaster who has popularized Stoic ideas. I had heard that Holiday had opened a bookshop with an upstairs that served as his office and podcasting studio, bringing together several of his interests, ideas, and pursuits in one business venture. Bastrop isn’t that far away. I wanted to see it. When the term wrapped up, I went for it. I invited a friend to come along.

I like bookstores, especially those operated by independent booksellers. I also enjoy visiting used bookshops, places like Brazos Books and Golden’s Book Exchange here in Waco. Fabled is a local favorite. It is delightful, too.

On this particular trip, I made a commitment to practice the presence of God, to be mindful of my experiences, to give thanks in all things, and to enjoy each moment. And I did. I went on pilgrimage. A friend joined in. We had good conversations. The bookshop was great. I asked one of the staff at The Painted Porch for lunch recommendations, and they lit up with excitement, offering more options than I could recall. I chose one I could remember. Lunch was wonderful. The day was a gift.

In the Bible, the feasts and festivals of Israel provided the people of God with occasions where they could experience pilgrimage. And while Christian people can continue to practice pilgrimage when visiting religiously designated holy sites (such as a church, places where significant things have happened, or sites where significant figures lived), it’s possible to broaden the practice. I’ve been to Israel. That was a transformational journey. But I’ve also done this while traveling to places associated with my family history, seeking a deeper connection to my own story while purposefully seeking God. I’ve experienced this while visiting churches, too.

God is with us all the time, wherever we go, in whatever we are doing. We don’t always notice. Learning to notice and pay attention is part of the journey. As pilgrims, we learn to be with the One who has been with us all along, graciously extending to us the gift of friendship and companionship, the One who went on a pilgrimage after us even though we were wayward, and who is even now guiding us home.

Book Notes

Since I haven’t written a newsletter since early September, I’ve read more books than would be prudent to list. My complete account of the books I read in 2023 is here, and I highlighted the works I enjoyed most and detailed my experiences as a reader last year in a blog post.

I’ve already finished three books since 2024 began. I read Collin Hansen’s Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation, Thomas Merton’s Spiritual Direction & Meditation, and Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep. I learned a great deal from Hansen about Timothy Keller. I was encouraged by what I found.

I’m working my way through three more books. I’m enjoying N. T. Wright’s Into the Heart of Romans: A Deep Dive into Pauls’ Greatest Letter. On my son’s recommendation, I’m reading Jonathan Auxier’s Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes.

And lastly, I’m reading Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey’s Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier. I’m less about Oprah and more about Arthur. I’m interested in psychological and neurological studies of happiness and what they reveal, and the subject matter intersects with what I do for a living. They’re making a run at one of the great questions. Who is happy, and how do I become happy? They think spirituality is a facet of human happiness. I think spirituality is not peripheral, but central. It threads through all dimensions of human life, including the quest for and experience of human happiness.

Sights and Sounds

I wish I had more time for movies. I’ve watched The Flash (2023), The Creator (2023), and L.A. Confidential (1997). In music, I put together a January playlist.

Last Words

On the blog: I shared some family research and my reaction to a think piece on social media algorithms and Generation Alpha.

Before I go, standard copy.

If you are receiving this newsletter in your email inbox, great! If you are a reader who comes my way via social media but you'd like to subscribe, subscribe here.

Hit play on the tape with the appeal for social media followers, then: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. I’ve thought about shutting all these down. No follow through…yet.

I’m not checking those accounts, but content does push there. If you use social media as your news feed, follow there. Share my stuff, if you like. Maybe those services are for you. They are not for me. I’ve been a happier and less anxious person since I quit checking social media.

Publishers consider social media numbers when extending offers or invites to write. Likes, follows, etc. help a person like me make their way. Lastly, subscribe to the blog by submitting your email to the "Updates to Your Inbox" form in the sidebar. We're at 1,539 across platforms. Help me get to 1,600+.

That's the business.

If you like this post, click the heart and kindly share it with others. If you’re coming my way because someone shared this with you, subscribe.

Be well this week. Bless others.

Best,

BAS

P.S. - Above the mantel at The Painted Porch.