Knowing versus Feeling

A photo from Kensington Palace I snapped just before leaving London. I absolutely fell in love with the peaceful feeling of this garden.

Hello, friends. I had originally been planning to post about the second book of the ten that would be on 'my bookshelf,' but while praying this morning, I realized there was something more important I'd like to discuss today. So my new plan is to use those book explanations when I have the time to blog but feel like I don't have much to say (which has been happening lately).

In today's first reading, Moses returns from the mountains to find that the people have forgotten him and have forgotten God. They have made an idol of gold to worship instead. Take a look at this excerpt:

Moses asked Aaron, "What did these people ever do to you

that you should lead them into so grave a sin?"

Aaron replied, "Let not my lord be angry.

You know well enough how prone the people are to evil.

They said to me, 'Make us a god to be our leader;

as for the man Moses who brought us out of 
the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.'

So I told them, 'Let anyone who has gold jewelry take it off.'

They gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out.

Exodus 32: 21-24

I was particularly struck by the people's reasoning. They had requested of Aaron, 'Make us a god to be our leader; as for the man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.' 

Punctuation nerd that I am, I was staring long and hard at that semicolon. It implies that there is a logical connection between the two clauses. In this case, I'm interpreting it as a cause-and-effect connection. They tell Aaron, 'Make us a god to be our leader because we do not know what has happened to Moses, the man who brought us out of Egypt.' And then we can identify the underlying assumption as the people must always have a leader and someone to worship. As soon as their leader is gone, and as soon as they can no longer feel God's presence, the people create something new to lead them and something new to worship to fill the void that they feel.

I'm not sure about you, but I certainly don't feel God's presence near me all the time. There are many days that I feel directionless and far from God. I still know He exists. I know He is there. But knowing and feeling are two different things, and sometimes I'm like the Jewish people in the desert; I wonder where my direction has gone, and I quickly abandon ship.

But the thing about faith is that it's not all about feelings. It's about believing and continuing to act the way Jesus wants us to, even when we don't feel Him near us. Even when we're not sure where He has gone. Even when our prayer life has been feeling a bit dry and it's feeling really tempting to focus on money or popularity or career success instead. That, I think, is when it is most important to keep faith, to avoid the temptation to worship a golden calf, and to know in our hearts, even if we don't feel it, that God exists and is walking with us.

Book 1: Little House in the Big Woods

It just occurred to me that I never actually posted about the ten books that I mentioned in my Tuesday Teatime video a few weeks ago, and I really would like to share my thoughts about them. So starting from the beginning, here are ten reasons why Little House in the Big Woods would make my bookshelf of ten books.

First, this was the book that ignited my passion for reading. My grandparents gave it to me for Christmas in 1997, just after I had turned six years old. Up until this point, I had loved reading picture books with my parents and then had moved onto reading short 'chapter books' on my own. But Little House in the Big Woods was something entirely new. I identified with the main character. I delighted in imagining her life. I applied the lessons that five-year-old Laura learned in the book to my own life. My mother had been reading the book to me each night before bed, but before she knew it, I had finished the book on my own and was devouring the next in the series. 

Second, the book taught me about a strong work ethic and the importance of having a work plan and routine. (I'm not kidding. I credit a lot of my personality as a planner to this book and the rest in the series.) Some of the routines Ma, Laura, and Mary follow in the book are burned in my memory and influence how I work to this day. This passage in particular has had a very positive impact on me:

"After [the breakfast dishes and bed-making were] done, Ma began the work that belonged to that day. Each day had its own work. Ma used to say:

'Wash on Monday,

Iron on Tuesday,

Mend on Wednesday,

Churn on Thursday, 

Clean on Friday,

Bake on Saturday

Rest on Sunday.'"

Clearly, I'm not spending my Thursdays churning or anything. But I do still try to give myself one main task per day with other smaller, less important tasks. So for example, this week, my main task each day has been to plan a certain number of lessons on Beowulf for the fall. Then I have a small to-do list with secondary tasks like emails to respond to, chores to do around the house, and phone calls to make. Also, the perennial wisdom that a sink free of dishes and a crisply made bed are good ways to start the day has served me well. Thanks, Little House.

Somehow I was lucky enough to find friends who also loved the series so much that they also found it fun to dress up in 'olden days' clothes, as I called them. We were nine here, I think. (And yes, I was tiny.)

Thirdly, and closely related to the previous point, the book introduced to me the concept that Sundays should be kept free from work. My parents didn't work on Sundays, and the day was always reserved for mass and family time anyway, but my parents had never actually told me they refrained from work on Sundays. It wasn't a concept that entered my consciousness until I read the chapter on how Laura and her family spent Sundays. At six years old, I didn't really have any work to refrain from on Sundays, and in high school, I was studying every spare minute I had in order to try to get into Harvard. But from college onwards, the idea that Sunday is the Lord's day really became important to me, and I even revisited the chapter in Little House when trying to think of ways to make Sunday special.

