Reading this week (10 March)

In an effort to be more thoughtful and reflective about what I’m reading, here is a round-up from the past week or so. (I do love a good round up!) Links to books use my Abebooks referral link – buy second hand!

Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

I read this not long after it first came out, but it was interesting to go back to it and see the roots of some habits I still have – namely, not having social media on my phone. It was a good refresher as well. I appreciate the advice to not only detox from social media, but then to chose how to use social media in a way that aligns with your values and gives you significant benefit. The technology in the book that Newport discusses are even more ubiquitous than at the time of publication, the amount of time spent on phones and social media has only increased. It’s a relatively easy read, but should be read with a pen in hand to note down which ideas you want to try.

Much of this book is getting synthesized into my current newsletter series on time management.

To Be a Woman is to be Called to Motherhood on Plough

“One who is mother only to her own children is not a mother,” says George MacDonald’s narrator in his novel Sir Gibbie; “she is only a woman who has borne children.”

I’ve been thinking about this quote a lot, especially alongside a comment from Nancy Kelly who shared that her home ed co-op was intentionally limited in size so that each of the adults could have a personal relationship with each of the children. Our culture is very autonomous, and while we glibly say that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, we are more honest when we admit that ‘we don’t want to step on their toes’ – being part of a village takes some thoughtful intention.

Protestants across the Atlantic from the Anchored Argosy

I appreciate anything that helps me make sense of the differences between the British and American churches. I think Alastair’s analysis is spot on, but also especially British home educators: we see similar issues at play in our own subculture, like the exportation of our teachers, materials, our work to the US. It also highlights the importance of what we are doing as home educators in the spiritual formation of our children. You can hear Alastair (and others) talk about differences between evangelicalism in the UK and the US on this podcast episode.

A Billion Dollars from Mere Fidelity

What would you do with a billion dollars to build up the western church? I really enjoyed this conversation, but I did feel like shouting, “Revive the PNEU!” at my phone by the end. How do we solve the chicken-and-egg problem of faithfully raising our children vs shoring up young adults in the faith (so they can go on to faithfully raise their children?). In my mind, you get parents and educators to start applying a ‘thinking love‘.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

I finished two Waverley novels last month, took a break for nonfiction, and needed to come back to something a little bit easier. I’ve always skewed toward Laura Ingalls, and I’m not sure I’ve even read all of the Anne books, but Anne called out to me this time. A true comfort read.