7 Things @ 7 #016
Road trips, discovered prayer books, reading long works, NBA draft, and much more.
Hello friends — I’m Ryan J. Pelton, a writer, teacher, podcaster, and believe the whole thing runs on grace. Here’s a little explanation of why my newsletter/podcast is called The Art of Paying Attention.
Hello, it’s been a minute. I took the family cross-country to the Smoky Mountains, Virginia, Washington, DC, Ohio, and Indiana State Dunes, and some fun stuff in between. The U-S-of-A is a beautiful, vast, and diverse place. If you have time to drive these highways and byways in no particular direction, it keeps things in perspective. There is much more going on than what our little corners will ever capture.
We are back into the rhythms of things and I’m looking forward to a great summer. The pace and heat and occasional adventures of the season is a welcome gift. Hope you all are doing well, and have a great Fourth of July, if in the states.
7 Things @ 7 from the Attention Collection
*I’m trying something new with the newsletter. I will “try” and launch the newsletter at 7PM every Monday. Tell a friend.
1. Holiday Thoughts: On June 19th, we celebrated Juneteenth in America. A national holiday celebrating the emancipation of slaves in America. I don’t pretend to understand the pain, agony, and suffering our black neighbors have experienced in our brief existence as the United States of America (247 years). More and more, I find poetry the proper medium to get a glimpse into the experiences of others. Amanda Gorman wrote a beautiful poem called Fury and Faith. Maya Angelou wrote I Rise another powerful poem.
2. Culture Corner: We need long books, essays, and thinky stuff. In a world of bite-sized consumption, we can do better. We must do better. The challenge of reading long books is not for ego, rather for the sake of formation. Sitting with difficult and long and winding texts is a way to wean ourselves off the shallow and easy and click bait stuff and bite-sized consumption of social media. I’ve been working through The Power Broker by Robert Caro and his first book on Lyndon Johnson this summer, fighting against my own tendencies to resist intellectual stimulation. Caro wrote these books long hand and they are masterpieces. The attention to detail and quality of writing is unmatched. They read like good fiction. A documentary on his work and editor is worth a look, too.
3. Discoveries: A prayer book from 1527 belonging to Thomas Cromwell was discovered, along with some art. Speaking of paying attention, I find prayer books a helpful guide in our spiritual formation. Sometimes we need the words of others to help our own communion with the Divine when we find ourselves cold, hard, and resistant. I use this Celtic one often.
4. Creativity Corner: Have you considered a writing retreat? I’m sure it’s crossed your mind a time or two. I recently talked to Lisa Shaughnessy, who put together a writing retreat directory. I’m convinced we will see more retreats for people wanting to unplug, retreat, and create. I’m also sure the spiritual benefits are incalculable in our techno-addicted culture.
5. Sporty: I’m a big NBA fan and we just had the draft. A seven-foot kid, Victor Wembanyama from France, was drafted to the San Antonio Spurs and looks like a potential all star. Check this out.
6. A New Hobby: Over the years, I’ve celebrated births, graduations, and other milestones with friends and family with a cigar. Some of my friends have guided me on the path of what is a good cigar, how to smoke them properly, etc. But I did not know the rich history of cigar making, and the ugly bits, too.
Ear Candy: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit have a new album and it’s beautiful. Yes, I have an obsession with the singer/songwriter, and you probably should watch a documentary about his life.
Quick Hits:
Talked with Erin Bradley on the Podcast.
Cranking out some new designs in the shirt shop.
Support my work with a paid subscription. Offering some cool insider goodies.
Grace + Peace,
Ryan