Seth Haines's Blog, page 29

The Silence and the Loneliness

I’ve been writing about silence lately, first in this piece entitled “Silence,” and then in my bi-monthly Tiny Letter.(Sign up here to read the Tiny Letter piece.) Today, I’m continuing the exploration here. Enjoy.

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We’ve beaten this assumption to death–the world is noisier today than it’s ever been. You’ve heard the supporting arguments–we have the twenty-four-hour news cycle, the endless stream of opinions on social media, the streaming bits of naked data from naked people across this gr...

Silence

This is a piece for the great-big noisy world, which wants me to believe that validation is found in the effluence of my words and opinions. And that want of the world–if I might opine–is pure bolgna.

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Silence: the primal memory of amniotic living, of safety, of floated balance; the blue velvet blanket of childhood pulled over the ears, the whirr of nothing but sleep under that blanket; the Cathedral before the wedding, before the vows are said, before the tears, before the candles are lit...

To the Saints

It’s All Saints’ Day, the day on which the church celebrates those of the faith who’ve gone on before us. It’s the day of the year when I consider the canonized ones–Mary, Luke, Francis, Mother Teresa, etcetera, etcetera–but it’s also the day I consider the everyday saints who’ve stretched into eternity–Grandpa Ducky, Grandma Ducky, Rich, and Olivia.

In celebration, I’m offering this poem, a piece I wrote this summer. I hope you enjoy it. (And if you do, follow this link to my YouTube channel...

A Tiny Explanation (On Politics and the Soul)

“What I have learned over this last year is that the state of our politics is about the state of our souls. Politics is causing great spiritual harm in Americanslivesbecause Americans are going to politics to have their spiritual needs met.This is the meaning of rising polarization. This is the cause of politics’ burdens on our spirit. Politics does a very poor job of meeting spiritual needs, but politicians will pretend they can do it if it will get your vote.” ~Michael Wear

***TINY LETTER...

39 Thoughts For my 39th Birthday

Today, October 25, 2016, I’ve made thirty-nine revolutions around the sun. And so, this being my birthday, the day on which I can say or do whatever I want within the meets and bounds of faith and good judgment, I’d like to offer a few thoughts. I won’t presume to call these words of wisdom. Instead, I’ll just offer them such as they are–straight, no chaser.

It’s election season, and so, I’ve been reading scripture with a different lens. This morning, I read Paul this way: Many live as frien...

To The Depressed, Drunk, and Suicidal–There is No Shame

Last week, I sat across the table from a soul-eyed woman who shared her story of faith. She told me of her walk into, through, and back into depression. She painted the most vivid pictures of the dark days that roll, the days that threaten to bend her back to ash. On those days, the voices come calling her home, home, home.

Where is home?

“Let’s find out,” she’d like to say on those days, razor blade in hand. Except she never has. The darkness hasn’t yet won. And so long as she’s honest enoug...

Why I don’t Write About Hillary

In the past two days, I’ve received several questions from readers about my writings on Donald Trump, chief among them is this: Why don’t you write equally negative things about Hillary? Are you a Democrat?

Oh, the binaries we so enjoy.

Perhaps it’s time to say it straight. I am no more a Democrat than I am a bananaor the sky or Thor. I’m not a card-carrying member of either party. I am, though, an American citizen, born under the stars and stripes of Old Glory flapping outside a maternity wa...

This Business of the Presidential Election

American politics have beena certain sort of ugly over the last few months, but the last seventy-two hours have been particularly nasty.To call this span of American politics a dumpster fire is generous. It’s more of an all out fire bombing. (Haven’t you watched the dogs and cats head for the hills? Aren’t you in your fallout shelter, eyes covered, listening to the news and praying, Dear God, just let this end?)

For those of you who may not have followed the news, allow me brief summation. Vi...

Dust and Light

Before my sixth sense died at the tree of knowledge, I was as carefree as any child, any bird, any flower of the field. I was the new creation of every morning. All children are.

Only four, I tasted fingers inked with mulberry blood and powdered with Texas dust. I rested in the shadow of squat trees, gnarled as old men’s fingers, and cut grass with the swish of a mesquite switch I’d plucked from my canopy. These were my friends: the roadrunner; the scissor-tailed flycatcher; the grayed woman...

The Weekend Review (MOPS Edition)

This weekend, I had the privilege of spending time with the good people at MOPS International (Mothers of Preschoolers). I discussed inner-sobriety and how true sobriety is best found in a community of hope and love.

Today, I’m only sharing one video. Welcome to the Chorus of the Community.

***TINY LETTER***

Thanks for stopping in! If you enjoy reading here, sign up to receive my bi-monthly Tiny Letter. If you sign up, you’ll receive my free eBook, Coming Clean|Austin Outtakes.And, if you en...