Hystery: Word Shop Newsletter June 2007
In the early 70's several of us who were running counter-culture non-profit organizations decided to take over the local anti-poverty board. We beat the bushes and easily got the requisite signatures for seats that nobody much cared about. Eventually the shocked old-guard outmaneuvered us by declaring the election invalid; a stir that made the front page of the local newspaper.The press's coverage of this event was suprisingly different from my perspective. Since then I have viewed any newspaper's write up with suspicion; a jaundiced viewpoint that laps over into all media and includes history, sociology and even science. If they can't get something right that is happening directly under their noses, why would anyone think they can accurately project what happened years ago or even what is happening on a larger scale right now?
In the ensuing 40 years, I have watched history get re-written by special interest groups and even have seen the Bible re-translated to jive with current politically correct sentiments. It is easy enough to join Pilate and mutter "what is truth?" while washing hands of the whole mess; easy enough to crucify the whole concept of truth; easy enough to only read those we agree with, navigating the information highway with an alacrity that neatly avoids everyone else.
"It might be a good idea if the various countries of the world would occasionally swap history books, just to see what other people are doing with the same set of facts." -Bill VaughanFacts are obviously moveable pieces in the game of determining meaning. I usually find it preferable to seek out the truth through a flawed individual's eyes, than to sort through theoretically objective overviews. Listening with my heart, I try to look for light amidst the dark.
"And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye." - Antoine de Saint-ExuperyWitnessing Their Faith by Jay Alan Sekulow showed up at just the right moment. Justin and I were deep in an altercation around Chuck Colson's Prison Fellowship and the question of government funding of programs with a strong religious component. Witnessing Their Faith tracks Supreme Court cases that influence our freedom of religion. It includes some religious history at the time of key decisions as well as the beliefs of the Justices involved. We're now passing it back and forth, a chapter a week. Very interesting. On the other hand, Dave, glanced at the author's bio and decided he was in the *Other Camp.*
Speaking of Camps, Big Sur Camping and Crawdad Society is the weekend after July 4. Yes, you are welcome to come. You also may still be able to squeeze into the Gerard Family Camp week--which is actually not camping--at the Episcopal Conference Center in Oakhurst beginning July 15. Write me for details.
Howard Hendricks once described the local church as a football game: "22 people on the field badly in need of rest, and forty-thousand in the stands, badly in need of exercise."Got a nasty letter from Ingram Book Distributors who threatened to drop my account if I don't spend $2,000 this year. Obviously everyone in the book biz is scrabbling. I called them and pointed out that Amazon didn't get where they were by stomping on the little guy. Trying to squeeze blood out turnips, coercing little bookstores into spending more money. Nevertheless I'm considering a COST + ONE program where I'd buy ten copies of a book and sell them at cost + $1.00. For July I'll get Gilead, the Pulitzer Prize winning novel that I wrote about last month. Several people at Family Camp were interested in it. (See HOT READS at companyofsaints.com) If I end up with a bunch of extra copies you might get one for your birthday.
I could, of course, get 10 copies of the Book which cannot be mentioned, but Amazon is selling them at a 49% discount. No, we're not having a party. I had a 10 year old show up looking for a spell book. He claimed to be a warlock. He was surprisingly serious. We compared his sword with my letter opener. He said he only did ameba sized spells. I suggested praying might be more effective. His grandmother bought him a bunch of science books.
"One of my greatest pleasures in writing has come from the thought that perhaps my work might annoy someone of comfortably pretentious position. Then comes the saddening realization that such people rarely read." -John Kenneth GalbraithTwo O'clock Eastern Wartime is a novel by John Dunning, the same guy who wrote the bookseller detective stories I wrote about in the Feb. 07 newsletter. Taking place in 1942, the action of this mystery/thriller centers around a radio station and its troupe of actors, writers, technicians, directors. A historical peek into radio drama at it's prime. Still are a couple of reads left in this $1 paperback...
Jim brought in a bag of old radio dramas on tape including such gems as a whole series of THE WHISTLER. We sell tapes for $1 each. Such a deal! Ward and his mom listened to a bunch of these, so we know they are still good.
"Nobody is bored when he is trying to make something that is beautiful, or to discover something that is true." -William IngeI finally got to read Sleeping with Bread by the Linn trio. I kept ordering this book and then selling it before I got a chance to look at it. Subtitled "Holding what Gives You Life," the little, 70 page book is an explanation and inspiration for reviewing your personal history through Ignatious' examen. A great way to end the day. $12.95 new.
"I try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward." - Charlotte BronteFriday afternoon at the waterhole: Rodney plugs away working edits into the format of my (soon to be published) book. Laura and Justin add advice and pugnacious comments. General hilarity. Customers wander in and try to find books amid the tortilla chips and tea. A neighbor drops by looking for comfort after a friend's suicide... Amazing how much life can get packed into a couple of hours in a mere 500 square feet of space.
"A society that gets rid of all its troublemakers goes downhill." -Robert A. HeinleinUpward and onward.
Blessings,
Alliee +
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