About five years ago, I turned completely to freelance work. My background was in teaching. I taught an English literature and writing course as a college adjunct. I tutored writing for college students in a writing center. I also taught at the grade school level at a classical school. During that time, I was writing a blog on the side, and my husband encouraged me to pursue writing (and editing) as my main work.
While some might see that turn in terms of risk (loss of “consistent” or “stable” work) and bravery (overcoming that risk), I always saw it in terms of pursuing a good. In Karen Swallow Prior’s On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life Through Great Books, she writes, “courage is measured not by the risk it entails but by the good it preserves.” The good I strive to preserve is the beauty of seeing the world as it is and my sense of wonder (the virtue that corresponds to a response to beauty). In the case of my work, I have the opportunity each day to hone my attention through reading, writing, and editing.
But another dimension to this is my primary vocation as a wife and mother. How is my work in service to my vocation? Well once I noticed that my son was taking a genuine interest in my work, I began inviting him into it. I share with him what I’m reading and writing, and when we play together, I write little essays on a topic, and he critiques them. Super nerdy, but more fun for me than playing superheroes. Writing, reading, and sharing ideas is something that my husband and I value in building our family culture.
Working from home was initially something that allowed me to still take care of household and family obligations. But I also started to see how my family keeps me creative and prudent with how I use my time. I practice virtue when I need to stop and address needs in my vocation (sick children) and learn to let my work and thinking go for a day. Without them, I’d struggle even more with perfectionism and workism. I’ve learned to see how generous vocations can be in how they provide space for us to expand our gifts.
Courage, in this way, is distinct from bravery. The root word for courage is cor, which is Latin for “heart.” Courage is a virtue of the heart—orienting our heart and will to see and pursue the good. In this way, courage is always found in service to a noble end that is measured by its good rather than its risk.
To Ponder
What moment in your life have you responded to with courage (rather than bravery)?
How has responding to moments with courage impacted your character?
What I’ve Been Writing
My poem “Late Winter” was published in Issue #7 of
.The entire issue is beautiful, so check out the other featured poems!
What I’ve Been Reading
My claim to fame is that when I graduated college, I met Marilynne Robinson for coffee in Iowa. (My dad organized it as a graduation gift.) I still have the notes from our conversation in a little journal. I’ve loved all her books. As someone who has many interests (from science and ecology to philosophy, art, and literature), I have always felt connected to her as a thinker. She an interweave theology, science, politics, and literature in such a way that just makes your neurons fire. I couldn’t resist getting this book, especially with a title like this. I’m reading it slowly, but I haven’t stopped wrestling with the question: What are we doing here?
My first poll! I would love to know: How many of you are writers? If so, what kind of writer do you consider yourself to be? This poll will help me with content and with some ideas I have for free/paid subscribers.
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