Hello, my friends!
It’s 7 PM… let’s get to the 7!
I’m doing a 2023 wrap up edition. Sharing some of my favorite things from 2023.
Enjoy!
Things I Loved in 2023
1. I do this almost every year, not always sharing it with the public. But I think back on the previous year, and try to celebrate the things I loved. Kind of a gratitude practice of sorts. You can read my twenty-three things here.
2. A favorite quote came late in the year from a professional basketball player. Nicola Jokic reflects on fame. There is something beautiful and countercultural in these statements:
"It just feels sad, he said… Being famous, I think some people like it. I don't, really. When I finish my career, I really wish nobody knows me, and I really wish my kid, or kids in the future, really remember me as a dad, not as a basketball player," he said.
3. You can’t reflect on a year and not consider books… all the books. Well, one of my favorite books in 2023 was a project I was part of (shameful plug). Art and beautiful words are my jam. The Modern Saints is live, check it out. Killers of the Flower Moon is a story worth reading. If you like weird deep dives into the making of music, this book on Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska album is fantastic. Our Souls at Night from Kent Haruf, is a beautiful fiction story. Everything Sad is Untrue is like nothing I’ve read. If you are a Christian, or how Christians think about imagination, this one by poet Malcom Guite is worth a look.
4. The movie viewing was down in 2023. But, I enjoyed Oppenheimer, Air, Indiana Jones, Jesus Revolution, Christmas Vacation, and Migration.
5. I watched a lot of stand up comedy, and series documentaries around history in 2023. Laughing makes me happy, and knowing our context is vital. Comedies: Gary Gulman is one of the funniest comedians around. Nate Bargatze is solid, too. History shows: JFK, and another JFK.
6. A few podcasts I stumbled upon last year: Rick Rubin, Smartless, Life with God, This League Uncut. You can also listen to mine:)
7. Favorite places I visited in 2023: 1. Holland, Michigan. 2. Smoky Mountains (Tennessee) 3. Cancun, Mexico.
Thanks for reading! This is a low-carb, high protein, and reader supported publication. You can support my work with a paid subscription, buy a book, read an article, or listen to a podcast episode.
Grace + Peace,
Ryan