Create, Pray, Love
I'm sorry: that title is still as catchy as “We Don’t Talk about Bruno"
First, I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be doing 3 more sessions on Create in the Chaos in 2022. These monthly, hour-long live sessions have helped so many of you jumpstart your creativity in the midst of parenting, work, or caregiving.
Your enthusiasm inspired me to create 3 more sessions:
Feb. 7—Find Your Voice: Authenticity, Vulnerability & Social Media
March 7—Find Your People: Community, Networking & Platforms
April 25—Find a Home for Your Work: Pitching, Publishing & Earning
We’ve already got a wonderful group gathered from last fall, so I hope you’ll join us for round two! Find out more and get the bundle discount for all 3 sessions here.
Speaking of creativity
Enjoy this thoughtful essay by Stephanie Paulsell on the sounds of her mother’s typewriter.
Harness your creative energy and check out Steph Smith’s Slant Letter newsletter if you want to write more/better in the New Year.
You might also love Maria Bowler’s newsletter The Contemplative Creative—especially her anti-advice column.
Check out this beautiful reflection by Meg McElwee about the twelve-year project: on motherhood, creativity, and how long it takes to grow into a new identity.
I found such joy in this conversation with Allison Sully on her Sinner Saint Sister podcast in this episode on creating in chaos.
A few good reads
My spiritual director suggested When God is Silent by Barbara Brown Taylor. I found it a brilliant reflection on silence, words, and prayer.
Karianna Frey’s new 90-day devotional is on my nightstand. If you don’t known Karianna’s work, her recent podcast episode with Sarah Ku on the intersection of ethnic identity and faith is a delightful place to start.
I’ve also dipped back into Madeleine L’Engle’s And It Was Good: Reflections on Beginnings. Fitting for the New Year and a great follow-up for all who joined us on our virtual retreat: such an energizing time of prayer and reflection to kick off 2022!
January is the perfect time to ponder what image of God might guide you over the next 12 months. My latest column for Catholic News Service asks this question, thanks to the experience of watching our middle son embrace the Sacrament of Reconciliation with the Good Shepherd.
I’d love to know what you’re reading or praying these days. (Also, if you’ve got good music in your ears that’s NOT the Encanto soundtrack, I beg you to share?)
Peace,
Laura
Find my books here: Everyday Sacrament | Grieving Together | Prayers for Pregnancy & Birth | To Bless Our Callings | Living Your Discipleship
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Currently reading The Lifegiving Table by Sally Clarkson because she is so helpful to me as a motherhood mentor and Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. Caste is so . . . different from what I thought it would be? It's not that I don't like it (I do, inasmuch as it is possible to like a book about the systemic ways that humans are horrible to each other), or that I don't buy her arguments (they are well researched and compelling). I don't find it stylistically unappealing, other than that she doesn't number her footnotes, which is a minor point not worth quibbling over. I truly don't know why it's not sitting right with me. I'm only halfway through so maybe the reason will become clear later on.
I don't know if you like country/folk music, but I've been spending a lot of time with the Women of Folk podcast on Spotify. If Emmylou Harris, Brandi Carlile, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Gillian Welch, etc., are your jam you might like it, it has introduced me to a lot of new songs and artists! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWSIcimvN18p3?si=3d61becfa58f4289
I sure to enjoy hearing about the Good Shepard approach. I wish I had been Catholic and known about this when my girls were young. Thanks as always for your words. I look forward to them every week.