Death, aging + politics... yay!

Abby's Reading: 31 (make sure you watch the John Green video at the end)

Vanitas-Still Life | Maria van Oosterwijck

The Mr. Darcy and Miss Tinley series by Claudia Gray (book series)

The first two books of this series are nothing short of delightful if you too share my love of Austen. The mysteries are fine, but what really shines are the endearing characters borrowed from the Jane Austen universe and Gray’s imagining of their lives after Austen’s novels end. Eagerly awaiting book #3 from my library.

A Theology of Aging with Jen Wilkin, from Honestly, Though (podcast)

Though I turned a mere 34 over the weekend, I’m surprised how close discussions around aging (should I dye my gray hair? Get Botox? Buy barrel jeans?) and this podcast with Jen Wilkin gave me such good food for thought and encouragement. 

How a Skull and an Hourglass Alleviate My Anxiety by Griffin Gooch (article)

We all will die, and this brief article explains why we should think about this fact more. 

“Modern Western society lives in “denial of death.” It only enters our imaginations in worst case scenarios. And that makes the process of aging all the more difficult. The more we fight time and death, the harder they’ll fight us…

Acclimating ourselves to death is wiser than the alternative. And for the modern Christian, accepting our limited time horizons would help us live more peacefully with God’s will, timing, and goal for our lives.”

Election 2024 Playlist from my Spotify

I was challenged by Jen Pollock Michel’s recent post on crafting a political Rule of Life. At the top of mine will be listening to music that pushes me into a posture of prayer and fosters hope in the kingdom of God. Here’s my playlist if you’re interested. 

America’s Capital of Dead Vice Presidents from John Green

And weirdly tying most of the above together, this five minute John Green video had me laughing then crying because only John Green can make a video about the cemetery where the most vice-presidents are buried then seamlessly transition to a poignant story where we’re faced with our individual finitude and our collective life. And the story he shares makes me so proud to be from Indiana. 

until next time, excelsior!