Bryce Doty

He’s saying that if we have a common problem — the failure to acknowledge the full humanity of others — and if we have all, in one way or another, undergone the discipline of suppressing our instincts for solidarity, then we need to engage in the common labor of restoring those instincts to their proper place. That is, solidarity in this broad, moral, philosophical, and theological sense calls for work. —Alan Jacobs on Rowan Williams latest book

I could try and read Rowan Williams latest book on Solidarity, but nothing I could take away from it would be as coherent as Jacobs’ brief summary here. I do not have the background or training to read Rowan’s real books (I love his general audience ones) and it’s nice not thinking I have to try.

I’m a slow reader this year. What a yarn!

At some point we must give up trying to understand other people. Love them, surely. But recognize that such a love cannot be based on comprehension. We need always to remember that our love is carried on some great tide of divine demand. And we must throw ourselves into its current.

—Ephraim Radner

Excellent ideas to think through. I struggle with the “point” of writing in a world where there is already so much of it. This has helped me move beyond that question.

Was nice to read this and experience four baptisms at church today, per tradition!

Total Dudes! series and I am here for it. But I’m also grateful to have it behind me. Living in his dark, morally devoid crass world weighs on you.

4/5

There’s one down. Lindy’s xmas present to me were physical copies of some of her favorite reads from last year. 3.5/5 I kept thinking Station Eleven did it better while I was reading, which is unfair but that’s just the way it goes.

1. Do not question whether your habits are delivering meaning on a cosmic scale. Habits are a prerequisite to every good thing. Without them you will have nothing. With them you may still have nothing, but what is the alternative? Act as if you have free will. You never know. You may get lucky.

2. I want less –Lower back pain

3. I want more –Date nites –Bias towards action –Earnestness –Personal projects

4. Things to let go –Spending money frivolously

5. Things to keep –Restrictions on the phone –Steps with a weighted backpack –Gravel biking –The occasional drink with friends –Reading

Thanks, I had it stuffed yesterday.