Shannon Aaron Stephens's Blog, page 7
November 9, 2021
"Some Eloquent Graffiti..."
There's a quote from an Iron & Wine song for you. "Trapeze Swinger" is a gem.
In it, Sam Beam's mellow voice spins a yarn that is dreamlike. Both the visual images painted by the lyrics and the meandering way the images are arrived at with little obvious connectivity, indicate otherworldliness.
And then they went on to say that the pearly gates
Had some eloquent graffiti
Like "We'll meet again" and "Fuck the man"
And "Tell my mother not to worry"
I think we are all predisposed to thinking that God is 'the man'. We say "down with the man!" and in our hearts, ultimately, we are raging against God's authority.
But God isn't 'the man'. God is the liberator. I love you.
I get commissions from purchase made through links in this post.
October 27, 2021
New Magazine!
October 20, 2021
August 25, 2021
Blue Like Jazz
This book helped me walk through the door into loving Jesus.
I love Jesus.
He loves you.
Prost!
I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
August 7, 2021
Speaking of George MacDonald
Neighbors,
Did I tell you guys that I had a poem published? I didn't? Well check it out:
I recently listened to an audiobook of Phantastes by the great George MacDonald. This is the book that C. S. Lewis said was his gateway into opening his mind to beauty in storytelling in such a way as he would eventually walk right back into Christianity.
It is such a good book. I'm again speechless. Reviewing a MacDonald story is like trying to describe what fruit tastes like to someone who has only ever eaten bread.
Well, please check it out:amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "shannonasblog-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; amzn_assoc_asins = "B08STF56L6"; amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "187817267ce425bf68428309ff4bf79a";
Or you can listen on Audible.
Prost!
I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Or you could buy one of my books: The Tale of Prince Rhys
Or check out my website: Aaron & Erin
July 13, 2021
Lilith
Neighbors,
Speaking of Jayber Crow. He worked for a while as the sexton of his church. I noticed that another of my favorite characters worked as a sexton: Mr Raven from Lilith by George MacDonald.
It is a moving fairy tale. Not in the traditional fairy tale sense, though. George MacDonald is one of my literary heroes. Which makes sense, because he is my real hero’s hero. C. S. Lewis – the greatest writer ever – loved George MacDonald.
I will come back to Lewis in the future – don't worry about that! MacDonald, though, was like a hypnotist. Reading his stories are experiences like dreaming. When you finish the book, you start to come out of a daze and say, “What just happened?” But while you were reading it, you felt you understood the world more clearly, not foggier. If you can carry that clarity into your everyday, well, that will begin a ‘happily ever after’, not to put too fine a point on it.
Prost!
I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
July 12, 2021
My Friend
Neighbors,
Since he mentioned me, I'll give a shoutout to him:
My friend in the UK, Mark, blogs here:
https://didnotourheartsburnwithinus.tumblr.com/
He is a cool dude.
Prost!
July 10, 2021
Recently Lost
Something I thought about recently:
You know how you can be on a boat and
Get so far out in the ocean
That you can’t see the shore anymore?
I can’t remember if I’ve ever done that
In the woods.
Been so deep
I couldn’t see a building or anything.
Probably have been
Once or twice.
But I can’t remember when that was
Or if that was.
Does that mean I’m afraid?
That I don’t get lost very frequently?
Playing it too safe
Isn’t actually good for you.
But something else I was thinking about recently:
We often make up stuff
To make us sound like we are worse
Than we really are.
I mean, we’re pretty bad already.
Don’t make it worse
Than it already is.
I’m pretty sure I remember doing that.
July 9, 2021
Subscribe to this blog
Neighbors,
If you want to keep up with this blog, head over to my website:
https://www.aaron-erin.com and enter your email in the subscribe field and I will let you know when new blogs are posted.
Prost!
-Shannon
