Whimsy.

On Monday I had the great pleasure of meeting Leif Enger, the author of one of my favorite novels. He was impossibly insightful, witty, and his speech possesed a cadence and warmth that was like being wrapped up in a heavy, patched quilt. 

The topic of the evening was excellence. Enger described excellence as a mix of discipline, dedication, hard work, and whimsy. Enger explained even further, "Ambition without whimsy leads to every dark corner".

Whimsy. I was enthralled with this idea. I am quick to throw whimsy and beauty out the window when I have "more important things to do". I too often see these things as frivolous and opt for activities that seem more necessary, more significant. Hearing Enger speak sparked something inside of me. I wanted to chase beauty, read poetry, and find the whimsy of the world. Not because there is a significant reason, but simply for the sake of beauty and freedom.

The more this rolls around my mind the more I start to realize that as we pursue whimsy and find beauty I think we will find even more purpose and truth. The things which I hope to achieve will find a new richness and vitality that truth alone can not afford. Or perhaps beauty and truth are not so separate, but inextricably linked?

To quote Enger who quoted Keats:

Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st, 'Beauty is truth, truth beauty, - that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.'

In finding beauty we find truth, and in finding truth we have found beauty. I hope you find whimsy in your day today, in shared laughter, an impromptu dance party, doing something frivolous but fantastic. I'm going to look for it in my today, but with whimsy on my mind I can't wait for spring this year - to sit by a lake, lay in the grass, to find beauty at every turn. I think I will take a cue from the Tallest Man on Earth:

         Well, if I ever see the morning
         Just like a lizard in the spring
         I'm gonna run out in the meadow
         To catch the silence when it sings

Peace and Rest.

 "Finally, I want to teach you the way of peace and true liberty. There are four things you must do. First, strive to do another's will rather than your own. Second, choose always to have less than more. Third, seek the lower places in life, dying to the need to be recognized and important. Fourth, always and in everything desire that the will of God may be completely fulfilled in you. The person who tries this will be treading the frontiers of peace and rest." -Thomas a Kempis

Of Gods and Men.

Of Gods and Men, my favorite movie from 2011, is the true story of a band of French monks living in an Albanian community subjected to terrorism. It is a still and quiet film that looks at what it means to live life with conviction, freedom, and love, set to beautiful cinematography and haunting music. My friend, Lauren, initially recommended this movie to me and after watching it twice this year, I must commend it to you as well.

Early in the movie two of the monks are speaking with a government official about whether they should stay or leave. The official tells them "It is not cowardly to want to leave. It is about being free". When faced with death that man saw freedom as independence and the ability to protect one's self.

Freedom is not merely an ability to leave, but also a means to stay. Freedom is living your life according to your conviction and not in fear of another. It is knowing that which truly matters and clinging to that and not your life. All of this reminded me of something I heard a while back: courage isn't about being strong and fearless, it is operating out of an even greater love.

Suggested pairing: Red wine to enhance depth or chamomile tea to draw out delicacy.