Slow down. Look up.

Lifting our heads—and lifting each other—is the only way we keep going

Each week I round up 5 things to share with you: books, essays, poems, art, music, prayers, podcasts, anything good. Today must be the forty-billionth Wednesday in January, so I hope you find some spark of light here.

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1. Feeling discouraged lately? Me, too. Grateful to find my own words speaking back to me today at (in)courage: The Lifter of My Head:

“That kitchen epiphany happened years ago, but I can still hear the quiet, loving words echo in my mind. Slow down. Look up.

Since that day I have carried this name for God like a prayer in my pocket during the hardest moments of my life: grief, loss, and suffering. If this name for God were true, then it had to be true always. Even here, even now, You are still the lifter of my head.”

Want to know two unlikely sources of inspiration for that reflection? Check out the poem The Raincoat by Ada Limón and the children’s book Rory the Dinosaur: Me and My Dad. Somehow they’re almost the same story. Lovely, daily reminders that the Lifter of Our Heads has been lifting us through others all along.

2. This conversation with Katie McGrady at Like A Mother on appreciating life after cancer was pure joy. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

3. “Boredom is when you do the things that make you feel like you have life under control. Not being bored is why you always feel busy, why you keep ‘not having time’ to take a package to the post office or work on your novel. You do have time—you just spend it on your phone. By refusing to ever let your brain rest, you are choosing to watch other people’s lives through a screen at the expense of your own.” This is clearly a personal attack but also a great read: You Might Just Have To Be Bored by Kate Lindsay at

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4. Tuck this away for when you need the reminder that sometimes God shows up right next to us: Take Me to Church: The Pew Liturgy by Paige Rien.

5. A proven antidote to despair is helping someone else. SO MANY people need prayers and support right now. Check out this growing list of needs at the latest

   Not A Caring Bridge, But A Compassion Brigade
   update, and pick one place to give if you can? Mutual aid is powerful. (I just made the mistake of reading the news, got mad, came back here, and gave again—so can recommend that, too.)

Snapped this photo on Epiphany. Trying hard to find the light above and below.

This post contains affiliate links. Also righteous anger and deep prayers for peace.