Wes, this is a beautiful description which I need to reread to fully appreciate. However, if it takes this much explanation it may not be a good title. I think the “nurse” in the title is particularly confusing although I think I get it the log nursing the seedlings. I hope new readers even non Quakers discover your writing and enter this discussion. This may require a more transparent title such as “ Renewal and FAITH Remix” or even Resisting Empire for Faith Renewal” ( a kind of Michael Moore touch) or just Renewal and Resistance Log Notes.” Perhaps it needs to be more cleaver but it also needs to be transparent, more self standing without explanation. I defer to you and ,of course, appreciate your thoughts.Donna
The image of the nurse log is so helpful because there are so many ways to enter it’s story, to read it -as you teach- empathetically.
One bit from Richard Rohr’s book Universal Christ that hits for me is
“Creation - be it planets, plants, or pandas - was not just a warm-up act for the human story or the Bible. The natural world is its own good and sufficient story, if only we can learn to see it with humility and love.”
I like the idea that in your Nurse Log Notes, you can create a space where we can learn to see through that open lens.
P.S. I am responding critically based on our previous however brief discussion. If criticism is not particularly welcomed ignore it. I am reading your writings whatever the title. Your writing helps me clarify what is brewing somewhere in my mind. Thanks.
I too love Nurse Logs. When we took our children to the Coast, the trail to the beach at
Oswald West had many trees with divided roots which elevated the tree and formed, what we called ""Nome houses." In my Volunteer Naturalist training I learned that Western Red Cedars only root on them and that a fallen tree takes half as long to decompose as it lived; a tree that lived 200 years will take 100 to decay.
Fascinating. I like how intentional you are with naming your work. Also I think it's great to start with a name from scratch so you don't become too niche if you don't want to be. Nurse log allows the safety of being broad but also the comfort of the familiar.
I had no idea what a “nurse log” was. The title confused me, and I immediately thought of a log that a nurse notates on in regards to how a patient is doing. I even thought, “Is Wess working on a nursing degree”? Haha. Your explanation really spoke to me. I love how the image evokes the past, present, and future in one moment. It also reminds me of the love that Jesus spoke of to his followers: a love that gives despite the ending for the one giving it. I suppose this means more to me as I age and what I might give to those who follow after. It also can speak of a family’s role for both the very youngest and oldest, or a society’s role to its most vulnerable. I’ll stop there. But, I really appreciate the explanation. Per Donna’s feedback, perhaps you could provide a link to this post for future reference (if Substack offers that functionality). BTW, glad you are on Substack as I follow a number of writers on the platform. Thanks for your writing and thoughts!
Why Nurse Log Notes?
Wes, this is a beautiful description which I need to reread to fully appreciate. However, if it takes this much explanation it may not be a good title. I think the “nurse” in the title is particularly confusing although I think I get it the log nursing the seedlings. I hope new readers even non Quakers discover your writing and enter this discussion. This may require a more transparent title such as “ Renewal and FAITH Remix” or even Resisting Empire for Faith Renewal” ( a kind of Michael Moore touch) or just Renewal and Resistance Log Notes.” Perhaps it needs to be more cleaver but it also needs to be transparent, more self standing without explanation. I defer to you and ,of course, appreciate your thoughts.Donna
The image of the nurse log is so helpful because there are so many ways to enter it’s story, to read it -as you teach- empathetically.
One bit from Richard Rohr’s book Universal Christ that hits for me is
“Creation - be it planets, plants, or pandas - was not just a warm-up act for the human story or the Bible. The natural world is its own good and sufficient story, if only we can learn to see it with humility and love.”
I like the idea that in your Nurse Log Notes, you can create a space where we can learn to see through that open lens.
P.S. I am responding critically based on our previous however brief discussion. If criticism is not particularly welcomed ignore it. I am reading your writings whatever the title. Your writing helps me clarify what is brewing somewhere in my mind. Thanks.
Wess,
I too love Nurse Logs. When we took our children to the Coast, the trail to the beach at
Oswald West had many trees with divided roots which elevated the tree and formed, what we called ""Nome houses." In my Volunteer Naturalist training I learned that Western Red Cedars only root on them and that a fallen tree takes half as long to decompose as it lived; a tree that lived 200 years will take 100 to decay.
Peace,
Jim
Fascinating. I like how intentional you are with naming your work. Also I think it's great to start with a name from scratch so you don't become too niche if you don't want to be. Nurse log allows the safety of being broad but also the comfort of the familiar.
Nice work!
I had no idea what a “nurse log” was. The title confused me, and I immediately thought of a log that a nurse notates on in regards to how a patient is doing. I even thought, “Is Wess working on a nursing degree”? Haha. Your explanation really spoke to me. I love how the image evokes the past, present, and future in one moment. It also reminds me of the love that Jesus spoke of to his followers: a love that gives despite the ending for the one giving it. I suppose this means more to me as I age and what I might give to those who follow after. It also can speak of a family’s role for both the very youngest and oldest, or a society’s role to its most vulnerable. I’ll stop there. But, I really appreciate the explanation. Per Donna’s feedback, perhaps you could provide a link to this post for future reference (if Substack offers that functionality). BTW, glad you are on Substack as I follow a number of writers on the platform. Thanks for your writing and thoughts!