Hello friends,
Thanks again for the kindnesses last week on the anniversary of this newsletter launch. When you are a person as given to whims as I am, it’s pretty notable to do anything fifty times in a row.
I also appreciate your input into what it might look like going forward. I found that many people want to hear more book talk. For the past few years, I’ve shared what I’m reading on Instagram, but I think I’ll move that over here starting in January. (I haven’t done any sharing at all of what I’m reading this year — I needed a reset.)
The Part Where There’s an Essay: Being a Patron
Patronage: the support, especially financial, that is given to a person or an organization by a patron
A few weeks ago, we went to the Rabbit Room conference, Hutchmoot, in Franklin, Tennessee. One person we were glad to see was the singer-songwriter Chris Slaten, whose performance name is Son of Laughter. Chris spends most of his summers touring the country doing house shows. He brings his little family along with him, and they make a fine adventure of it. During the other nine months of the year, Chris teaches high school English at a Christian school in Chattanooga. The summer house shows supplement his income and enable him to save up for his next album.
He makes music because God has given him a gift to do so. He is not bringing in millions; he writes and plays to add beauty to the world because beautiful music is worth making. He has written one of my favorite pieces about learning to be quiet and pay attention, called “The Fiddler.” I wrote about the song here; it’s based on the Washington Post experiment that placed concert violinist Joshua Bell in a DC metro station.
Chris also wrote one of my favorite communion songs, called “The Meal We Could Not Make”:
The Rabbit Room is full of people like this: individuals who care about Christian beauty and craft enough to orient their lives around doing more of it, regardless of the monetary gain. In a Spotify world, it is an odd thing to actually buy music anymore, which means it is harder to earn a living as a musician these days. Touring is pretty much the only way you can do it, which means a greater toll on families.
Here’s the hard math on Spotify, from a musician who spoke at Hutchmoot 2019 (I wrote it down because I didn’t want to forget!):
If you buy a hard copy of a $15 album, the artist makes $14.
If you buy an album from iTunes, the artist makes about $6.40.
If you listen to an album on Spotify, the artist makes fractions of pennies.
That’s pretty awful, right? We who might think through fair trade coffee and clothing and the like should give a second thought to fair trade music. Any album represents hundreds of hours, on the part of the musician, supporting studio musicians, producers, artists, and others. This all costs money. Is it worth any of ours?
The church used to have an understanding of the arts wherein they truly patronized artists. The concept of an artist-in-residence was not outlandish or seen as indulgent but as a vital part of a community of humans, who have — in addition to brains — hearts, senses, and souls.
In the end, our lack of support for the arts will mean that there are fewer artists telling the stories and writing the music that benefits the church.
So today I’m giving you a chance in the comments to tell us what you’ve found that’s worthy of monetary support. I know it is a hard time financially for many, and not everyone can afford to be a patron monthly. But is there an album we should buy? A book? Tell us about it.
Here’s mine: my friend Glenn McCarty is publishing his second book right now, and he is looking for some help on Kickstarter. His series is great for the middle-grade people in your life, especially boys (but girls too!) Plus the illustrations are done by the brilliant Joe Sutphin, of Wingfeather Saga fame. I spoke to Joe about Glenn’s newest book, and he was effusive in his praise. “Glenn’s writing is the kind of writing where you can’t tell if it was written fifty years ago or last year. It’s timeless…instantly classic.”
If you’re able to, please jump in and support Glenn’s Kickstarter, and plan to hand his book to a ten-year-old person who would enjoy it. Or maybe you’d enjoy it yourself. And please sound off below in the comments — what creative project are you enjoying that’s worthy of our support?
For the Anglophiles
Last week I became aware of this pub that charges rude customers double the price. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, but you’ve got to respect the sheer will on the part of the owner. “Usman confessed they have yet to actually charge someone £5 for their drink - because it's rarely necessary.”
Reads & Listens of the Week
I have two new podcasts to tell you about! One is Mere Caffeination, a brand-new offering on CS Lewis. Dan DeWitt, your host, interviews Sam Allberry in the first episode. He also tells the story of how The Screwtape Letters first germinated in Lewis’ mind; it has to do with a radio address by Adolf Hitler.
Second, Reconstructing Faith by author Trevin Wax does what more of us ought to, thoughtfully attempting to separate the wheat from the chaff in conversations surrounding today’s American evangelical church. What do the “deconstructors” have right — and what correction can we take from them? What can the church do to unhitch its theology and practice from idols? Some good conversations here.
I am a subscriber to The Dispatch, and last week brought news of the death of contributor Jonah Goldberg’s mom, Lucianne Goldberg. She is known by most people as having played a role in the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal (she suggested Linda Tripp begin recording her phone conversations). Jonah did a nice job of painting a picture of his mom from beyond the headlines. One quote I enjoyed from the podcast: “my parents were like a cross between New York Magazine and a Far Side cartoon.”
Nigella Lawson carries Colman’s English mustard in her purse. I have loved Nigella’s work for a very long time, and I think you might enjoy this interview with her. She loves good food…excellent cuisine, but unfussy. And she’s not above a ridiculous recipe now and then; one of her cookbooks has a recipe for coca-cola ham in it. Her butterflied roast chicken recipe is one of my go-to’s.
Measure thy life by loss, not by gain; not by the wine drunk, but by the wine poured forth. For love’s strength standest in love’s sacrifice, and he who suffers most has most to give. - Ugo Bassi
I love supporting Lauren (@aquartzylife on Instagram and Etsy)! She’s a Christian artist based out of Black Mountain and she makes beautiful, colorful, and encouraging art prints, stickers, greeting cards, etc. at very affordable prices. She’s my go-to artist for stickers for my journals and laptop, and at a few dollars a piece, they’re an accessible way to support local art!
You won't catch me calling any of this fair trade.. :) But such an important idea that has brought our family much joy. Shannon probably has a slightly different list, though we have at least one in common. My favorites:
-independent bookstores (of course), especially ones that sell old and used books, including Goldberry's and Book Buyers here in the Charlotte area
-subscription-based journalism!! Especially The Athletic. I will die on this hill.
-craft beer and sandwiches from local markets, especially Rhino Market and the Culture Shop