A new house… your thoughts?
I’ve been playing with an idea for the last week or so and I’m curious what you think.
Once in awhile, you write something, and then you go back a bit later and realize how vastly more true it was than you even originally thought. That’s how I felt once I looked back at the welcome post to this new bit of blogspace, describing this blog as a house. The idea of this place as a house you enter in which fellowship and ideas and griefs are shared captivates me. So I am thinking of shaping this blog a bit more literally as a house or maybe, a cottage.
Different rooms will be different pages, designed to have pictures that reflect the room you’re visiting. You could “walk” through different rooms of the house, see what’s going on. Blog posts would be filed/categorized according to room. I might give my little place a name. Houses ought always to be named. If you have ever read a good story, or talked with Anne of Green Gables or really, Dickens (Bleak House, for instance), you know this. If you have any ideas, do share. (The “Life House” thing is a stop gap. And for those who read this post earlier, I took down my experiment of “Lark Cottage” because I’m not quite ready to commit.)
The different rooms will reflect different rooms of soul. The library, well, book reviews and learning and thinking, of course. The kitchen table, the hodgepodge glory of mundane life and the million thoughts that flow from it. The fireside, the shadow dappled place where deep contemplations are grown up out of the soul. The great hall (oh yes, my cottage, however tiny, will definitely have a great hall for feasts and dancing), a place for the recording of festal days, friends, celebration, stories. Maybe I’ll name that one the “Hall of Fire” after Rivendell. And then, the front porch, or entry way, basically, the in between place where the outside wind blows in with news of the world, and you can see the hills and the road running back to the battle, the place where plans are made, where travelers set out, and refugees come in.
In part, this idea comes from my dream of an actual, physical such house. To invite people in is something I have always wanted to do, and if you stumble across this blog, I love the idea that you could feel you had come into a real (more or less) place. A house in which a life that is thoroughly alive to truth, beauty, and goodness, is guarded and nurtured. But also a place where great plans and journeys are begun for the helping of all the lost ones still out in the storm. I hope with all my heart to create such a real house one day, and this is, in a way, a possible beginning.
So. Confusing? Inviting? Odd? Good? What do you think?
13 comments
I love the idea of it, but I’m not exactly sure I’m envisioning what you envision. But I think if it’s in your heart to do it, you absolutely should.
Love it! I think that is a very original and inviting way to organize your blog! I think it really fits with your writing style.
Very good! Although I don’t comment much, I always feel like I’m visiting the home of a friend – lovely poetry that inspires… dreams and stories that speak to my heart… always warm and inviting, and always I leave with my eyes looking at the world anew.
I love it! I think the idea can really be built and expanded on:). I love the idea of having a hall of fire like in Rivendell, a place where you can just relax and that is full of songs and tales but overwhelmingly just of peace. I can imagine many rooms, gosh, you’ve started me thinking of my own Homely House! I think I would have a forest glade, a place for memory, beauty, and refreshment. Like the woods of Thingol that Luthien Tinuviel danced in, a place for the wonder of seasons.
The leaves were long, the grass was green,
The hemlock -umbels tall and fair,
And in the glade a light was seen
Of stars in shadow shimmering.
Tinuviel was dancing there
To music of a pipe unseen,
And light of stars was in her hair,
And in her raiment glimmering.
That’s the kind of of forest glade I would have ajoining my homely house:). (I’m pretty sure the pipe useen would be a tin whistle)!
Like Lothlorien too, I forgot to put that:)
PERFECT, Sarah!
Sarah,
With a family of 11 children, my wife and I laugh about our invitations to others’ homes being few and far between, even though we have many close, loving friends that are often invited to our home. It’s just that there are few spaces that can acommodate such a brood. It’s not the size of the space, though – we have a small home ourselves – it’s the attitude of the space that determines it’s welcoming nature.
I think your idea is brilliant! I just have a favor to ask as a frequent visitor to your home: Can you make the feasting table in the great hall large enough for my family? The kids really love to sit at the table with the grownups. And, can you maybe throw a few extra chairs on the porch? And, can you maybe reserve a room or two with enough resiliency to handle the occasional invasion of a small herd of miniature people? Oh, and, maybe a quiet space for the smallest to nap or read in the long summer afternoons? And . . . well, you get the idea.
Sarah! I love this idea! I think it’s just SO you, and I think it will be great!
~Annie
(PS. I got my copy of Pilgrim’s Inn this week; I can’t wait to read it!
Absolutely inspired!! I love the idea and feel as though you have already created that kind of lovely place to visit. I look forward to the “official” name and to wandering about and exploring.
Yes, I love the idea!
Susan
Love your new site… simply exquisite. Your idea of an inviting house reminds me of these words: “… In my Father’s house, there are many rooms…” I’m excited to explore all that you have prepared here!
Made me think of “My Heart Christ’s Home” and the places in our soul where God wants us to throw the doors open to Him.
Sarah,
Awesome idea! I love it. I was trying to figure out what room I should go to to post this question. My final conclusion was the front door. I’ve rung the doorbell and (hopefully) you’ve at least opened the door. I was wondering how your life is going given the current state of affairs in Nashville. Are you w/out electricity or a car? Please share! SHoot me an email or something. For some reason I don’t have your email address or I would’ve emailed you myself. Hopefully all is well.