Wednesday, May 19, 2010

chew* episode 4









Hooray! Our latest chew* discussion is finally up and running, and aside from the standard technical difficulties, I'm thrilled with the result. I got the impression that domesticity and the gospel is a subject we could all talk about for hours, and our brief discussion already has me thinking that we may need a part two. Below are some main points from last night's chat: 

- Despite the fact that some of us our single, some of us are married, and one of us is a happy mom to one, we all could agree that domesticity boils down to being free. Domestication, for all of us, implied being forced into something, but domesticity allows us the freedom to experience the work of our hands, to choose and to utilize our many different gifts. It's being comfortable with who we are and making others comfortable in our presence (at home and otherwise). 

- As one of our readers pointed out, domesticity is our way of mimicking the Creator. We were created to be creators, and, as Lindsey mentioned, we were also created to be servants. Genesis 2:18 describes women as help-meets, the same Hebrew term given to our Creator.

- Although domesticity has the connotation of women only, we're all called to be servant-minded. Just as Christ washed His disciples' feet, men, too, were created for lives of service.

- Just as we have spiritual gifts, we also have domestic gifts. Some of us are great cooks or bakers or decorators; some of us garden, others create. (See I Corinthians 12:14-18, MSG.)

- "Intentional is not perfect," said Lauren Winner. "We are not just meant to invite people into our homes, but into our lives."

- Domesticity can be--and perhaps should be--communal. We can learn so much from the women around us, but we also have to be careful of not falling into the trap that tends to befall us all: insecurity. We need to find relationships with others that help us balance and strengthen our own gifts.

- Perhaps part of the misconception with domesticity comes from the pendulum of feminism swinging too far one way or the other. The true beauty of feminism is that we can choose: mothers and wives, workers and creators.

- While all of us currently find work outside the home, there is a beauty and an adventure to be had inside the home (perhaps contrary to the more modern view that the domestic arts are mundane). Consider this G.K. Chesterton quote: "But of all the modern notions generated by mere wealth the worst is this: the notion that domesticity is dull and tame. Inside the home (they say) is dead decorum and routine; outside is adventure and variety.... For the truth is, that [...] the home is the only place of liberty. Nay, it is the only place of anarchy. It is the only spot on the earth where a man can alter arrangements suddenly, make an experiment or indulge in a whim."

Clearly we had a lot to say. Here are some links to things we referenced in this episode:

- G.K. Chesterton's What's Wrong with the World

- The Button Club blog and book

- Edith Schaeffer's The Hidden Art of Homemaking

- Lauren Winner's Mudhouse Sabbath

- Jane Brocket's The Gentle Art of Domesticity

And we close with a little bit of the girls. Is there anything better than a conversation that ends with a Gilmore Girls reference?


4 comments:

Kari said...

I agree, we could definitely do a part 2 on this topic.

I can't edit the post, but it's from Lauren Winner's Mudhouse Sabbath, which I highly recommend (as well as her Girl Meets God).

And I apologize for my horrible cold. :)

JennBrenn said...

I thought it was a great discussion. I really enjoyed it everyone!!!

Annie said...

I think this conversation was one of our best. Loved chatting with you ladies!

Cory said...

I thoroughly enjoyed it as well. While we didn't get to explore the importance of food (and the slow food movement), I think it'd be great to discuss in another chat.

Also, a book I mentioned: The Gentle Arts of Domesticity by Jane Brocket.