While giving myself the freedom to write anything is nice, the downside is that I’m less confident that you, the readers, will be satisfied by the things I have to say. A contract works best when you put forward an intention “I’m going to give you X.” Then you know whether or not you’ve delivered.
Recently my friend, Dr Timothy Patitsas, described a similar contract between audience and storyteller: he spoke of how societies have traditionally esteemed the pilgrim and eagerly offered him hospitality. I’d heard about this and even experienced it to some degree on my travels, but it wasn’t until Dr Tim’s talk, that I understood what the hosts, who rarely or never traveled themselves, were hopeful to receive in return. He explained that the pilgrim has a responsibility to bring information in the form of sacred stories.
Not long after this, I encountered a person who shared sacred stories with me from morning until night. When we sat down to breakfast she said, “Let’s each tell a miracle story.” On a walk in the woods, she told me about wondrous encounters from walks she’d taken there before. After dinner, she pressed a guitar into the hands of our musical guest, and asked them to share a song. Hospitality in exchange for a song—especially one the guest is equipped to sing—and both host and pilgrim are happy.
Discussing the scope of this newsletter, in light of that responsibility to share the sacred stories we’re equipped to tell, a friend said:
It’s pilgrimage, washi tape, and a library card. It’s about that incredible homemaking style that you bring to experiences and to your offerings of hospitality, with a strong dose of intellectual hospitality/curiosity and frugality and just the perfect spicy touch of epicureanism.
So, let’s delve into that:
More Pilgrimage: destinations, how to prepare, good resources, and reading
More Washi Tape: stationery, snail mail, textile arts, and homemaking
More Library Card: reflections on placemaking and community, reduce-reuse-recycle, joyful bargains, opportunities, movies you should know, and books
and start with:
Three things I love
Stamp of Sunshine (S.o.S.) is a budding nonprofit organizing free card writing pop-ups in coffee shops and community spaces and even onboard some domestic flights. Co-founder Alexandra shared that reflecting on the precious cards and letters she received from family and friends during a difficult time, she realized that we tend to be hard on ourselves with our own words. Often it’s through other people’s words that we find the truth about ourselves. This organization helps removes the barriers to sending mail to our loved ones. I hope you’ll be inspired to send someone a card this very day, and support Stamp of Sunshine too!
Elizabeth Goudge. For many years I’ve started each new year by reading a novel by Elizabeth Goudge. Goudge (1900-1984) was a compatriot and contemporary of C.S. Lewis and just as prolific, writing over thirty novels, short story collections, and children’s books. Goudge’s “cathedral trilogy” features one novel set in each of the three cathedral towns she lived in during her childhood as the daughter of a canon, or priest: Wells (City of Bells), Oxford (Towers in the Mist), and Ely (The Dean’s Watch). I rarely re-read books these days, so it’s significant that I keep returning to these: Green Dolphin Street, Pilgrim’s Inn, and The Scent of Water.
Pendelton Woolen Mill Store. I was on the hunt for a woolen rug in the dead of winter, when I received this tip: remnants, headers, and selvage from the Pendelton Woolen Mill hit the store floor every Friday morning. I found just want I needed for $5 per pound. This is a sweet space displaying Pendelton history, a great range of discounted merchandise, bolts of suiting material, and a small curated craft supply selection. If you’re into wool, it’s worth a pilgrimage.
I’m looking forward to…
…the release of my friend Jennifer Anna Rich’s children’s book, The Little Way of the Pilgrim, next month from Ancient Faith Publishing. It features soft, colorful illustrations by Diana Popescu. I saw a sneak peek on social media, and I can’t wait to hold it in my hands.
Cheers!
Thomaida