. . . .Hadn't he had enough challenges to last him a lifetime?
His wife, on the other hand, was ever drumming up a challenge. During their year at the farm, conveniently located twenty minutes from Mitford, she'd decided to ccomplish three lifetime goals: learn needlepoint, make perfect oven fries, and read War and Peace.
* * * * *
He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the back of the wing chair. "I believe if I were charged with having a goal, it would be to live without fretting--to live more fully in the moment, not always huffing about as I've done in recent years . . . to live humbly--and appreciatively--with what ever God furnishes.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Goal-setting, Kavanagh-style
From Jan Karon's latest Mitford chronicle, Light from Heaven, wherein Father Tim Kavanagh and his wife Cynthia spend a year in the country, "farmsitting":
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Have you finished the book? It's such a *good* book ... and those are so necessary.
ReplyDeleteWonderful inspirational thought.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard the "Mitford" audio drama that stars Dean Jones as Father Tim? It's quite good; the first book is dramatized in 6 hours, with a full cast recorded in London. Jan Karon gives her personal reflections at the beginning. Lots of humor -- and very moving music.
It's done by the Radio Theatre group that produced the very cool "Chronicles of Narnia" dramas:
http://radiotheatre.org/products/mitford/
Yes, Sparrow, and I'm sleep-deprived today to prove it. :-)
ReplyDelete(I bought it when it first came out, and lent it to my mother, because I was engrossed in Cadfael. Then it went to me sister. I just got it back Monday night.)
I wish she had spent a little more time with the "old" characters, and a little less time on the new project. I wish she had spent more time with Dooley and Lace, and told what had happened to Kenny. I would also have liked a little more time spent on Edith Mallory.
I felt like the end of the book was a little too quick and anticlimactic.
Suddenly she opens the door to these new characters, David and Annie. Maybe she's just intending to show that the story goes on.
I know what you mean about Good books. The Mitford ones always seem therapeutic to me. I sleep better if I read them at bedtime. They give one a positive mental outlook toward the world. And they help you see people's idiosyncrasies in a more forgiving light.
No, Anonymous, I haven't heard the audio drama. It sounds great. I'll have to look into that. I think I'd get a lot more housework done if I got into audiobooks. :) Maybe even had in Ipod. :-)
Live without fretting? A great goal.
ReplyDeleteMartin,
ReplyDeleteEasier said than done, no doubt.
:-)
Kavanagh's goal sounds very appealing!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the latest Mitford book but while doing my Christmas shopping I found, in the cheap book pile, a hardbound book Patches of Godlight - Father Tim's favorite quotes. It looks exactly like a journal - is handwritten and the typed pages have 'scotch tape' marks, with Father Tim's handwritten notes (in blue ink - most of the book is in black) like "strong stuff," "Amen" and "send to Stu" in the margins. I love it!
By the way, Julana, Happy New Year!
Violet,
ReplyDeleteWhat a fortunate find! I always buy the newest Mitford for my mother, and then read it after she and my sister finish. I haven't quite been able to justify the new price for Patches of Godlight, but would like to have it. I think there may have been a follow-up?
Thank you for the good wishes. :-)