Every day I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight. — Mary Oliver
This week the news is overwhelming, the weather is darker and gloomier than normal, and there is plenty around us and maybe even within us to be anxious about. But I saw the quote above in a newsletter a few weeks ago, and I like the way it reminds us to look for little joys in the midst of our days—even dreary ones.
So to end the week in the spirit of things that “more or less kill me with delight,” I have a list of six fall favorites. Without claiming to be an expert in any of these categories and without further adieu, here they are in random order:
A cup of coffee every morning is undoubtedly one of my favorite little joys in life. The Spouse is something of a coffee connoisseur. On the weekends when time allows, he has been known to grind his beans using a mortar and pestle. And when we’re traveling he has to seek out the best coffee in town and will walk ridiculous distances to get a cup. It has taken me a few years to appreciate this hobby of his, but I’m coming around. It’s important to note that he drinks his coffee black and therefore notices all kinds of nuances in flavors and roasting styles that I suspect may be drowned out by the amount of cream I use. But, if you’re like him and have a “more sophisticated palate” as he calls it {I’m resisting an eye roll}, this might be a brand you or your favorite coffee lover would enjoy. Counter Culture is out of Durham, North Carolina, and their focus is on sustainability and supporting small estate farmers. For this reason, their offerings change seasonally. The Spouse’s favorites are anything sun-dried or plum flavored.
I’ve had this app on my phone for the past several years. I’ll confess I don’t use it every day, and rarely in the first five minutes of the day, but I love having it on hand. You can program it to alert you at a certain time each morning and then whenever you have a spare five minutes you can open it to read a scripture, a short devotion by one of the Proverbs 31 writers, a prayer, and a question to think about that day. I guarantee you that if I would use it in the actual first five minutes of each day, my mornings might feel less frantic.
(3) The Next Right Thing podcast
I get overwhelmed by the amount of podcast options on iTunes. There is so much good content being produced by funny, interesting, smart people. Most days I can’t decide where to start or what to focus on, so I wind up feeling something like a leaf in the wind. But, I have read Emily P. Freeman’s writing for many years now. So when she came out with a podcast last year I knew I would enjoy listening to her. She has a soothing voice, a heart for nurturing our creativity, and a gift for weaving stories from the most everyday moments into lessons. What I most appreciate about her podcast is that she keeps each one to fifteen minutes or less. I’ve listened to almost every one of the 58 podcasts she has recorded and have taken something away from each one. As she says each week… if you struggle with decision fatigue, need help discerning your “next right thing,” or would just enjoy 12-15 minutes of calm in your week, this is worth a listen. A new episode releases each Tuesday.
(4) Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
Last fall we stumbled upon a tiny storefront in downtown Charleston called Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit. The line was so ridiculously long and the space felt so crammed that we almost gave up on waiting through it with the girls. But, alas, we persevered and are so glad we did because these handmade biscuits {specifically the cinnamon} were the best we’ve ever had. And I should note that as good southerners we’ve had a lot of biscuits. Callie’s has storefront locations in two spots in Charleston and one in Atlanta as well. But I just discovered they have an online store where you can have the biscuits shipped directly to you. We met Carrie, the owner, the last time we were in Charleston and discovered she has three young daughters, too. So I’m especially glad to support her biscuits and baking endeavors. If you’re into recipes, she shares some that exceed my skill level here.
(5) The Message
When I was in college a translation of the Bible in conversational English came out called The Message. I remember reading a few passages in it and being blown away by how it made the stories and verses I had heard my whole life come alive in new ways. Eugene Peterson was a pastor who wrote The Message so that his own congregation could connect with the Bible in a fresh way. He passed away last week at the age of 85. There is a video tribute to him on the website and hearing his humility and the heart behind his work makes me appreciate him even more. Here are a few of my favorite verses from his translation:
“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” {Galatians 6:4-5, MSG)
“God’s love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largess nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks.” {Psalm 36:5-6, MSG}
(6) Boo the Roo
Boo is a chicken—a rooster—more specifically. And Boo is a patient of the Spouse’s pharmacy. Typically HIPAA laws would prevent me from sharing this sort of information, but I feel like a rooster might not demand the same privacy rights as a person. Besides, this rooster likes an audience and has accrued a fairly large one on Instagram where he is known as @therealbootheroo. Boo is well-loved {how many chickens do you know that have a relationship with a doctor and a pharmacist?} and frequently videoed doing a variety of things like pecking on the piano or texting his friends. He is an entertaining little break from the heaviness that characterizes much of our news. So, if you’re a fan of roosters or local animal celebrities, I’m sure he would be happy to have you as a follower. And the next time your dog, cat, bird, gerbil, or chicken gets sick… you’ll know where you can go for medicine.
I hope your weekend is full of at least a few of your favorites!
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