Beneath the Willow Tree

As I began to understand and write on the rectification of names in my class, I noticed a similarity between this idea and the Christian story. I wondered if it might be possible to make a connection between the two that would enrich Christian theology, or, at the very least, provide some new perspective on it.

Books from this episode: Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy

Beneath The Willow Tree is a podcast dedicated to the pursuit of Truth through wonder. Join host Sophie Burkhardt as she, fueled by wonder and a quest for the beautiful, explores philosophy, theology, the arts and all things worthy of thought beneath the willow tree.

For more, visit sophiaburkhardt.wordpress.com/blog and follow me on Instagram @sophieburkhardt, FB @sophieburkhardt21 or Twitter @SophieBurkhard1.

Music: Summer Rain by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Snailhaven is my home. No, there are no snails here, alas. Truth be told, the place is more of a spider haven than anything else. But, it is a haven.

Beneath The Willow Tree is a podcast dedicated to the pursuit of Truth through wonder. Join host Sophie Burkhardt as she, fueled by wonder and a quest for the beautiful, explores philosophy, theology, the arts and all things worthy of thought beneath the willow tree.

For more, visit sophiaburkhardt.wordpress.com/blog and follow me on Instagram @sophieburkhardt, FB @sophieburkhardt21 or Twitter @SophieBurkhard1.

Music: Summer Rain by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

This is what waiting feels like. This is where the Father of Lights takes us. We must wait and wait. Then we must come to the very end of ourselves and everything else and still we must wait. Even then, there is more waiting to be done, until everything becomes so bleak, so black, and so dark that it creeps up to our very hearts. But if we would just remember. If we would just trust. Then, then we would know that we need not be afraid.

For it is in that moment, when the darkness is all around them, that the Lady of Light returns. Off in the distance, there is a faint green light. Then, slowly, but surely, it draws every nearer until the lady stands before them.

Books from this episode!

The Princess and Curdie (honestly...I can't find an edition that I'm confident is good on Amazon...probably best to keep an eye out as used book stores and sales)

Baptized Imagination

Beneath The Willow Tree is a podcast dedicated to the pursuit of Truth through wonder. Join host Sophie Burkhardt as she, fueled by wonder and a quest for the beautiful, explores philosophy, theology, the arts and all things worthy of thought beneath the willow tree.

For more, visit sophiaburkhardt.wordpress.com/blog and follow me on Instagram @sophieburkhardt, FB @sophieburkhardt21 or Twitter @SophieBurkhard1.

Music: Summer Rain by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

If you like rom-coms, it’s because, in their own often cheesy, often funny way, they tell a bit of the truth about the world. I, for one, think it’s pretty cool that we live in a love story far better than anything even my favorite rom-coms have to offer.

Beneath The Willow Tree is a podcast dedicated to the pursuit of Truth through wonder. Join host Sophie Burkhardt as she, fueled by wonder and a quest for the beautiful, explores philosophy, theology, the arts and all things worthy of thought beneath the willow tree.

For more, visit sophiaburkhardt.wordpress.com/blog and follow me on Instagram @sophieburkhardt, FB @sophieburkhardt21 or Twitter @SophieBurkhard1.

Music: Summer Rain by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

We cannot afford to ignore our philosophies. You may not consider yourself “philosophic” or “intellectual,” but you have a philosophy of life, incomplete as it may be, and it is orienting you and shaping your decisions, whether you admit it or not. You must come face to face with it, and you must ask if it is True. Then you must ask whether your lifestyle is reinforcing Truth or diminishing it.

Beneath The Willow Tree is a podcast dedicated to the pursuit of Truth through wonder. Join host Sophie Burkhardt as she, fueled by wonder and a quest for the beautiful, explores philosophy, theology, the arts and all things worthy of thought beneath the willow tree.

For more, visit sophiaburkhardt.wordpress.com/blog and follow me on Instagram @sophieburkhardt, FB @sophieburkhardt21 or Twitter @SophieBurkhard1.

