A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
“In every outthrust headland, in every curving beach, in every grain of sand there is the story of the earth.” --Rachel Carson
My sister surreptitiously snuck this snapshot of me soaking in sun and sand during our sisters' slumber party in Onekama this weekend. I learned some lessons from nature these past two days-- firstly, that if you expose pale skin to strong sunlight it will turn red, whether you feel hot or not; secondly, sand is possibly the most invasive thing in the universe and will stay with you for a surprisingly long time; third, that just as every grain of sand is unique, so too is every beach stone, according to Cordelia, and must be added to the collection for creating stone art. We lugged home a wet towel full of about 50 flat stones. They will, however, provide lovely canvases for the girls' artwork.
Rachel Carson's quote (above) about sand reminds me of this quote by birthday boy Wendell Berry: "The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all." Only when we bought a farm years ago in Remus, Michigan, did I begin to understand the crucial role that soil plays in the lives of earthlings, as well as all life on planet earth. When one invests some time, money, and dreams into growing something good out of the soil, what that soil is made of suddenly becomes very relevant. This new information opened up a whole world of understanding for me about agricultural migration, why food tastes different in each place (terroir), and the role of humans as stewards of creation. As you no doubt already know, this is a blooming field of study, and I am excited to live in an age in which farmers are asking themselves how they can move beyond just avoiding the mineral depletion of the soil but actually transforming it into a nutrient-rich, biodiverse space that will bless future generations.
I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.
Sanctoral: Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome; St. Emygdius (d. 303); St. Oswald, king (605-642)
Human: It's the birthday of Wendell Berry, born in Port Royal, Kentucky (1934). He grew up on farmland that had belonged to his family since 1803, and after college and some traveling, he moved back to that area permanently. He bought a small farm in his hometown, which still had a population of only a hundred or so people, and he began farming it the way his grandfather had taught him, without any machines. He grew squash, corn, and tomatoes, and he got a flock of sheep, a milk cow, and some horses. And he wrote about his experiences as a farmer in more than 40 books of poetry, fiction, and essays.
Wendell Berry said, "Do unto those downstream as you would have those upstream do unto you."
The Writer's Almanac edition today.
Italian: Lavandino (sink / washbowl)
English: Buccaneer
The name was first given to the French settlers whose business was to hunt wild cattle and swine. A robber upon the sea; a pirate; — a term applied especially to the piratical adventurers who made depredations on the Spaniards in America in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Quote: "Nobody can discover the world for somebody else." --Wendell Berry
Etc.: Word on Fire is offering free viewing of the excellent "Catholicism" documentary series this month!
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