Writings of Dennis Mitton and the Dancing Calf
You have found it.
The home of The Church of the Dancing Calf. It’s three things, really: it’s the place where I put every scrap I can find of everything I’ve ever written. It’s the place where I post regularly about things I’m interested in, and it’s a place where the Dancing Calf has free rein, kicking his heels in joy, and making lots of noise.
The site
It’s not easy to navigate. Anything I write gets a place in the library, in order of publication. I periodically rehash and maybe edit or add to what I’ve previously written, so things often creep up a second or third time in the library feed. If you’re lost or want something specific, use the search button in the sidebar. Or just keep poking. Or email.
On Writing
I write lots. I break lots of rules. Even when every bit of blogging advice I’ve ever read tells me to laser in on one infinitesimal topic and drill down as far as I can. Instead, I write about whatever I feel like that day. I call it the Da Vinci Disease: I’m interested in almost everything, though a dilettante at most of it. Down at the docks we call this being a ‘jack of all trades and a master of none’’.
On Christianity
I’m most interested in Christian things or in Christian perspectives. In one sense, every question and every answer is theology, but what most interests me is discovering how to live a transcendent life with the transcendent G of the universe. Along with faith, I’m interested in books, writing, and making things. And in science. I’m a molecular biologist by training and have been fascinated by evolution since I was six. These days, I spend time thinking about how to respond to nuclear emergencies. My juxtaposition of science and faith confuses some people, but I live and study and think about things based on Augustine’s dictum that all truth is G’s truth.
The photo above strikes me as a picture of real Christianity. We’ve – even or especially Christians – come to fight about everything. We’ve come to separate because of who we want to lead us. “I’m for Peter,” some say. “And I’m for Paul.” Insert whomever you want here. If Jesus still weeps, he does so because his bride fights over the silliest of things and forgets what’s important. For that, we – the same Christians – should ask for forgiveness every day.
On Money
If you honor me with your email address, I’ll let you know when I publish something and will send you an occasional newsletter. Every now and then, I give away free books, too.
Finally, I would love your support. If you are so inclined, you can donate to me in the right-hand sidebar where it says Donate. Weird how it works that way. If you don’t donate, I still like you and will still be nice to you, and you can still access everything.
Monthly giveaway
Once a month or thereabouts, I give away a book. These are books I’ve read that will likely sport marginalia and underlined sentences. I have boxes of these things and fill a cubby on a bookshelf with them. Around the first of each month, I ask the girls to get a book off the shelf and mail it to a randomly selected follower. The girls are mostly drawn to bright colors and cartoons. It might be about woodwork or a writer’s biography, or it might be a piece of classic or new literature. Maybe you’ll love it, or maybe you’ll use it to shore up your office garbage can.
I do charge for this benevolence. The cost is your email address. If you just want to get it over with, go sign up as a member when the pop-up appears. Signing up also makes said pop-up remain hidden. Of course, you can quit any time you like. It’s not like I’m a tyrant.