The deepest truth I know about love
Plus new music, tiny art, and good books to get us through
As a writer, I cannot overstate the irony of spending years of my life writing books—and then mere minutes of my life dashing off an Instagram caption, which more people have now read, shared, saved, and loved than any book I’ll ever write. (If nearly one million folks want to buy my books, that would be great, too, but I’m not holding my breath.) To see what struck such a chord, here’s the Instagram original and a Substack version. In short: Here’s the least romantic thing you’ll read all day and the deepest truth I know about love. Pick a partner who can sit in a hospital room with you.
Our pandemic baby turns FIVE next week. How? TRULY! My friend Jacqui shared the latest Tiny Desk Concert, and I am now smitten. “Yasmin Williams is a fingerstyle guitarist who taps, slaps and slides up and down the fretboard of her instrument with a commanding sense of scenery that flickers between the strings. Storytellers build worlds; at the Tiny Desk, Williams invites us into hers.” You can also listen to her non-stop on Spotify like me.
Need something beautiful to brighten these dark days? I found Meg Fatharly’s tiny collages on Substack. Seeing her hold a whole world of art in her hand brings the smallest, strangest, sweetest comfort.
I’ve been listening to Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, and it’s the perfect antidote to the cruelty coming out of the current administration. All flourishing is mutual, the author reminds us, and her voice is pure balm. Find the audiobook from Bookshop, Amazon, or your local library—libraries need our support more than ever.
Speaking of Bookshop.org, I’m working to break my own Amazon Prime habit (for obvious oligarch reasons), so I’ve gathered my recommended reads from the last two years here instead. If you’re new to The Holy Labor, you can find many of my favorites and my friends’ books at Bookshop now (and my own books, too!)
A quick reminder about I AM: A Pilgrimage Through Lent
If you missed the winding road, here’s the shortcut: each Saturday in Lent and Holy Week, I’ll send paid subscribers a reflection on one of the I AM statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John—including Scripture, essays, prayers, and practices to guide you through Lent. (Some of you are planning to use it in small groups, which I love!) I AM will be a pilgrimage for us to take together, no matter where we are. We need deep prayer right now.
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Thank you! I had never heard of Yasmin Williams until now. Her music speaks to me deeply and peacefully.
I recently listened to Braiding Sweetgrass. It was beautiful! I like what you said about it being a balm. So true.