One of my son’s commented recently that dishwashers were made to help us get things done more efficiently. He then suggested that washing the dishes together was lost due to “convenience.” I had the pleasure of washing dishes by hand with him. We purposefully decided not to get air conditioning because we knew that open windows, jumping in water outdoors and sitting in the shade of trees was so more important. So now (30 years later than everyone else in our county) we have air conditioning. I confess that I love many things about it. For example, I can cook in the Summer. I can sleep without 3 fans blowing on me. I also confess, I miss the outdoors. I started the Summer on our back deck watching the sunrise every morning. Now I watch from a couch through a window. Cool Summer evenings on our front porch watching the sun go down, have turned into, “there is nothing to watch on tv- but let’s still pick something. At least it’s the perfect temperature, humidity and mosquito free. One of the ironic things is that, ever since we got it, it hasn’t even been hot outside. We just keep it on, because, well, because. So, thank you for this. I am literally being conditioned by my air conditioning!
I was feeling very thankful for all of the access to beauty and nature growing up when we visited last week. I think it really struck a chord with the boys to be able to look out your back door and see the sun rise over a green tree line. A huge gift.
A few years ago (2020), I had a stroke. In the aftermath and the resetting of my life, repositioning some of life’s dials, I heeded the suggestion of my doctor and began to walk in the morning. This walk is not a truely quest for exercise. It is a leisure walk of 2.5-3 kilometers through a wooded area near the house. To my surprise, Jesus Himself joined me in my walk and it has become a joy to walk together with my Lord. It has also given me opprtunities to share my faith with various dog walkers during this delightful addition to my life. I highly recommend it.
Wonderful, Ian. I’ve been thinking all of us need a little nature home in addition to our walled home. I think that’s what Jesus was getting at with, “Look at the birds”…
So so so many thoughts here. Insulation, cultural not climate focused, is something I've been working through for decades. It started with thinking about funeral parlors: I'll leave it at that for the moment.
Great intro bringing me, the reader, to the topic (I share your addiction to sleeping in comfort but my bugaboo is humidity not temperature).
May all of us embrace the fallen creation around us, taking dominion in ways that make things more comfortable but also in ways that lift up the easily oppressed by/in/through/for our luxuries. I look forward to the next decade of talking this through more together, brother. Thank you.
Yes, your comment makes me wonder what would look like to have a pro-communal dominion…what does it look like to subdue nature without suppressing it? Who’s having these conversations? Thanks
Wow, yes. This. What I say in Post-Vocational Blues about looking to first nations to see how real people live focused on the care of the body, soul and spirit, this is what I was talking about. This is going in as a post-pub link. Thank you.
One of my son’s commented recently that dishwashers were made to help us get things done more efficiently. He then suggested that washing the dishes together was lost due to “convenience.” I had the pleasure of washing dishes by hand with him. We purposefully decided not to get air conditioning because we knew that open windows, jumping in water outdoors and sitting in the shade of trees was so more important. So now (30 years later than everyone else in our county) we have air conditioning. I confess that I love many things about it. For example, I can cook in the Summer. I can sleep without 3 fans blowing on me. I also confess, I miss the outdoors. I started the Summer on our back deck watching the sunrise every morning. Now I watch from a couch through a window. Cool Summer evenings on our front porch watching the sun go down, have turned into, “there is nothing to watch on tv- but let’s still pick something. At least it’s the perfect temperature, humidity and mosquito free. One of the ironic things is that, ever since we got it, it hasn’t even been hot outside. We just keep it on, because, well, because. So, thank you for this. I am literally being conditioned by my air conditioning!
I was feeling very thankful for all of the access to beauty and nature growing up when we visited last week. I think it really struck a chord with the boys to be able to look out your back door and see the sun rise over a green tree line. A huge gift.
A few years ago (2020), I had a stroke. In the aftermath and the resetting of my life, repositioning some of life’s dials, I heeded the suggestion of my doctor and began to walk in the morning. This walk is not a truely quest for exercise. It is a leisure walk of 2.5-3 kilometers through a wooded area near the house. To my surprise, Jesus Himself joined me in my walk and it has become a joy to walk together with my Lord. It has also given me opprtunities to share my faith with various dog walkers during this delightful addition to my life. I highly recommend it.
Wonderful, Ian. I’ve been thinking all of us need a little nature home in addition to our walled home. I think that’s what Jesus was getting at with, “Look at the birds”…
So so so many thoughts here. Insulation, cultural not climate focused, is something I've been working through for decades. It started with thinking about funeral parlors: I'll leave it at that for the moment.
Great intro bringing me, the reader, to the topic (I share your addiction to sleeping in comfort but my bugaboo is humidity not temperature).
May all of us embrace the fallen creation around us, taking dominion in ways that make things more comfortable but also in ways that lift up the easily oppressed by/in/through/for our luxuries. I look forward to the next decade of talking this through more together, brother. Thank you.
Yes, your comment makes me wonder what would look like to have a pro-communal dominion…what does it look like to subdue nature without suppressing it? Who’s having these conversations? Thanks
To start with, you, me, B and T should be.
Wow, yes. This. What I say in Post-Vocational Blues about looking to first nations to see how real people live focused on the care of the body, soul and spirit, this is what I was talking about. This is going in as a post-pub link. Thank you.
Fahrenheit 68.
There may be a book in that.
All of this makes me think that God may have a secret plan to save all of those He sends to hell. 🧐
No air conditioning. 🥵
Your dark and quirky humor is really too much, Bob. Ha!