The Warren and the World Vol. 3, Issue 43

The Warren & the World is Story Warren’s weekly newsletter, providing a round-up of our favorite things from around the web as well as a review of what was on our site over the past week. We’re glad you’re here!

Around the Web

why you really need the best kind of story

Guest Ann Spangler writes at A Holy Experience of the power of good stories.

The story captured me, almost against my will.As a frizzy-haired, pot smoking , former college dropout, I had recently finished reading the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien and was looking for another captivating read.
That’s when a friend lent me the seven books in the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. “Just be careful,” she warned. “The writer’s a Christian and his beliefs kind of seep into the books. Still, it’s a great story.”

Glad for the heads up and determined to fend off any religious messages that might be lurking within the pages of the story, I spent the summer finishing my course work and reading about the adventures of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy as they explored the land of Narnia.

Despite my resolve to guard my heart, I couldn’t protect it from the light that kept streaming in whenever I read those books.

Caring for God’s Art

Jennifer Trafton writes at The Rabbit Room about the holy task of caring for what God has created.

We are in Eden no longer, and this little Sheltie is a fearful captive on an earth mucked up by human hands and feet—a world in which the rocks worship more loudly than we do and the dogs must be content with living off the scraps of grace that fall from the children’s table. When did God’s good creation become the flowery wallpaper in front of which—and often oblivious to which—we do the “important” work? What if that creation is actually at the heart of the story, a story we humans have tragically and wastefully interrupted? We stand on this earth surrounded by the sweep of a mighty Epic—paused on the brink of its climax while the Creator redeems its wayward protagonists.

The Other Autistic Muppet

In this piece at the NY Times Blog, Jennie Baird tells of her autistic’s son’s observation that there already is an autistic Muppet, and explores how special needs characters can and should be portrayed.

Last week’s news that Sesame Street was introducing the first autistic Muppet was met in my house with a resounding, “Huh?”“But there already is an autistic Muppet,” my high-functioning 14-year-old said. “Fozzie Bear.”
I had never thought of Fozzie that way, but my son had a point. Fozzie is not good at taking social cues; he doesn’t read a room well and he tends to monologue and perseverate (to repeat himself long after the need has passed). He interprets figurative language as literal — remember that fork in the road in “The Muppet Movie?” He has a verbal tic he falls back on, “wokka-wokka.” And he hates to be separated from his hat for no obvious reason.

Eight Life-Changing Things Someone Taught Me

Lore Ferguson Wilbert writes at Sayable of the lessons that have changed her life.

There have been seven or eight lessons I have learned over the course of my life that have altered my thinking in profound ways. They have become markers of what Paul calls, “Glory to glory.” They marked a step forward, not in closer or better union with Christ, but in closer and better understanding of him. Today I thought of sharing them briefly with you.

Around the Warren

The Books I Watched

Guest Carolyn Leiloglou writes of a childhood of discovering books as movies.

All of my favorite childhood movies were based on books. And I never even realized it.I’m not exaggerating.
Every beloved movie that I watched and begged to rent again from Blockbuster the following weekend was based on a book. “The Hobbit” (yes, the old animated one!), “Watership Down”, “The Mouse and His Child” (which I’m still broken-hearted isn’t on DVD), “The Last Unicorn”, “Charlotte’s Web”, “The Secret of NIMH”, “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”, and “The Wizard of OZ”.

We talk about books being formative to a child’s soul as their mind inhabits those characters and stories. But movies can be just as formative to a child as books, and I believe these were to me.

I realized that The Hobbit was a book once I reached middle school, but I never knew about nor read most of the others until I became an adult (though I still haven’t tracked down a copy of The Last Unicorn).

“Courage, dear heart.”

Paul Boekell’s photography. C.S. Lewis’ words.

Not Just for Boys

Liz Cottrill reminds us that the Little Britches series are books for everyone, not just boys.

Growing up in a family of girls, the ways of boys were always a bit of a mystery for me. Since raising three of my own, I understand them more, but this is also in part thanks to Ralph Moody.Otherwise known as “Little Britches,” Ralph enlightened me considerably about a boy’s thirst for danger, especially if it involves high risk to life and limb. Beneath the bravado and swaggering self-confidence of a lad who feared no challenge from untamed horses or men who ride the range, was a heart that beat with incomparable loyalty and protectiveness for friends and family. Even as I held my breath for him during his various escapades, I admired his struggles to honor and obey his parents while proving himself to be a trustworthy and honest son who spared no effort to help support and provide for them.

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick: As Spooky As You Want Them to Be (and Maybe Not At All)

Kelly Keller introduces us to the Mysteries of Harris Burdick. Our Friday “original” post is a bit tricky this week: this time YOU make up the stories.

Something to Do with Your Kids

Why not add a little science to your fall festivities? Check out this Pumpkin Science project on density.

And Something to Watch

How big is the solar system, really? These guys built it to scale in the Nevada Desert to figure that out.

Thank you for reading. We’re on your side.