A summary of what was included on More to Come in the month of March. If you receive my monthly email update, you can skip this post.
Few things say “retirement” better than being able to watch NCAA basketball tournament games guilt-free in the middle of the day. This has been a terrific tournament, made even more entertaining by the fact that I don’t have a dog in this hunt. All the #1 seeds from the power conferences were gone by the round of 16, which is my idea of how it should play out each year. I was able to email my friend and (also retired) colleague John Hildreth in real time when his Furman Paladins pulled off a shocking upset of Virginia on Day 1. Oh. My. Goodness. March Madness indeed!
Now that the Final Four is set, I’m cheering for anyone but UConn (which has won the championship before). My support is probably the kiss-of-death for the underdogs!
But even with wall-to-wall basketball and The good, the bad, and the ugly of Opening Day of the baseball season to distract me, I wasn’t a couch potato the entire month. Let’s take a look and see what roared in with those blustery March winds on More to Come.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW AND FAMILY MILESTONES TOP READER VIEWS
Three posts were bunched together at the top of the reader favorites this month. On the family front, March is a busy time with both my birthday and anniversary.
- Journeys are often about finding either something we’ve lost or discovery of something we’ve never seen before. And when we’re lucky, a journey with a lifetime partner is one of extraordinary discovery, as I write on our anniversary. In spite of myself I’ve been very lucky.
- From certainty to mystery is a perfect description for my life after 68 years on this earth. It is surprising just how much I’ve forgotten since I was sixteen and knew everything.
On a more sublime note, my second author interview of the year ― this with friend and former colleague Julia Rocchi ― was also a reader favorite. A questioning faith is focused on AMEN? Questions for a God I Hope Exists, a new book full of wisdom, vulnerability, and questions asked in an open and seeking spirit. Take a look if you haven’t already. You’ll enjoy the conversation Julia and I have about the role of community, doubt, and prayer in a life of faith.
LIVING IN COMMUNITY
One of the ways we can live a good life of purpose, enlivened by joy, is to embrace community. Learning how to live together in ways that strengthen our fellow citizens is not only good for democracy, but also for our soul. Three March posts examine different aspects of this idea.
- A spirit of thankfulness is recognition that no one creates or acts in a void. It also contributes to our personal well-being. Turning gratitude into thankfulness has four easy tips for building a stronger practice of radical gratitude.
- History teaches us many things. In Equality means equality we learn, for instance, how ordinary people have worked together to save democracy. History also shows us that “once you give up the principle of equality, you have given up the whole game … you have stamped your approval on the idea of rulers and subjects.” Just hope that no one in power decides that you belong in the lesser group.
- A new book on the science of the everyday experiences of awe speaks to how this simple recognition of things greater than ourselves takes us beyond our normal ways of thinking. The transformational power of everyday wonder shows how awe moves us, empowers us, stretches us, and can transform us, awakening the better angels of our nature.
BOOKS
Besides AMEN? and Awe, I reviewed three other books during the course of March.
- Wood that rejoices in transmitting music is poet and author Jeffrey Greene’s love letter to the wood that makes our stringed instruments sing. My review was also high in reader views this month and is worth a look.
- A lie never lives to be old is the March selection in my monthly murder mystery series. In Eight Perfect Murders, Peter Swanson has written a thriller full of plot twists, lies, and intrigue.
- Open to mystery is a review of historian Jon Meacham’s exploration of the intersection of history and theology. This is a slim but thoughtful volume.
- And finally, the always popular summary of last month’s reviews ― The books I read in February 2023 ― was of interest to many readers.
MUSICAL TREATS FOR THE LATE WINTER SEASON
March’s Saturday Soundtrack musical offerings featured an anniversary, a holiday, and a regathering of friends.
- Celebrating Doc was written during the month when Doc Watson would have turned 100. A new album by fans as diverse as Dolly Parton and Yasmin Williams was released to celebrate the occasion.
- March includes St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday rich in musical tradition. Carrying Irish history with them celebrates the music of the great Irish band Dervish.
- And I’m always happy when one of my favorite bands ― Nickel Creek ― returns with new music. Nine years later…on the road again with a new album was written as the band of former bluegrass child prodigies reaches middle age.
CONCLUSION
Thanks, as always, for reading. As you travel life’s highways, do your best to treat others with kindness, undertake some mindful walking every day, recognize the incredible privilege that most of us have, and think about how to put that privilege to use for good. Women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, immigrants, and others can feel especially vulnerable…because they are. Finally, work hard for justice and democracy because the fight never ends.
More to come…
DJB
You can follow More to Come by going to the small “Follow” box that is on the right hand column of the site (on the desktop version) or at the bottom right on your mobile device. It is great to hear from readers, and if you like them feel free to share these posts on your own social media platforms.
For the February 2023 summary, click here.
Image by Xuan Duong from Pixabay
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