the (non)writing life

The past couple of weeks I’ve been thinking about writing, and why I don’t do much of it. There’s the “I’ve developed A.D.D.” theory—more on that later, when I can focus and explain—and the excuse that my editing and research at work (always due asap) doesn’t leave me with enough intellectual energy to spit anything else out at the end of the day. These two excuses are linked, of course.

A recent New York Times article explored why good writers often aren’t good conversationalists or speakers. Arthur Krystal recounts watching an interview on TV with Vladimir Nabokov:

"But wait! What’s that Nabokov’s doing with his hands? He’s turning over index cards. He’s glancing at notes. He’s reading. Fluent in three languages, he relies on prefabricated responses to talk about his work. Am I disappointed? I am at first, but then I think: writers don’t have to be brilliant conversationalists; it’s not their job to be smart except, of course, when they write."

I’m a big conversationalist, so I wonder if the flip side might also be true—do extroverts who love to talk have a harder time writing well? Writing requires discipline, regardless of your temperament, but perhaps those in “blah blah blah” mode need an extra nudge.

princeton II

I went back. I couldn't help myself. Here are just a few pictures of Princeton's surrounds and my sister's homey place. One thing I (sadly) failed to do was adequately capture the foliage. Oh well -- there's always next year.

Her dormer windows (only five of the nine shown).

A creative fall display outside a gallery in Hopewell.

Homemade cappuccino w/ cinnamon.

Cozy conversation corner.

Three arches -- just off Nassau Street.
(These are not crooked in real life. Hehe.)

princeton

Last weekend I visited my sister in Princeton, where she is at seminary. My dad drove down from New England and we enjoyed a relaxing tour of Princeton-in-the-fall. She took us to the local orchard, the coffee shop, the bakery. The best place of all was her top-floor apartment -- with nine dormer windows, found furniture, quirky wall hangings, and mismatched mugs.

Being in Princeton reminded me how much I love seeing new places, especially when they are meaningful to a good friend or family member. Princeton was stunning--the leaves turning gold and crinkling and wise, solid trees lining every path and standing sentry to every building. I'll go back again, and I'll imagine it is always fall there.

how do you do church?

As we’ve become more involved at our new church here (an Anglican church plant), I have thought about how different churches emphasize different things about their mission and operation. The following thought from Tim Keller really crystallizes the concerns facing many evangelicals who are dissatisfied with certain church models … but Keller also offers a hopeful, appreciative way forward in the “church-model wars.” He says,

“John Frame's 'tri-perspectivalism' helps me understand Willow. The Willow Creek style churches have a 'kingly' emphasis on leadership, strategic thinking, and wise administration. The danger there is that the mechanical obscures how organic and spontaneous church life can be. The Reformed churches have a 'prophetic' emphasis on preaching, teaching, and doctrine. The danger there is that we can have a naïve and unBiblical view that, if we just expound the Word faithfully, everything else in the church—leader development, community building, stewardship of resources, unified vision—will just happen by themselves. The emerging churches have a 'priestly' emphasis on community, liturgy and sacraments, service and justice. The danger there is to view 'community' as the magic bullet in the same way Reformed people view preaching.

“By thinking in this way, it makes it possible for me to love and appreciate the best representatives of each of these contemporary evangelical 'traditions.'”

Our church here is really strong on the “priestly” points: community, liturgy, sacraments, service, and justice. But we also have strong preaching (which healthfully drives those activities forward) and volunteers who keep us organized!