8 June 2010

The Fourth Turning:

Times can be thought of as chaotic, circular, or linear. The ancients thought of time as chaotic, no rhyme nor reason; time came to be thought of as circular when the ancients linked natural cycles. Seasons repeat, the sun comes up goes down and then comes up again. Linear came to be during the middle ages when Christianity pulled hard away from Paganism. Americans view time as linear. I have always thought of time as circular. I love how God has made seasons for us. Even down to a day. I am so grateful some days that the sun went down and I get to start over the next day.
Circular time is usually divided into two or four sections. The Etruscans first came up the with idea the the Romans called the saeculum, meaning a long life, or approximately 100 years. The saeculum is divided into four seasons of life, birth, maturation, middle age, and death. These coincide with Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. They are each approximately 20-25 years in length and separate generations. The ideas of each generation change, but cycle back through after four generations.

How to read a book

The rules for reading fiction are different but coincide with the rules for reading non fiction. They will help us learn from the book by helping us have the experience the author wants us to. The part I didn't understand very well, was the criticism part. We can't agree or disagree, we either like or dislike a work of fiction, but we have to go beyond like or dislike and why. We have to "objectify your reaction by pointing to those things in the book that are good and bad and why."

The BOM

I read about Enos. I admire his so much. He is an example of saying so much in a short amount of space. His love for the Nephites and the Lamanites is admirable. I do find myself praying for those I love, but rarely pray for those I don't know and/or are my enemies.

The Lost Memoirs....

Jane, her sister Cassandra, and her mother are left destitute after her father dies. They move from brother's house to brother's house until her brother Frank asks them to live with him and his new wife and share expenses. Frank has announced that he and his wife are moving and it was not said, but seemed clear that the family needed some privacy.