Thank you Bethany for your wonderful, practical ideas! When we moved to our current home, one of the first things we did was build a 'Little Library' box at the edge of our front yard. Here passers-by can grab a book/bring a book and provides a great way of getting into conversations with strangers. I thought just this morning about adding a bench next to it, where people can have a sit under the tree for a while. And I like your idea about practising some 'holy defiance'. Perfect timing with spring planting starting soon:)
Thank you, Ruth! I love the idea of adding a bench next to the Little Library box -- I've often been blessed by those boxes, but it always feels a little odd to take something from someone's yard...I think a bench is a lovely way of communicating that you don't need to take a book and skedaddle immediately. As for "holy defiance," I have a friend who works hard to defy for HOA by camouflaging food plants among her ornamental front-yard flowers!
The limbic resonance of your newsletter cannot be understated. I am a PhD candidate, surrounded by books attempting to serve the vulnerable and oppressed. In none of them is front-porch-hospitality mentioned. It's sad because all the prescribed, proven methods prescribed by my books are less effective, more expensive and more difficult than your solution, Bethany. Thank you for sharing your profound perspective. You and Steven are two of the brightest, shining lights I know l. Thank you
I would love to speak to you more about this - I have found a huge stumbling block being the amount of neighbors we have that don't speak English and I have a lot of trouble communicating with them. What are some remedies that you've found?
This is wonderful encouragement! Thank you, Bethany!
Thank you Bethany for your wonderful, practical ideas! When we moved to our current home, one of the first things we did was build a 'Little Library' box at the edge of our front yard. Here passers-by can grab a book/bring a book and provides a great way of getting into conversations with strangers. I thought just this morning about adding a bench next to it, where people can have a sit under the tree for a while. And I like your idea about practising some 'holy defiance'. Perfect timing with spring planting starting soon:)
Thank you, Ruth! I love the idea of adding a bench next to the Little Library box -- I've often been blessed by those boxes, but it always feels a little odd to take something from someone's yard...I think a bench is a lovely way of communicating that you don't need to take a book and skedaddle immediately. As for "holy defiance," I have a friend who works hard to defy for HOA by camouflaging food plants among her ornamental front-yard flowers!
The limbic resonance of your newsletter cannot be understated. I am a PhD candidate, surrounded by books attempting to serve the vulnerable and oppressed. In none of them is front-porch-hospitality mentioned. It's sad because all the prescribed, proven methods prescribed by my books are less effective, more expensive and more difficult than your solution, Bethany. Thank you for sharing your profound perspective. You and Steven are two of the brightest, shining lights I know l. Thank you
I would love to speak to you more about this - I have found a huge stumbling block being the amount of neighbors we have that don't speak English and I have a lot of trouble communicating with them. What are some remedies that you've found?