Lin Wilder's Blog, page 49

‘The End of Permanence’, Silence and Advent 2016

“To survive, to avert what we have termed future shock, the individual must become infinitely more adaptable and capable than ever before. He must search out totally new ways to anchor himself, because all the old roots-religion, nation, community, family or profession-are now shaking under the hurricane impact of the accelerative thrust. Before he can do so, he must understand in greater detail how the effects of acceleration penetrate his personal life, creep into his behavior and alter the quality of existence. He must, in other words, understand transience.”

 

An Open Letter to Hillary Clinton and Supporters

Close up of a typewriter. Add your own message text to image.

 

Help Me Get One More

Once I viewed the previews of Mel Gibson’s new film, Hackshaw Ridge, I decided not to see it. The luridly graphic war images were far too off-putting. Until a Franciscan priest friend told me that he planned to see it as soon as he could opened. His reply to my stunned Why? was that it was ‘a completely different take on war.’ Hence, my husband and I were in the audience on opening day. Most reviewers are writing about the “Mel Gibson comeback” and the “madness and majesty” of this movie. A far different reception than that received by The Passion of Christ.

 

The Three Rules for Writing A Novel

“There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.” I love quotes like this one from Somerset Maugham. He describes perfectly the illogical, irrational craft of writing fiction.

 

3 Challenges of Writing A Good Mystery Book

“Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.” Although I smile while reading this statement of E.L. Doctorow, his comment thoroughly describes the challenges of writing my latest novel.

 

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and Cardinal Sarah

With a name like Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, who could resist? I had not heard about the book series by author Ransom Riggs, but within five minutes of watching the new movie, it is evident that the movie originated from a book. A good one. Reminiscent of the Harry Potter stories, this one is a delight. Clearly written for kids, the main character of the film is 16- year- old Jake who is on a mission to prove the sanity of his beloved grandfather along with his own. From childhood, Jake had listened to stories from his grandfather, appropriately named Abraham, about the island home for Miss Peregrine’s refuge. A dying Abraham tells Jacob to “… find the bird in the loop on the other side of the old man’s grave on September 1940, and tell them what happened.”

 

The Lord by Romano Guardini

I had planned to read The Lord for my Lenten reading. But when Lent had come and gone and I had read maybe thirty or thirty-five pages, I realized that six weeks was  nowhere near enough to read this extraordinary work. Only last week did I complete the 630th page. Six months and a few weeks. And yet I could read it again and again, still not plumbing the available depths of Romano Guardini’s meditations on the life of the Christ.

 

Killing the Monster

Each time I finish a book, I think of Winston Churchill’s famed quote about the phases of writing. The one beginning with this sentence: Writing is an adventure. To begin with it is a toy and an amusement. And ends…”you kill the monster and fling him to the public.”

 

Ever Seen an Angel?

“I stood here in line to wait to talk with you because I thought you should know there were four angels standing behind you during your entire talk.” Dazed by her words, I just nodded and thanked her.  Because she was right, there was a line of women standing there, wanting to speak with me about this talk I had just given on the subject of Forgiveness. A talk I’d said I would love to do months before and then had a near meltdown the week before the scheduled conference. Realizing I had nothing to say. What was I going to say to a few hundred Catholic women? Women who had been Catholic far longer than my meager two years is a religion I still felt belonged to those who had not walked away.

 

Training Seymour

I have to laugh at the phrase: Training Seymour.