March 2025 Top Ten

I’m still listening to Mumford and Sons new album Prizefighter almost daily. And they just released a Tiny Desk Concert and it’s awesome.

I found a series for my son called “Press Start” and he’s read about ten of them in the last week. He asked me to read book #2, Super Rabbit Boy Powers Up. And since it was the first time my son has reccomended a book to me, you know I read it in one sitting.

On the recommendation of Ryan Holiday, I read War Is a Racket by General Smedley D. Butler. It was published in 1935. Here’s my review from Goodreads:

“So, by developing the Napoleonic system—the medal business—the government learned it could get soldiers for less money, because the boys like to be decorated.”

This book wasn’t what I expected, but I’m glad I read it. Most of it felt incredibly timely, unfortunately.

The poem “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen was on the forefront of my mind as I read, especially when it came to the graphic photos at the end.

I’ve been listening to You Must Believe in Spring by Bill Evans while I work. I think this recommendation came from a reel from Ted Dwane of Mumford & Sons.

I found a copy of Casablanca on VHS at my local used media store and watched it that week. It’s easily my favorite movie made in the 1940s (I will admit, I haven’t seen Citizen Kane yet).

I read the new book by Christian Wiman and Miroslav Volf called Glimmerings: Letters on Faith Between a Poet and a Theologian. I got it as audiobook because of the conversational nature of the chapters (they’re writing “letters” [emails] to each other). I enjoyed it and plan to reread it often. Here are some quotes that stood out.

“Faith is not a way to hold God close. Faith is trust that God will see me, hear me, know me, and come.” (MV)

“God uses our words sometimes.” (MV)

“Theology is a lot like poetry, in that it requires a renewable innocence.” (CW)

“To me, prayer is, above all, about opening a space for God in the world.” (MV)

I was reminded of one of my favorite videos that helped me understand art. It addresses the statement you’ve probably heard (or said) when seeing an abstract artwork: “I could do that!”

Definitely worth five minutes of your time.

We read Godric by Frederick Buechner for book club. I loved it. It’s difficult to get into at first, but once you get the hang of what he’s doing, you start to see the mastery. It was nominated for a Pulitzer. Highly recommend. Here’s a quote that stood out:

“Dear Lord, strew herbs upon my hermit’s dreams to make them sweet. Have daylight mercy on my midnight soul.”

Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets, and has been very influential in not only my poetry, but my spiritual life as well. This trailer for a documentary on her life just released. I’m looking forward to it. I hope it comes out on VHS.

10.

I saw this awesome mallard color pencil drawing called Mallard Duck by Susan Morrison. I recently wrote about how awesome mallards are over on my Substack in the post “In Praise of Mallards.”

11.

I also found a VHS of the old Steve Guttenberg movie Zeus and Roxanne about a dog and a dolphin who fall in love. It’s as silly as it sounds, but I loved it as a kid and still got a kick out of it.

12.

BASEBALL IS BACK! Enjoy this Cal Raleigh walk-off against the Yankees.