Music: Summer Rain by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Dumbledore reminds us that it is always truth that matters. Mere desires – no matter how deep and desperate they are – that are not rooted in truth can never satisfy us. In many cases, when we choose to focus our attention only on them, we are driven mad. Sheer longing can bring us nothing, only truth can. When we sit in front of the mirror of Erised, we are trying to conform truth to our desires, instead of letting truth dictate our desires. But we do not rule truth; it is a hopeless endeavor to try to bend it to our will.

Beneath The Willow Tree is a podcast dedicated to the pursuit of Truth through wonder. Join host Sophie Burkhardt as she, fueled by wonder and a quest for the beautiful, explores philosophy, theology, the arts and all things worthy of thought beneath the willow tree.

For more, visit sophiaburkhardt.wordpress.com/blog and follow me on Instagram @sophieburkhardt, FB @sophieburkhardt21 or Twitter @SophieBurkhard1.

A beautiful copy of (in America) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It saddens me always that we in America have "the sorcerer's stone" instead of "the philosopher's stone." That one little word change greatly depletes much of the depth and imagery associated with literary alchemy.

Music: Summer Rain by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

We need a theology of Home, for it is the promise given to us that we may have hope amidst all the brokenness of our world. It is the glimmers of that Home that break through and fill us with joy whenever we encounter beauty, good fellowship, work or rest done well, and any restoration of shalom.

Beneath The Willow Tree is a podcast dedicated to the pursuit of Truth through wonder. Join host Sophie Burkhardt as she, fueled by wonder and a quest for the beautiful, explores philosophy, theology, the arts and all things worthy of thought beneath the willow tree.

For more, visit sophiaburkhardt.wordpress.com/blog and follow me on Instagram @sophieburkhardt, FB @sophieburkhardt21 or Twitter @SophieBurkhard1.

Music: Summer Rain by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

 Every time I watch Christopher Robin, I leave feeling a bit warmer inside, and my wonder and imagination feel strengthened and renewed again.

Beneath The Willow Tree is a podcast dedicated to the pursuit of Truth through wonder. Join host Sophie Burkhardt as she, fueled by wonder and a quest for the beautiful, explores philosophy, theology, the arts and all things worthy of thought beneath the willow tree.

For more, visit sophiaburkhardt.wordpress.com/blog and follow me on Instagram @sophieburkhardt, FB @sophieburkhardt21 or Twitter @SophieBurkhard1.

Music: Summer Rain by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

The Hobbit is a classic tale of adventure and home. What more is there to say? It points us to Truth, inspires us to step out into the unknown, and reminds us to hope for Home.

Beneath The Willow Tree is a podcast dedicated to the pursuit of Truth through wonder. Join host Sophie Burkhardt as she, fueled by wonder and a quest for the beautiful, explores philosophy, theology, the arts and all things worthy of thought beneath the willow tree.

For more, visit sophiaburkhardt.wordpress.com/blog and follow me on Instagram @sophieburkhardt, FB @sophieburkhardt21, or Twitter @SophieBurkhard1.

A Well Read Life hosted by my friend Beth! It's so good.

Music: Summer Rain by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

If I attempt to logic my way out of suffering, I get all muddled and stuck. But when I remember that God is an Author, I have a bit more clarity. It is not as if he revels in our suffering. I can think of few authors who truly love their characters that would not weep at the suffering they must endure. But they must indeed endure it. Because there is something better about it. We come out better – I come out better when I have suffered. And it is about even more than growth. My eyes are fixed on a future where suffering is put to death. The hope that I have now in expectation of that, and the joy that I will feel on that day far surpass anything I could ever have experienced had I never known what it meant to suffer.

Also, side note: I know I said Aeneid. I meant Aeneas. My apologies for such a blunder. Silly fuzzy brain of mine.

For more, visit sophiaburkhardt.wordpress.com/blog and follow me on Instagram @sophieburkhardt, FB @sophieburkhardt21, or Twitter @SophieBurkhard1.

Great translations of the Daodejing and Zhuangzi. And you should really go read At the Back of the North Wind.

Music: Summer Rain by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com