Fourth, the book taught me that I didn't need fancy toys to have fun. Laura had a corn-cob doll and a ball made out of a pig's bladder (okay, that one is kind of gross) and she always had a good time. I started playing with paper dolls and playing 'house' in the yard with my sister because I wanted to have fun the same ways that Laura had fun.

And finally, the silly little lessons I learned from the book have stuck with me for almost twenty years, and I think they'll probably stick around at least twenty more. Some gems include: (1) don't jump on a hornets' nest; (2) if you're advised to do something as quickly as possible, there's probably a good reason; (3) brown hair is just as pretty as blonde, and it's not worth fighting over anyway. Oh, and (4) if you don't have a ball handy, use a pig's bladder. (Just kidding.)

Happy Friday, everyone!

Quotation taken from Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Little House in the Big Woods. 1932. New York: HarperCollins, 1971. p29.

Tuesday (...Wednesday again...) Teatime: Summertime

Even if you're not on vacation at the moment, have you been doing anything 'summer-y'? What do you associate with summertime? Things? Places? People? Activities? Wishing you all a lovely summer! :)

Thoughts on Love

Sometimes, it's a doodle-in-your-planner kind of day...

I was just reminded of this beautiful truth and thought I would share it with all of you:

"The person who does not decide to love forever will find it very difficult to really love for even one day." 

~St. Pope John Paul II

I don't think it just applies to romantic love, either. Every day, we need to decide to really love our parents, our siblings, our friends, our coworkers, and our neighbors. Some days, I'm pretty bad at it. But remembering that love is more than just a feeling--it's a choice we make to will the good of another--always makes such a big difference in my day.

Lots of love, friends. Hope you're doing well.

Goodbye England Part 3: Goodbye and Hello

So long, London! It's been so great.

The wonderful thing about endings is that they're also new beginnings. So while it was tremendously difficult to say goodbye to the country and city I've come to know and love, the trip ended in a welcome back to a familiar place (home in Boston) and the promise of a new adventure around the corner next month (when I move to Wisconsin to begin a new teaching job). Thanks for sticking with me through all these transitions, friends! :)

Hello, Massachusetts. It's nice to be back.

Tuesday Teatime: Goodbye England Part 2

A little on the sentimental side this week. Why I love England and what I'm going to miss about it...

Goodbye England Part 1: My Favo(u)rite Places

A view of part of the Victoria and Albert Museum from its inner courtyard

Well, the time has come, and suddenly I'm down to my last three days in London. As I'm reflecting on the past year, I'd like to share with you some of my favorite places I've discovered, what I'll miss, and what I've learned. (Hoping to do a post each morning for the next couple of mornings, but we shall see...)

It's difficult to narrow my favorite places down to just a few, but after much struggle, I've decided that these are the eleven places I'll miss the most in London (besides the school where I was teaching), roughly in descending order of preference. (There's a separate list of tea rooms below because if I included those here, they would dominate the list!)

1. The Victoria and Albert Museum: This place is without a doubt my number one favorite in England. I've spent hours and hours and hours there and never seem to tire of it. One day, I decided that I was going to look at all the displays in the European wings in detail, and I've been back on an almost biweekly basis since! I have learned SO much about British history here and made countless connections with the literature I teach and the customs and habits of the people I see around me here in London. I'll truly miss this place.
2. The Brompton Oratory: I have never had the privilege of hearing mass said in such an awesome (in the original sense of the word) cathedral. The moment I walk in, all my stress disappears, and I gaze in wonder toward the tabernacle. This is the first church I've found that still uses the 1962 missal regularly. Unfortunately, I never made it to one of those masses, but I did attend plenty of Latin masses and grew considerably more familiar with the format than I've ever been. What a beautiful way to worship.
3. Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park: Definitely my favorite place to walk in London. Strolls past Kensington Palace, along the Serpentine, and through the rose gardens always made my day. My long walk among the flowers on Easter Sunday will always be one of my most treasured memories of my year here.
4. Holy Trinity Church, Brook Green: This was my home church for the year (partly because I lived down the street from it), and I attended mass here more than anywhere else. It was also my go-to spot for confession, adoration, and general quiet contemplation with Christ. I loved the old stone building, the welcoming nature of the priests and sisters, the tight-knit community, and the music. It was a special part of my time here in London.
5. The British Museum: Another one of my favorite museums here. Even if I lived here another fifty years, I don't think I would ever tire of wandering its galleries. Every turn brought into sight another treasure, and the hours I spent there were some of the most thought-provoking I've had here.
6. Harrod's: Although my first time in this department store actually scared me so much I had to leave (because I accidentally brushed up against a dress worth 700 pounds and then had visions of somehow breaking something else that cost more than my monthly salary), Harrod's still makes the list. I've never gotten so lost in a department store before, and it's incredible to me that any store can look so much like a museum. Plus, my sister and I had ice cream in their ice cream parlor last week, and that was one of the cutest things I've done in awhile. Selfridge's was cool too because I love the show Mr Selfridge, but I think Harrod's wins out as a slightly more absurd (and therefore more fun) store.
7. Cath Kidston: My love for this store is infinite. So much vintage, so many florals. Oh, Cath Kidston, please open a branch in Boston!!
8. The National Gallery: I'm sure you're noticing my intense affection for the museums here. They're such a treasure trove of knowledge, and they're free! It was difficult to choose my favorite art museum (runners-up were the Tate Britain and the National Portrait Gallery), but the National Gallery wins just because of the breadth of its collection. I could go from admiring a Rembrandt to a Renoir or a Titian to a Turner in a matter of minutes.
9. The residential neighborhoods of Brook Green: These neighborhoods were my stomping ground this year, and I have many memories of pleasant after-dinner walks, meandering through the streets and admiring the fine Georgian townhouses. The neighborhoods are dotted with so many old school buildings too that the walks were always very fun for this school-obsessed girl ;)
10. The Globe Theatre: I've only seen a handful of plays at the Globe while here, but watching some of my favorites as Shakespeare intended them to be staged was such a privilege and a pleasure. 
11. Pret a Manger: A silly way to end the list, I know, but this chain of restaurants really stole my heart. Fresh, healthy, and affordable fast-food?? Yes, please. A few have opened in Boston, but I think it'll be awhile (if ever) before there are nearly as many open in the U.S. as there are here.

