Building Your Shire

30: "I've thought of an ending for my book..."

In a final "Building Our Shire" episode, Stacy and Ross put a final flourish on this project with some reflections, sharing memories, and a look to the future. A sincere thank-you to those who shared this project with us as we created it, and to those who might pick it up in the future. -Lifting the brush from the canvas -The future of family and our creative projects -"I've thought of an ending for my book- 'and [they] lived happily ever after...to the end of [their] days.'" Music by Gregory S.

29: The Might and Rite of Spring

The exploding of Spring upon the world brings about reflections on our relationship to nature, and nature's relationship to God. -It's finals week. What did you expect? -The sneeze/riot/explosion of Spring brings life and power to bear. -Matthew 5:24-35 is what we were talking about.

28: In the House of Tom Bombadil

Tom Bombadil is one of the most enigmatic characters in all of Middle Earth. What was Tolkien trying to teach us by including this character? What does he have to tell us about ourselves? -A (probably poor) retelling of the story of Bombadil -Mystery is just fine -Who does Tom Bombadil point to for you?

27: Into the West

Reflections on the sanctifying nature of parenthood, how its joys and sorrows draw us toward salvation, and what it has to do with Frodo's vision of the Undying Lands. -Redemptive suffering as a parent -When God enters into our lives, we also enter into His -Love in this life is a glimpse of Heaven, a reading of Tolkien's vision of the Hereafter And all will turn to silver glass A light on the water all souls pass Into the West Music by Gregory S.

26: The Work of Doing Community

Ross and Stacy are starting to look at how to bring some of the concepts of Building Your Shire to life in the parish. This is where the rubber meets the road (which goes ever on and on). -What the heck has this podcast taught us? -Pizza Hut longs for community -Why, How, and What to do to build community Music by Gregory S.