An outdoor third space

and favorites from the internet

First up! Dr. Nijay Gupta’s new Seminary Now course is launching today and it is on—drumroll please—Women Leaders in the Early Church! It is based on his recent book Tell Her Story and you can find out more by watching the trailer. Maybe this course is what’s next for you!

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We can drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway in twenty-five minutes. The closest stops travel up a several mile stretch with a (mostly) shallow creek, trails, a small lake, and a waterfall with a swimming hole. There are tunnels to run through, rocks to throw, and bridges to cross. We’ve gone a few times a year since we’ve lived here but, this year, I’ve decided that we are going to be regulars.

It’s a short drive. There’s no cell signal. The boys never complain about going because there is a creek! We often take friends and always food. The hiking is not strenuous. It’s near perfect.

We talk a lot about the value of having a third place: somewhere in the community where we go often and know and are known. We have been developing those for a while. This year, I want to introduce the boys to a natural third space. It’s not our space in the world. It’s not even the outdoor space that we frequent that is almost in our backyard. But this shared space is still local; it’s part of living here particularly. I want them to see the seasons change. I want them to know the trails. I want them to feel at home there.

We’ll go plenty of other places. We can get on the Appalachian Trail only a few minutes beyond the parkway.¹ I want us to hike more there this summer and find more creeks to play in.² But I want us to be regulars at the creek. I want it to be no big thing to throw sandwiches and towels in the van and drive up for a picnic after school³ or take out of town friends for the day. I want my boys to grow up feeling at home outdoors, but especially at home in this particular outdoors.

Do you have a favorite outdoor space?

Favorite links and ideas

I’m memorizing this poem.
I’ve been posting some pictures and tiny notes on my blog.⁴
Gabby shared about The Secret Sisters this spring and they’ve been the background music in my kitchen for a couple of months.
This podcast episode on news consumption was thought-provoking.
This post of regular people’s gardens!⁵
I’ve been mixing cranberry juice and ginger beer and it’s a delightful refreshing drink-add a spring of mint if you have it.⁶
Sharon talks about how people who claim to be Christians are the meanest people on the internet. (This is behind a paywall. Again, I’m suggesting that you pay for Sharon’s newsletter.)
Looking to get off social media this summer? Join Lore Wilbert’s summer “club.”
30 cooking tips
I want to hang this painting in my living room (found via Tsh Oxenreider).
Summer reading suggestions for my boys
Criminal is not a synonym for inhuman
The advice in this post is so great.

1. Or on the parkway for that matter.

2. I also want to plan an overnight backpacking trip on the AT.

3. Which we did one Monday night when middle school soccer was canceled.

4. This is likely because I’ve gotten back off Instagram thanks for Lore Wilbert and I don’t have substack on my phone. There’s a certain layer of not having Substack which is annoying but I can’t scroll Notes if it’s not there and I love that.

5. I’m experimenting more and more each year with my own garden and it is bringing me so much joy!

6. If you come to my house and I make you a cocktail, you’ll swiftly find out that I don’t like a sweet drink. If you like sweet drinks, you will need to adjust this fun refresher. Add some simply syrup or try some maple syrup for another flavor layer.