A Dangerous Adventure
Charlotte Mason’s method helps us to discover the beauty that is all around us. But does her method help us when beauty cannot be found? This is the rest of my Charlotte Mason story, recorded at the 2017 Living Education Retreat. This article is only available as audio, linked below.
Special thanks to Jordan Sramek and The Rose Ensemble for permission to share an excerpt from “Maria Magdelene.” Special thanks also to Leif Olsen for his new recording of the Hosanna.
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23 Replies to “A Dangerous Adventure”
Hi Art- I was absolutely inspired by your talk. Thank you so much for being transparent. I noticed it says in the description that this is the rest of your Charlotte Mason story. Is their a preceding part to this?
I apologize for the ambiguity in the description. I called it the rest of my Charlotte Mason story because I wrote about the first part of it back in 2008 in an article entitled “A New Adventure.” But I cover that information again in this talk, so this talk stands alone and tells the entire story.
Thank you for sharing this. I listened to this alone and then again with my husband. So many things gripped us! The way you described Ms. Mason’s principles and ideas as a chemical that affects the whole of our lives is so very true. Your story touched us deeply.
Thank you for letting me know that my story was meaningful to you and your husband. It was not easy to tell this story, but I am thankful for my friends who encouraged me to do so.
I found this account gripping, also. Dear Barbara, I admire your courage and fortitude. Thank you, Art for sharing so personally your road of experience with its bright hills and dark valleys. The Christian testimony of your family is a great encouragement to me (Job 13:15). It is, no doubt, a touching and meaningful testimony to all who listen here.
Thank you for listening to my testimony and for sharing these words. It means a lot to me. I too admire Barbara’s courage and fortitude. We get the English word courage from the Latin word for heart. It seems that love and courage go hand in hand. It was love that made her strong, and her love is the heart of our home.
Hi Art,
Thank you very much for sharing your testimony. Such words breathe life and encouragement and hope for the future. I know it probably wasn’t easy to tell all of that.
This was amazing. Thank you for sharing! Is there a place where the composers and other sources you mentioned are written for reference? I was driving so I couldn’t write them at the time. Thank you!
Dear April,
Thank you so much for your interest in my story. Here are links to many of the items I referenced:
The first artist: Johannes Vermeer, who painted A Lady Writing.
The second artist: Claude Monet, who painted Woman with a Parasol.
The first renaissance composer: Henry Purcell.
The composer who wrote “Le Jardin Féerique” (“The Enchanted Garden”): Maurice Ravel. One version is for orchestra and the other is for piano.
The book of saints: In God’s Garden, by Amy Steedman.
The writings of St. Catherine: The Letters of Catherine of Siena.
The second renaissance composer: Francisco Guerrero, who composed Maria Magdelene.
The third artist: Giotto di Bondone, who painted The Crucifix.
Please let me know if you have further questions.
Thanks & blessings,
Art
Oh my, I have been eager to listen to this for a long time, as I loved your talk at the previous LER (and was unable to attend this past year.). This is just fabulous. I think many of us CM method lovers have experienced similar parts of your story – coming to see beauty in things we never before noticed. I absolutely love your testimony of how the Lord enabled you to see the beauty of his created world in art/poetry etc. as it reflects his nature and love….but also how he enabled you to trust him thru suffering. The message that we as Christians do/will share in Christ’s sufferings and how to view that is not often so well expressed. It is so inspiring and encouraging to me to hear how CM’s method and writings helped equip you for the fight of your life and faith. Thank you for sharing this – I truly loved it. May God’s peace and blessing continue to you pour out to you and Barbara.
Thank you so much for letting me know that this was encouraging and meaningful to you. God bless you!
This feels like a stupid question, but is it possible to download podcast episodes as MP3 instead of having to use iTunes?
Katie,
Thank you for your interest in our podcast. We make the audio available for playback from the link above and from a variety of podcast apps, including iTunes and Stitcher.
Best regards,
Art
Thanks very much, Art – I’ll investigate those apps.
Best wishes
Katie
Updating – just in case anyone else is trying to find an app for the podcast, I’ve found that Podcast Republic works with my Android device. I’m enjoying listening now!
This is beautiful!!!
Wow Beautiful! Thank you so much. I am so far away, in Brasil, and so touched by your story. It really moved me. Bless you.
Thank you so much for listening, and may God bless you!
Thank you for sharing your personal journey with us. I found myself crying at several points while listening to your testimony. Barbara’s fortitude is amazing indeed! How you were led through this experience gives much encouragement for our family to keep following the sign post to the Living Water through a CM lifestyle.
Your sharing has also inspired me to form a deeper connection with St. Catherine of Siena. As a child, I had felt an affinity with her (primarily because of my given name). I remember seeking out her tomb in College when our University Chorale went to Rome on a tour. Now, I will definitely add her Letters and biographies to my reading list. Out of curiosity, have you started unpacking the Libellus de Supplemento (it’s your Latin journey post that led me here)?
Thank you too for all the efforts of the Charlotte Mason Poetry team. The resources you provide are truly valuable to our own journey. Sending much love from the Philippines! May God continue to bless your work 🙂
Thank you for listening to this recording and letting me know that it was impactful to you. Yes, I have started translating the Libellus de Supplemento! I am a few paragraphs in, and it starts with, “This prolog begins the little book that supplements the major account of the blessed virgin Catherine of Siena, divided into three parts corresponding to the three parts by which the major story was told.” May blessings to you!
oh wow, goosebumps!! Looking forward to this work 🙏🏽 (especially since we’re just in 1st conjugation and 1st declension in our lessons and have a looong way to go 😁)
Hi Art,
I stumbled upon this recording way back in 2018 and it was my very first introduction to Charlotte Mason– she has been changing my life and forming my children’s future ever since! I am another person who never noticed things like birdsong until I met Miss Mason– so every day that I am educating my children, I marvel that something I do ostensibly for their benefit is so enriching to my life as well, and yes, becomes a lifeline on those dark days. A long overdue ‘Thank you’ for sharing this testimony!
Lindsay B
This means so much to me! Thank you!