Over 4th of July weekend, I introduced my son to the movie An American Tail. He loved it! (even though those wave monsters and that machine mouse are still pretty scary…) Didn’t realize until we watched it again that it was produced by Steven Spielberg and the film score was composed by James Horner! Or that Christopher Plummer (the dad in Sound of Music, and also in Knives Out!) voiced the dopey cat character, Henri. Haha! Fun movie.

Also, when I was a kid, I did not pick up on the fact that this movie was really about what life is like for immigrants coming to America. That part resounded loud and clear and beautifully in this story.

Best part about watching that movie – Aden now wants to talk to and involve the Statue of Liberty (i.e. me doing a Lady Liberty impression) in his fun and playful scenarios. The Statue of Liberty was barely introduced in the movie as a character. It was being built by a French pigeon at the start of the movie, and was completed by the movie’s end. And only at the very end does the Statue actually do anything – it just winks! But that moment Aden noticed. His ability to notice the barely featured characters of a story, and also the range of his imagination to make friends with those characters, makes me hopeful for the way he will both see and interact with those society tends to ignore or bypass. One day, I hope he realizes the deeper symbolism the statue represents – the concept of seeing and welcoming the overlooked and underserved human neighbors, no matter where they come from or how they arrived, even if he already does that in his own childlike way.

I love my son.

We watched a local fireworks show last night, and at some point, Aden started singing one of the songs from the movie – “There are no cats in America!”

Some days I question how well we are doing as parents – but then moments like that happen and I know we’re doing alright.

Last year on the 4th, I released a cover of a song by one of my favorite artists and producers, Ben Shive. It is also aptly called “4th of July”. I still really enjoy this song. Hope you enjoy the cover.

Hope everyone had a happy 4th!

Finished two books this week!

The first is C.S. Lewis’ The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

It had been some years since I last visited the world of Narnia. This one is one of my favorites from the series. I love the sea voyage (reminded me of Odysseus’ sea-faring adventures in the Odyssey), Eustace’ transformation and reformation, meeting an embodied star, Reepicheep’s undaunted courage, and the beauty and wonder of crystal sea at the world’s end. Completing this story feels like I’ve been to the edge of the world and back. Most of all, I love the way Lewis can depict beauty and goodness. For some reason, I feel like goodness and beauty is much harder to describe in these modern times. But he, along with J.R.R. Tolkien, are master’s at not only showing the ugliness of evil, but the glory of goodness. It’s like they have sat with both, but become completely enamored with the deeper reality of truth, goodness, and beauty.

One of my favorite quotes from this story:

“In our world,” said Eustace, “a star is a huge ball of flaming gas.” “Even in your world, my son, that is not what a star is but only what it is made of.” [said Ramandu, an embodied star]

Read more…

My reading break ended last Thursday. This was part of the week-4 tasks in The Artist's Way. Basically, I didn't read any blog posts, articles, personal emails or any other social media, and didn't read any books. Here are a handful of things I learned during that down time.

• I have more “free time” available to me than I realize
• I want to distract myself with social media… Why is that?
• When I gave up looking for something to pre-occupy my attention, I actually ended up choosing action:
  • going to bed early
  • working out
  • getting laundry done
  • writing a blog post about a wildflowering date I took with my wife
  • enjoying listening to full albums
    • Ethan Nathaniel's latest album, River of Gladness
    • Andrew Peterson and friends' tribute concert to Rich Mullins, A Liturgy, a Legacy, & the Songs of Rich Mullins (Live)
    • JJ Heller's album, Love
    • Jess Ray's latest album, MAMA
• My thoughts are not as terrifying to be with as I originally “thought” they would be… I can sit with a calm mind
• I can “Do one thing at a time,” and my life is richer for it

Also, when I came back from the break – and this is not to diss anyone's sharing online as I am doing now – but I found that I really didn't miss much online in one week. When I take some space from the stream of data and content, I can see with better perspective. This was a good exercise in discerning what is really worthy of my time and attention, like my family, nature, and my own soul. I recommend giving it a try!

Rich Mullins on where his songs come from:

My songs are not particularly inspired. The Scriptures were inspired; my songs are provoked.

I love this idea of songs, or any art, being provoked from us. When I encounter the reality of God's grandeur, what is provoked out of me? Songs, poetry... love? I hope for more of all of the above.

Jess Ray released a new song today. It's very good. The writing, the mix, the melody, the feel and message. Grateful for artists like her and songs like this: Find My Way Back.

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is such a beautiful movie. Watched it for the first time in a long time. At one point, when Spirit was placed on the train and feeling low, and Bryan Adams is singing the melancholy "Sound the Bugle", me, my wife, and my three year old son were tearing up. The longing for Home stirred in all of us deeply. The animation (wish we did more animation like this movie these days), the storyline, the pacing (perfectly done), the film score (Hans Zimmer, of course!) – all so good and beautiful! 10/10.