Tea Rooms

1. Betty Blythe: Around the corner from me and 1920s themed. I frequented this spot so regularly that the girls there knew I don't take milk in my tea! It was one of my favorite spots to read, mark students' papers, and take visiting friends.
2. Tea House Theatre: This tea room is rather hidden-away in Vauxhall, but it is worth the trek for anyone interested in a good cup of tea. The atmosphere is just lovely, with colorful bunting adorning the ceiling, an eclectic mix of antique furniture, a fireplace, books and board games for the patrons... Plus, they bake fresh cakes every day and leave them on the dining tables around the room. So before ordering, a leisurely walk through the room to gaze at the mouth-wateringly beautiful cakes is a must.
3. Clarinda's: Okay, so this one is in Edinburgh. But it had to make the list anyway because it is probably the cutest tea room I've ever seen, with antique china hanging on the walls, lace tablecloths, and classical music in the background. I posted about it in October/November when sharing my photos from Scotland.
4. The Rose: Also not in London, but at least it's in the right country this time! This gem of a place is in Oxford and was the first tea room I learned to love, a whole three years ago on my fist sojourn to England.
5. The V&A Cafe: The decor is gorgeous and kind of makes me feel that I've slipped back in time and am taking tea on a White-Star-Line-type ocean cruiser. I can't count the number of times I've had cream tea here after a long afternoon wandering the halls of the museum.
6. Cocomaya: Tucked away off Oxford Street and one of the widest assortments of tea treats I've ever seen. I spent a wonderfully lazy few hours here one afternoon, decompressing after the stresses of walking Oxford Street.
7. The Original Maids of Honour: A friend and I tried this place for the first time just a few weeks ago after visiting Kew Gardens. The 'maids of honour' tart is an old recipe harkening back to the days of King Henry VIII. There are several versions of the story, but they seem to be linked to Anne Boleyn, either while she was queen and eating the tarts with her maids of honor, or while she herself was a maid of honor to Queen Catherine of Aragon.
8. The Orangerie at Kensington Palace: Since this was the first place I ever had true afternoon tea with the tiered tea tray, I'll always consider it one of my favorites. It was a pretty cold day, but we sat outside, and the entire affair felt very dignified.
9. Primrose Bakery: Another out-of-the-way tea room. This one is a short walk from Regent's Park and boasts some of the most creative cupcakes you'll ever see. I had a salted caramel cupcake with tea and enjoyed the afternoon with my friend immensely.
10. Bea's of Bloomsbury: A short walk from the British Museum, this small tea room sells a marvelous innovation called a "duffin," a mix between a doughnut and a muffin. Terribly unhealthy, but so good.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I found a lot of these tea rooms from Lauren's blog Aspiring Kennedy, which you can find here. She blogs about her favorite places in London (as well as her travels elsewhere), and her 'To a Tea' series was an inspiration for many of my own tea adventures this year. 

If you happen to be planning a trip to London, let me know if any of the places above pique your interest! I'd love to hear from other people who love England as much as I do.

Tuesday (...or Wednesday) Teatime: America

Happy (belated) Independence Day! What do you love about America? (Or about your country if you're not American?)