I finished 1883 today. It's the origin story of the Dutton family from the television series Yellowstone, though it stands alone without ever needing to watch Yellowstone. The cast alone is outstanding, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Sam Elliot, LaMonica Garrett, and Isabel May, to name a few. There are also cameos from Tom Hanks, Billy Bob Thornton, and others.

The basis of the series is a group of people following the Oregon trail out west, you guessed it, around 1883. I don't want to give anything away so I won't delve into the details, but it's a beautiful yet sad story showing how much of a struggle there was for immigrants in America traveling west. The tale is poetically narrated by Isabel May's character Elsa. I won't lie, there will be tears shed, but it is quite a beautiful story. I hope you give it a go.

shows

I have been listening to the podcast Threshold since its first season; It is one of my favorites. This season is about the goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. Like all the seasons before, it is super informative.

I wanted to call out this particular episode because it is a topic I never gave a lot of thought to, and I learned so much throughout it. It is truly worth the listen; trying to explain the contents would be an injustice. So please give it a listen.

Listen to Threshold Time to 1.5 episode 2 - The Most Excellent Canopy.

podcasts

I actually started reading this book three different times. Unfortunately, the first two were on a Kindle which is a device that for some reason leads to me not finishing books, so I finally bought a physical copy for myself to read, and I am so thankful I did.

Thief in the Night reads like a crime or mystery novel; in fact, it is one. It investigated a time in the 1840s' when it was perceived the return of Christ would take place and tried to divulge if it happened or not.

The book is filled with prophecy and quotations from many religious writings mixed with other historical facts to determine what took place and its relevance.

It will send you down some intellectual and spiritual rabbit holes before the conclusion is announced and explained. So give it a read with an open mind, and you should be sure to enjoy it.

books

I just finished the series Afterlife about a widower who is having trouble getting beyond the loss of his wife. It has to be one of the greatest love stories I have ever watched, even with the ridiculous amount of foul language it contains. It's funny how Ricky Gervais can offend yet still break my heart. I just found it to be such a moving little series that it is definitely worth the watch. But I'm sad it is over. I really recommend it. If you're offended by foul language, you may want to avoid it.

shows

For those of you who are curious about other faiths or religions, I wanted to share a nine-episode podcast series I recently finished called Ambassador to Humanity. It's available on Spotify, Apple, and most other popular podcatchers. It recounts the life and work of Abdu'l-Baha, the son of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith, and the authorized interpreter of His teachings.

He was loved by Muslims, Jews, Christians, and many more. He lived a life of service to humanity. As I sat and listened to each episode, each one made me cry to myself silently as I would think what it would be like to have been in his presence, or if I could live up to his example, and very much reminded me that I haven't. I really cannot express the amount of love I felt just from stories of people who had encountered Him.

I'm not trying to push a sales pitch for the Baha'i faith; It is a chance to hear what kind of people we can strive to be, no matter our faith or even lack of it. Honestly, it is worth listening to and a significant part of our history. I hope you enjoy it.

Ambassador to Humanity

podcasts

Today I stumbled upon a great little movie I didn't know existed. The story of a young Pakistani boy in England whose life is inspired by Bruce Springsteen. I really did enjoy it. If you are a Springsteen fan or like stories about immigrant families you will really enjoy it I think.

Blinded by the Light

movies