1. Rarely is any one person, institution, movement or group moving toward to doing less when they have the time and resources to do more and more. Instead, all move towards more because we think we can do it and therefore it must be done.
2. Our culture has uncritically accepted the reasonableness of loads of daily homework after our kids have been at school for 8 hours.
3. It’s October 1st and perfect Fall weather just like God intended.
4. John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman.
5. My 6 year old asked what a soul was the other day. I thought I was avoiding these questions by sending my kids to public school.
6. Don’t assume the worst of those you disagree with and are arguing with. Ask questions. Ask yourself the same questions. Grace insists on it.
7. It’s my birthday month, so if you need to see my wish list, let me know.
8. Our culture’s idea of safety at the expense of endangering others is a luxury.
9. I’m tired of not eating pizza.
10. Joy is often familiar. Even when the experience is new. It may feel like an echo of a long forgotten sliver of memory. Once escaped. Now slight in the remembering. Only a taste. A sound. So small. But within, a world that can usher in that longed-for ache you know you were created for.
Echoes and Stars 
My wife is a teacher and she showed me a study on interventions and how much they impacted actual student growth. Homework is near the bottom. Among some subgroups there was actual loss of learning with high rates of homework. Educators know this (or at least most do). But parents assume more homework means better education. See your first point.
Doesn’t surprise me in the least.
I have had parents question why I don’t send homework. My only expectation is that parents read to their children and that children read to their parents. That is time well spent. Most else is busy work.
Suzanne, You are awesome.
Number 6 though …
Happy Birthday month, Matt! Hope you get to have a pizza party!
Thanks!
Welcome, Matt!
Did a little digging on Townes Van Zandt. Found this for you, Matt.
A great song called “Jesus” sung by American songwriter/musician Amos Lee. He wrote the song the day his grandfather died. This video was done in Scotland as part of the Transatlantic Sessions recordings of Scottish and American musicians, organized by Scottish fiddler Aly Bain and American dobro player Jerry Douglas.
And…American bluesman Eric Bibb, who now lives in Finland, singing
“In My Father’s House”.
Wynton Marsalis in France doing “Happy Birthday”. Happy Birthday month to Matt Redmond!
Thanks!
Welcome!
And one of my favorites…a flash mob in France, of music students, doing a concert in honor French composer Poulenc. The group is doing a Beatles song. (Happy Birthday Matt Redmond. Cheers to you and your family.)
And 3 hours of Bossa Nova Jazz from a variety of musicians. Charlie Byrd, Stan Getz and others. (Since it’s Matt Redmond’s birthday month and he likes Jazz, I think, and other cool music.)
That looks awesome.
Slap on some sunscreen, close your eyes, and dance with the Mrs. You will think your are in South America.