Happy Birthday Clive Staples Lewis

It is quite rare that someone lives such a full and impacting life, that the general public wonders whether or not the world in which we live in would be the same had that person never lived. While many have not read the primary texts of C.S. Lewis, it can be argued that western thought would not be the same had Lewis not lived. I'm not going to sit here and write why I would agree with that, but I will say I need to devote a post to this somewhat insignificant blog, to honor the birth date of this great man and thinker.

Not only did he change and solidify western thought in philosophy and theology, but the guy lived a long life straight up rocking the middle name "Staples." I went through a season of my life where I was committed to naming my firstborn son, "Needles," but could not bank on the fact that he would be as cool as Clive Staples. It takes a very special and quite rare individual to rock a name like Staples, and beyond rocking that name, writing some of the best literature we have access to as human beings.

He was born on this day in 1898.

"Those who are enjoying something, or suffering something together, are companions. Those who enjoy or suffer one another, are not."

-That Hideous Strength, p. 148

The "World's Best Writer of Prose"

Marilynne Robinson is the author of Gilead, which won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It is my favorite book. Not just for the subject matter, but Robinson doesn't write like anyone. It's tough to draw comparisons. In 30 years, she has written three novels, and each one has a distinctly different voice.

I just started her newest book, Home, and Googled (when will that word be added to the Dictionary?) her to see what people are saying. I ran into Bryan Appleyard writing for Britain's The Sunday Times who wrote titled his profile, "Marilynne Robinson: world's best writer of prose." Appleyard's point is that Robinson is the greatest current writer of prose. I'm pretty sure I agree, I haven't read anything better that's come out recently. It's a great article, but read Robinson first. Here's Appleyard's great closer:

Now let me be clear - I’m not saying that you’re actually dead if you haven’t read Marilynne Robinson, but I honestly couldn’t say you’re fully alive.

This post is nothing more than to get you to pick up Gilead and read it. It is definitely not a book that everyone will read or like, because it's not a memoir and not written by a twenty-something urbanite. Robinson is six-four and almost as old as dirt, but her prose in and of itself is timeless. She has no trend or style that she follows or that others can follow, rather she is in that unique category of writing that my professors call classic, not popular.

How Embarrassing, They Wore the Same Color Tie and, Wait, Are They Holding Hands?

From the Associated Press:

An Interruption

I was just answering emails in the atrium of our church when I heard something that I can only describe by incorporating the word "stampede."

What came storming by me, inside my church, was a herd of pregnant middle aged pregnant women running/speed walking with their strollers through the foyer of our church.

The babies were crying and the leader of the pack was in the front, calling out inspirational female battle cries. Before I could think about what was really happening, and whether or not I was dreaming or not, they were gone. I will never see them again.

What? Maybe I am dreaming. Hopefully.

To Make You Laugh

Please give yourself the pleasure of taking a stroll through The Onion online newspaper today.

Some notable headlines to inspire you:

"Black Man Given Nation's Worst Job"

"Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are"

Plus, political opinion by Lyle Dixon: "What In The Heck's A Barack Obama?"

Enjoy and you're welcome.

Election Day and What Comes With It

While today may be one of America's most historic days, I am still more excited for the fact that Starbucks is launching its great political campaign: Christmas. Anyone who knows me well knows that I love Starbucks during Christmas. I love red cups. I see them and I can just taste peppermint in my mouth, and I can almost smell Grandma's Christmas tree. Oh Grandma...

As they say, every end is really a beginning. And to me, when this election is said and done and I never hear Jeff Merkley's name again, Christmas will be just beginning. A new season.

Beyond Starbucks, I'm looking forward to the study I am about to do over the next couple of weeks on Christmas; tracing both the western phenomenon we celebrate today, and hopefully trying to track down "the real meaning of Christmas" as Charlie Brown and friends would propose. We'll see what happens, I still need to find better books.

Putting my consumeristic dreams aside, today will be great, whatever happens. But seriously, I have to write about 5 pages on Vladimir Nabokov if I want to watch the race later tonight. It's almost as good as professional football...almost. Hey, Chris Matthews is way better than John Madden.

Seasons Greetings.

On the Eve of Such a Historic Election, Let's Forget About It For a Second

A friend gave me this article; it's both quality and humorous because it's all true.

From Portland Monthly Magazine:

IF THE ICONIC 1996 film Swingers taught us anything, it was this: When abandoned by their significant others, men transform into moping, unshaven, pathetic messes. Such is life for fans of the Seattle SuperSonics, who, this summer, watched their beloved team elope to Oklahoma City with new owner Clay Bennett, leaving the city without an NBA team for the first time in four decades. We can still hear the whining. She was the one. Remember 1979? The title? Life is meaningless now. Still, as the NBA season kicks off, it’s inevitable that many Seattle fans will be looking to rebound with the Trail Blazers. (After all, Portland’s roster is loaded with promising young talent and a front office committed to a steady, long-term relationship with its fans.) We need to be ready to accept them. So here we offer a few tips for how to tread gently around Sonics ex-pats as they swallow their pride and learn to love again.

Read the whole thing.