June 2026

Dear Friends,

As we approach the summer months of Michigan, I have been reflecting on the ideas of Work vs. Recreation vs… leisure. We have an idea of what work is here at The Cottage. Recreation or amusements– I can name a few (baseball, apple pie, napping on the beach). 

But leisure? Isn’t that the same as recreation, resting? 

Aristotle viewed leisure as a cultivation of virtuous activity in mind, spirit, and character. He drew a distinction between recreation and leisure in that pleasures of the flesh are not included in his definition. (So… napping is out?)

 Complete newsletter here.

Twentieth century philosopher, Josef Pieper, posits that leisure is actually the very basis of culture. He wrote a book about exactly this: Leisure: The basis of culture. He says leisure is an attitude of the mind and a condition of the soul that fosters a capacity to perceive the reality of the world. (A nap would physically foster my capacity to perceive the reality of the world…) Then, he goes on to say that our bourgeois world of total labor has vanquished leisure, and issues a startling warning: Unless we regain the art of silence and insight, the ability for non-activity, unless we substitute true leisure for our hectic amusements, we will destroy our culture — and ourselves. YIKES. OK.

Speaking of destroying ourselves (how bleak! Let's guard against it!)… Anyone cracked into the recently published first encyclical by Pope Leo XIV, MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS (safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence)? 

Whew, well there are two beach reads for you to celebrate the warmer weather, sun ripened strawberries, and hammock season!

Let’s keep talking about what it means to be human! Leisure!

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POEM FOR JUNE

The Humble Bee

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1847)

Burly dozing humblebee!

Where thou art is clime for me.

Let them sail for Porto Rique,

Far-off heats through seas to seek,

I will follow thee alone,

Thou animated torrid zone!

Zig-zag steerer, desert-cheerer,

Let me chase thy waving lines,

Keep me nearer, me thy hearer,

Singing over shrubs and vines.

Insect lover of the sun,

Joy of thy dominion!

Sailor of the atmosphere,

Swimmer through the waves of air,

Voyager of light and noon,

Epicurean of June,

Wait I prithee, till I come

Within ear-shot of thy hum,—

All without is martyrdom.

When the south wind, in May days,

With a net of shining haze,

Silvers the horizon wall,

And, with softness touching all,

Tints the human countenance

With a color of romance,

And, infusing subtle heats,

Turns the sod to violets,

Thou in sunny solitudes,

Rover of the underwoods,

The green silence dost displace,

With thy mellow breezy bass.

Hot midsummer's petted crone,

Sweet to me thy drowsy tune,

Telling of countless sunny hours,

Long days, and solid banks of flowers,

Of gulfs of sweetness without bound

In Indian wildernesses found,

Of Syrian peace, immortal leisure,

Firmest cheer and bird-like pleasure.

Aught unsavory or unclean,

Hath my insect never seen,

But violets and bilberry bells,

Maple sap and daffodels,

Grass with green flag half-mast high,

Succory to match the sky,

Columbine with horn of honey,

Scented fern, and agrimony,

Clover, catch fly, adders-tongue,

And brier-roses dwelt among;

All beside was unknown waste,

All was picture as he passed.

Wiser far than human seer,

Yellow-breeched philosopher!

Seeing only what is fair,

Sipping only what is sweet,

Thou dost mock at fate and care,

Leave the chaff and take the wheat,

When the fierce north-western blast

Cools sea and land so far and fast,

Thou already slumberest deep,—

Woe and want thou canst out-sleep,—

Want and woe which torture us,

Thy sleep makes ridiculous.

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

MEET OUR MEMBERS

Meet Jacob Rolf! A Cottage supporter from the “just a dream” and “how do we make it happen?” days, now a joyful tenant (aka community builder) with an office upstairs. Speaking of community, Jacob is apt to help you find your next community… He’s been a realtor for 12 years, the past five building Pure Mitten Homes with his buddy and partner John McMahon. Outside of finding others places to build their lives, Jacob keeps busy with his five kiddos, especially this season coaching his son’s baseball team. As Jacob reflects on his family and business and working out of the Cottage, he sees the Holy Spirit at work– teaching him God’s care for not only himself but those he encounters day to day. Jacob’s motto is “it’s OK to be uncomfortable, because that is where the Holy Spirit can do his best work.” Stay in it, my friends! Let’s go!

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COTTAGE & OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS

Opportunities for Leisure

Tues June 2 - Trivia Night @ Roots Brew Shop, 7pm (team sign ups start at 6:30p)

Sat June 13 - 58th Annual Dyer-Ives Poetry Competition Reception @ GRPL Main Branch, 2-3pm

Thurs June 19 - Tome Raiders Book Club @ Cellar Bird Books, 7pm Tackle some thick volumes and discuss with others building their page count stamina! (this month’s book is The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne)

Do you have an upcoming event to share, please email us (hello@cottageonturner.com) by the third Thursday of the month to be included in the upcoming month’s newsletter.

Complete newsletter here.