My dearest dearies,
I have been absorbed with the world beyond pencil skirts and lipstick lately — although I did go to Sephora last night (sound of heavenly choir) and get some lip gloss and other goodies because no matter what is going on, I want to feel ready to show up for it.
Lately, though. Oh my word, my Lord. I said recently that 2014 was an annus horribilis (not personally but the world’s brokenness and evil) and a friend who is eternally optimistic and grounded in liberal theology replied that 2014 was a good year because so many social justice movements were working in force for change. Maybe it’s an ethnic thing, but I can’t adjust to a happy demeanor. I’m a melancholic Russian Jew in my soul; influenced by decades of marinating in New England Puritanism and 19th century Transcendentalism and liberation theology and Jungian archetypal psychology, and I’m just seeing reptilian brain fear driving individuals and institutions.
Lord, stop the fear and cure the stupidity.
One thing I am doing right now that is lovely is to read Marilynne Robinson’s newest novel, Lila. It is all about loneliness and shame and seeking to heal through relationships, and not healing but being a little bit comforted. I am loving it so much because no one is miraculously saved through romance, and no one magically understands each other or “becomes one” by virtue of holy matrimony or desperately longing to connect. They just walk down the road holding hands and that’s good enough to help them bear their pain.
Here’s a wonderful NY Times interview with Marilynne Robinson that I think you might really like. I know I did.
So how about that? No beauty tips today (give or get yourself a facial before Christmas Eve, though, okay?), just some reading material and a big, juicy BTFM hug and prayers over your beloved heads for this Sunday morning. Go be beautiful. MWAH.
Thanks for the book (and interview) recommendation. Peace to you in your preparations and joy to you in your leadership these days. Holding you (and all this dark world) in the Light.
I just saw the worst ever photo of a colleague in the pulpit wearing some kind of Christmas tree hat with lights on it that actually went on. You would be totally horrified. No dignity, no respect, no wonder people don’t take us seriously.
“Lord, stop the fear and cure the stupidity.”
Brilliant clarity.
I will pray this with you.
What a wonderful interview. My favorite part:
“Excellent people, well-meaning people, their lives do not yield what they hoped. You know? This doesn’t diminish, at all, the fact that their dignity is intact. But their grief . . .â€
“. . . is enormous,†I said.
Just finished Lila, too, and loved it. I have been reading her essays recently,too, and wish I had found them when I was still preaching. A church member gave me “Abide With Me” which is another book dealing with the hard places in and out of church life — I found it a very healing book.