Saturday Good Reads

I didn’t watch the presidential election debates Monday night. My mental health improved. Then I read Rod Dreher’s “The End of Liberal Democracy.”

You may have seen the video of the teacher with terminal cancer who was serenaded by 400 of his students. Russ Ramsey at the Gospel Coalition has the story behind it, and it’s a good one.

We knew this election would be bad, but who knew it would be a vehicle for literal exhibitionism?  Some pop stars (Katy Perry, Madonna) have taken off their clothes in support of their presidential candidate, and I suppose that literally helps their exposure. Samuel James has a different take on pleasure – one courtesy of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.

Good poetry, good photography, a story about the benefits of a hailstorm, and Shakespeare’s most popular play – yes, there is still beauty and grace in the world.

Art and Photography

DOF – Tim Good at Pics, Poems, and Ponderings.

Hillside Tombs, Bellefontaine Cemetery – Chris Naffziger at St. Louis Patina.

Autumn is a second spring – Susan Jones via Facebook.

Poetry

When We Take Our Leave – Jerry Barrett at Gerald the Writer.

The Last Great Show – Chris Yokel.

Classifieds – Barbara Mackenzie at Signed…BKM.

‘Poet Warrior’ Gerald Stern – Maureen Doallas at Writing Without Paper.

Faith

Singing Man: The Story Behind the Viral Video of Ben Ellis – Russ Ramsey at The Gospel Coalition.

Re Pete – Doug Spurling at Spurling Silver.

How God Used a Hailstorm (in September) – Kara Dedert at En Route.

The Purifying Effect of Pleasure – Samuel D. James.

Life and Culture

The End of Liberal Democracy – Rod Dreher at The American Conservative.

Writing

What is Shakespeare's Most Popular Play? – Dan Kopf at Priceonomics.

Lost in Light – How Much of the Night Sky We’ve Lost to Light Pollution

Painting: The Lord is My Shepherd, oil on canvas by Eastman Johnson (1863).