Trust the language of the Word made flesh

Things I can’t stop thinking about

Out here doing the Lord’s work.

1. “The situation in the Gaza Strip is increasingly worrying and painful. I renew my heartfelt appeal to allow the entry of dignified humanitarian aid and to put an end to the hostilities, the heart-rending price of which is being paid by children, the elderly and the sick.” Pope Leo XIV’s first General Audience this morning. Worth a whole read.

2. I was deeply moved by your responses to my last essay. It took a long simmer to share but the moment felt right to remember how resurrection is for here. In response, one of you shared the painting “Resurrecting” by Brian Kershisnik, whose work I’ve enjoyed over the years—including the delightful “Jesus & the angry babies” and his stunning Nativity.

3. “Yet witness how many curved stories Jesus told when people asked him straight questions…” The whole essay by

   Barbara Brown Taylor
   is a marvel: Word Made Flesh.

4. “Guide me to what is most real, because you know, O Lord, how unsuited my heart is for the artificial.” We might all need a prayer for trying to stay off the internet more. (As always with

   Nadia Bolz-Weber
   , salty language ahead.)

5. Want more space to think/write/dream this summer? Two great options:

   Lore Wilbert
   is hosting a communal quit from social media that sounds fantastic. I’ll be jumping back on The Writing Table for a daily communal writing session on Zoom. You show up and write in the company of other writers (cameras off!) and I was blown away to find out how well this method works. They also host a free Writing Table session every Friday if you want to try it out.

Can I ask a favor? If you enjoy these round-ups or my essays, would you forward them to a friend who might be interested? Word-of-mouth is an author’s best friend.