Rest for your soul
In early June I had the opportunity to attend the Charlotte Mason conference in Boiling Springs, N.C., organized by Childlight USA.
I expected to hear a variety of speakers, and be encouraged in my homeschool endeavors. What I recieved was so much more and it truly was a balm to my soul. Several of the speakers had L’Abri backgrounds and gave mind-stretching sessions about living Christianly in today’s world. It brought to mind the L’Abri conferences I used to attend in Atlanta back in my college years. It was so refreshing to let my mind linger on great thoughts, visions of what could be and how one might change what is.
Summertime is a great time to recharge one’s batteries, to dig into that pile of books you have been waiting to read.
In her excellent book “A Charlotte Mason Companion,” Karen Andreola has a very helpful chapter on Mother Culture. 
This is explained as “making it your aim in life to continue growing by exercising one’s mind and giving ourselves some healthy leisure and diversion.”
Of course one of the elements of Mother Culture is time alone for prayer and Bible study. Other ideas for growth include planting a new plant, going on your own nature walks, museum trips or expansion of a hobby, craft or interest.
The idea that I came away with when I first read this chapter is the idea of keeping three books going. Karen quotes a wise woman explaning to her that she always keeps three books going that are just for her — “a stiff book, a moderately easy book, and a novel, and I always take up the one I feel fit for.” I try to do this as well although I must confess that the tyranny of the urgent (e-mail, newspaper and newsmagazine) often supplant my Mother Culture reading.
For me the stiff book is usually one on theology, philosophy or some other intellectual challenge. In the past I have chosen “Ideas Have Consequences,” by Richard Weaver, “Idols for Destruction,” by Herbert Schlossberg, “How Shall We Then Live,” by Francis Shaeffer. I like the idea of my mind having to run to keep up with the author’s thoughts and reading vocabulary words that force me to dust off the brain files.
The moderate book is usually a helpful one on child rearing/training or marriage or home education. My favorites are books by Nancy Wilson, Ted Tripp, Elisabeth Elliot, Charlotte Mason or Susan Shaeffer Macaulay. Here one finds practical advice, suggestions, explanations of why certain situations might be cropping up. There is godly wisdom in the counsel of these books and they should be read prayerfully not self-condemingly.
The novel is just for pure enjoyment. Choose one with delightful characters such as the novels of Jane Austen. I just discovered Austen several years ago. Now I have read all seven of her novels except one which I can not bear to read as then there will be no more. So I am saving it for I know not when. Other writers I have savored are Augusta Jane Evans (sometimes found with the surname of Wilson), Lucy Maud Montgomery, Gene Stratton Porter and Harold Bell Wright. Well written biographies are also in this group. Try “A Passion for the Impossible” (Lilias Trotter) by Miriam Rockness or one by Edna Gerstner.
So attempt a little Mother Culture this summer. You may not be able to go to the the spa, but it is the next best thing. Please turn to Page 4 Here is a quote is from “Guesses At Truth,” a British periodical from the 19th century, although it must be admitted that the works of the grand authors mentioned do not grace my bedside reading pile.
“It is wholesome and bracing for the mind to have its faculties kept on the stretch. It is like the effect of a walk in Switzerland upon the body. Reading an essay of Bacon’s for instance, or a chapter of Aristotle or of Butler, if it be well and thoughtfully read, is much like climbing up a hill and may do one the same sort of good.”
JMT