Saturday Good Reads

It’s the centennial anniversary of the Battle of the Somme in World War I – the battle where more British soldiers died on the first day than any other battle in British history. It was a battle that dragged on for months, and when it was over, nothing had changed. Poet Owen Sheers takes a look in The Guardian at what is likely the most famous poem that came out of the war.

Westminster Abbey is preparing a treasure trove of fashion for an exhibition. A hosrt feature describes a visit to the Charles Dickens Museum in London (I’ve been twice and I would go again). And The Telegraph has the first color photos of flying in the 1950s – and yes, the world has certainly changed.

A reflection on Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” at The Rabbit Room. Artist Graham Dean does some wonderful things with paper and paint. Mick Silva on “designing the read” in writing. British singer and playwright sings his way through Brooklyn and creates a street party.

And mother’s hard story about a son with a heroin addiction.

Poetry

Laying hands – Lise at all the words.

In Parenthesis: in praise of the Somme's forgotten poet – Owen Sheers at The Guardian.

Faith

The Shenandoah and a Pattern of Grace – Winn Collier.

Faith’s Concern – Mike Leake at Borrowed Light.

New legalisms: where is grace? – Ted Gossard at Jesus Community.

British Stuff

Treasury of Historic Clothing Revealed at Westminster Abbey – The Guardian.

The first colour photos of flying in the 50s – The Telegraph.

Exploring the Life of Charles Dickens – Rick Millikan at Coast Reporter.

Art and Photography

Burning Out – Tim Good at National Geographic / Your Shot.

Wednesday Artist: Graham Dean – Maureen Doallas at Writing Without Paper.

Art Stories: Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks — How We Spend Our Days – Russ Ramsey at The Rabbit Room.

Life and Culture

“My Son is a Heroin Addict” – A Mother’s Story of Love – David Rupert at Red-Letter Believers.

Christians Can No Longer be Pharmacists – Rod Dreher at American Conservative.

Writing

Designing the Read – Mick Silva.

YOU MUST READ THIS is not a headline – David Murray at Writing Boots.

Let Me Go – Gary Barlow

Painting: Woman Reading, oil on canvas by Alexander Deineka (1934).

Saturday Good Reads

A week about profound things.

For the past year, photographer Elliot Ross has been photographing the life of Colorado wheat farmer Jim Mertens. His photographs, and Mertens’ life, tell a profound story. An equally profound story is the poem by Maureen Doallas, an elegy for the photographer Leila Alaoui killed by the terrorists who attacked the hotel in Burkino Faso.

A mom cares for terminally ill babies. Fear and remembering as a gift. A son’s eulogy for his mother. Good things. Profound things. It makes one grateful to be alive.

Faith

Forty-Three Years After Roe, Hope is Alive – Robert George at First Things.

My Eulogy for My Mother – Milton Brasher-Cunningham at Don’t Eat Alone.

The Gift of Fear and Remembering – Mick Silva.

Eight Lessons Christians Learn from Facing Trials of Many Kinds – Elizabeth Moyer at Faith, Work & Economics.

How one mom’s extraordinary love transforms the short lives of hospice babies – The Today Show.

Art and Photography

The Textures of Winter – Tim Good at Arts by Tiwago.

The Reckoning Days – The Life of a Colorado Wheat Farmer – photo essay by Elliot Ross.

Jack Baumgartner and the School of the Transfer of Energy – Elizabeth Duffy at Image Journal.

Poetry

Robert Wagner – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

“Elegy: #leilaalaoui” – Maureen Doallas at Rattle Magazine.

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Panic Attack – Megan Willome.

If I had no voice – Troy Cady at T(r)oy Marbles.

Writing

Are There Too Many Writing “Experts”? – Mike Duran at Novel Rocket.

The 100 Best Web Sites for Writers in 2016 – The Write Life.

In Praise of Avocational Writers – Alton Gansky at Novel Rocket.

7 Ways to Get Inspired – Mary Harwell Sayler at The Word Center.

Life and Culture

“The Big Fat Surprise”: How Science is Corrupted by Government Money and Government Process – Francis Menton at Manhattan Contrarian.

The Sky is Red – Rod Dreher at American Conservative.

British Stuff

Eltham Palace: Uncovering the Map Room – English Heritage.

Kitty in Boots: Who is the New Beatrix Potter Character? – BBC Radio 4 (video) (Hat Tip: Janet Young).

Shine on Us – Josh Wilson with a little help from his friends

(And if you look closely, you’ll see Brandon Heath, Andrew Peterson, Steven Curtis Chapman, and a few other familiar faces.)

Painting: Clause Monet reading a newspaper, oil on canvas by Pierre Auguste Renoir (1872); private collection.