As I write, it is 8:46 pm, and someone’s child is having a meltdown outside. Earlier today, it was my child wailing in the front yard (first one, then another, and eventually all three—for three entirely different reasons), so it was a good day for the mailman to hand me a box from Deeply Rooted.
Of course, I was delighted to get the magazine itself, but the first thing I did was—and this is predictable, if not terribly modest—flip to page 106, where I found this:
I labored over this essay. It changed shape again and again, as what I thought was a story about a neat gift idea morphed into a braided essay about my daughter’s stay in the NICU, my good friend Jessie, and a gift from her that came right when it was needed. I loved working on this essay, in part because I love telling stories and in part because, this time, I had a particular story to tell, one that snuck up on me as I was writing and yanked the reins out of my hands.
I wrote most of it while in my pajamas, between five and seven in the morning. Many cups of Earl Grey tea went cold while I wrote; a bunch of mornings dawned. But eventually, I finished the essay and sent it in to the editors, who combed down a few flyaway phrases before sending it on to the artists.
Do you see that? Do you see how beautiful those illustrations are?
I love this magazine.
What else can I say about Deeply Rooted that I haven’t already said on this blog? It’s well-made, well-written, and beautiful to behold. If you like this blog, you will probably love it. This issue—the first anniversary issue—addresses theology proper, apologetics, and the fleetingness of life. It contains a verse-by-verse break down of Psalm 1, as well as a moving essay by Jen Wilkin (you know how I feel about her) about broken homes and geraniums.
Also, some of you have asked in the past if Deeply Rooted offers a subscription service and the answer for the longest time was no, but starting with this new issue, you will be able to subscribe to the magazine at 10% less than full price. (Yay!) So, if you’d like to order this brand new Spring issue, you have two options: pre-order the Spring issue, or subscribe to receive it and all forthcoming issues.
Deeply Rooted Magazine
Issue 5: Life (Spring 2015)
