At The 11th Hour for the (Almost) 11th Month
Alternatively titled: this newsletter almost didn’t happen. Like half the kids' costumes.
It’s been a long week, and we haven’t even hit peak candy consumption for the children. So I will not even try to summon a theme for this week’s Holy Labor—just enjoy the grab bag as Halloween prep.
Read
If you want to dive into Brian Doyle’s work (after I wrote about him this week), start with a few favorite essays here, here, here, and here. Then try One Long River of Song or The Thorny Grace of It or So Much The Best of Us.
I’m still chewing on the latest column from Tish Harrison Warren at the New York Times on how we need casual conversation as part of healing our polarization.
Last week I dove into The Hate U Give which was remarkable. Now I’m tearing through The Library Book and this is not news but whew, can Susan Orlean write.
Listen
Two thought-provoking podcasts I heard this week: a roundtable on sustainability in Native communities (and language and leadership) and this On Being interview with Mike Rose on work, vocation, education, and social class.
I have these on Spotify repeat: Jonathan Ogden (thanks to K.J.Ramsey), May Erlewine (thanks to Jess Rozga-DeBoni), and Brandi Carlile’s new album.
Join
I signed up for this virtual conversation with Don Saliers and Emily Saliers from the Collegeville Institute on Spirituality, Song, and Social Justice. I was lucky enough to take a course on theological aesthetics with Dr. Saliers in grad school (!) and lucky enough to discover the Indigo Girls at the ripe old age of 12, so I will have zero chill during this entire Zoom call.
Tell us what you’re reading, joining, or listening to lately?
Peace,
Laura
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Find my books here: Everyday Sacrament | Grieving Together | Prayers for Pregnancy & Birth | To Bless Our Callings | Living Your Discipleship
Oh! Jonathan Ogden was and remains essential listening when my love affair with God goes through a dry spell. Another dear voice of love and real life with Jesus is singer songwriter Jess Ray. Enjoy!
Oh my heart, Brian Doyle. I discovered him in early 2018 and I remember binging his columns at the American Scholar at all hours of the night when I was up with a baby. I was so heartbroken to realize that he had died before I even started reading him! His words are so inspiring and healing to me. I think he is to my 30s what Madeleine L'Engle was to my 20s; a voice that brings the miraculous into my mundane, and reminds me to keep the faith when I want to storm out the doors in a rage.
The Hate U Give was indeed remarkable. I just finished the first book in The Mysterious Benedict Society, which was a delight and I can't wait to continue the series. Currently reading Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and HOW AM I 35 AND HAVE NOT READ THIS?!? I cannot blame anyone else; I've heard of it for years and never gotten around to it.
Currently watching Ted Lasso with my husband and we both love it, which is rare for us (he tends to like dark prestige shows, I like sitcoms :-) We're almost done with the first season and we're enjoying taking it slowly so we can talk about it.
Currently listening to a lot of choral music (The Kings Singers and VOCES8 are in heavy rotation) and piano music, specifically George Winston and Joel Clarkson.