The Warren & the World Vol 5, Issue 40

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

From Mountains to Madness

Christine Keegan declares that this is our Father’s world, even when we see horrors around us.

This is my Father’s world, I proclaim it over and over. We always say, it seems easier to praise God and sense his nearness when we are out in the wild, the wind whipping and our spirits soaring. It’s when we get back to the city, to the place where souls stack up sometimes in piles like the news of 58 dead, or in mass graves of massacred Rohingya, that the world seems so glaringly out of hand.

Five New Picture Books About Women Artists

These picture books highlight women from around the world who engaged with the arts.

This season, new picture books about female artists highlight their strength, talent, and perseverance. In this first of two posts featuring these inspiring true stories, we include titles about a singer from South Africa, a Chinese-American architect, a Mexican painter, an American illustrator for Disney, and a Japanese artist whose vision stretched “to infinity.”

Let’s Eat! Giving Thanks with Jesus at Mealtimes

In an effort to prepare her heart for Thanksgiving, Rachel Schmoyer has collected passages of Scripture in which Jesus gave thanks as part of a meal. She’s developed a five-day devotional and also has an opportunity to engage in a new community committed to reading the hard parts of the Bible.

In an effort to get my heart ready for Thanksgiving I wanted to read about the times that Jesus had given thanks to God. I found that most of the time when the Bible says that Jesus was giving thanks it was in the context of mealtime. I can resonate with that! Our family already says a prayer out loud before our dinner time together.

The scary truth about what’s hurting our kids

Over at Your Modern Family, there’s a look at studies on why kids are anxious and lonely and what we can do about it.

In the past week, I’ve read several studies that are scary to me… the scary truth about what’s hurting our kids. We all know that what our kids hear becomes their inner voice, but it’s hard to control what they hear from others, isn’t it?

Around the Warren

Looking On Purpose

James Witmer explores his new practice of looking on purpose.

This summer, my wife and I took a once-in-a-lifetime vacation to a place of extraordinary beauty. I’m not a naturally observant person; I easily get adrift inside my own head, and I feared I would return with fuzzy, tunnel-vision memories of our trip.
To avoid this, I set myself some guidelines for using my camera, and some goals for journaling descriptions of what we saw (not just what I was thinking). Probably my most effective effort, however, was channeling my curiosity and wonder into a practice of looking on purpose.

Newly Minted Familiarity

Zach Franzen introduces us to a delightful poem that helps us look at the familiar world with new eyes.

Fantasy is a two-edged sword. It can amplify our disenchantment with the world, or refresh our appreciation of it. William Jay Smith does a great job communicating the romance of domesticity and refreshing our appreciation of life in his poem, “The Toaster.”

Something to Do with Your Kids

Over at What Do We Do All Day, Erica has a great way to add to your family bookmark collection with Peace, Love, and Kindness bookmarks.

And Something to Watch

Storyline Online is a YouTube channel in which actors read children’s books aloud. They’re delightful videos. This one brings together to of my favorites: Hector Elizondo and Eileen Spinelli.