“Can I pray that for the world as well?”
Plus the (surprising) best podcast I’m loving lately…
In case you haven’t heard the hype, Foster by Claire Keegan is a one-sitting masterpiece: to be drunk deeply and savored after. Ditto for her wonder Small Things Like These which I read during December and cannot forget.
“I used to pray that God would transform me so I would stop fumbling that last thirty percent. And now? I pray for love to saturate my apologies. And sometimes for my failures to be softer. Can I pray that for the world as well?” On parenting and forgiveness, Palestine and Israel from
: Seventy Percent Hope.The Better Part podcast came to me via Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, but anyone who’s looking for a simple/profound reflection on the weekly Gospel will find it here. Three short episodes each week, reflecting on the same story with 3-6, 6-9, and 9-12 year-olds. (Dare I confess this is better than most homilies I hear?)
If you’re cleaning up your own inner workings this Lent, you might enjoy this tiny mouse tidying up a Welsh house (let me know if you need a NYT gift article to view).
“You think you’re too small to make a difference? Tell me about it.” From Kim Stafford’s Advice from a Raindrop. Speaking of poetry, I never miss Sara Kay's weekly Lenten poetry series: she sends out one poem each Sunday with a brief reflection, and you can sign up here for free if you're interested.
Speaking of Lent: I’m always curious to learn of creative Lenten practices. Someone I know gave up complaining. Another is giving up snap judgments. Got one to share?
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I gave up driving over the speed limit one year - that was hard 😅😂
Another year my husband and I gave up driving within our bike-friendly town. Going to church took thirty minutes longer than usual, so it required more thoughtful planning.
The past few years, I’ve taken on a practice of sitting outside (weather permitting) for five minutes doing nothing (although this year, I’m bird-watching) and then weeding for ten minutes. I don’t do much gardening or yard work usually, so it’s a change in rhythm and somehow reminds me that I’m a body.
One year I vowed to do 3 things each day that I didn’t want to do. It gave me insight into the things I tend to avoid and why…