Book Review of The Soul's Slow Ripening, by Christine Valters Paintner

Review of The Soul’s Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred, by Christine Valters Paintner

Reviewed by Kerry Greenhill
June 8, 2022 

I have not yet been to Ireland, but I have long been enchanted by the imagery of lush green landscapes, and I am drawn to the theological themes and poetry of Celtic Christian prayers and practices. So I came to Christine Valters Paintner’s book, The Soul’s Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred, with an expectation of delight, spiritual resonance, and familiarity. I found all three, but I was also pleasantly surprised by the uniqueness of some of the Celtic practices she describes.

The practices included here are Thresholds, Dreaming, Peregrinatio and Seeking Your Place of Resurrection, Blessing Each Moment, Soul Friendship, Encircling, Walking the Rounds, Learning by Heart, Solitude and Silence, Seasonal Cycles, Landscape as Theophany, and Three Essential Things. Some of these I have learned about, studied, and practiced, in spiritual formation classes or out of personal interest. Others, such as Walking the Rounds, were quite new to me, and fascinating.

I found myself in a hurry to try to take it all in, to learn about everything as quickly as possible. But this is a book to savor, to read slowly and with intention, pausing frequently to reflect, to digest, to engage the practices suggested in each chapter. Paintner has written an introduction to these specific Celtic Christian practices that has the contemplative spirit of invitation and gentle attentiveness one might experience in spiritual direction, or on a retreat. She provides intellectual and historical background, personal experience and anecdotes, and guidance in how to engage the practices in creative and embodied ways.

Paintner also engages each practice through the lens of discernment, “a way of listening to our lives and the world around us and responding to the invitations that call us into deeper alignment with our soul’s deep desires and the desires God has for us” (p. xvii). As someone who seems to be always in discernment about whether I am “on the right path,” or living in the center of God’s desires for my life, I think I will be rereading these chapters over time, to let the poetry and deep spiritual insight wash over me again when I need to be reminded of the grace and beauty of the journey.

I especially recommend The Soul’s Slow Ripening for lovers of Celtic Christianity, practitioners of Christian spiritual formation, contemplatives, people seeking to discern some question or choice in life, and fans of Irish history and culture, but would not hesitate to lend this out to someone with no experience in any of these subjects, who was merely curious or intrigued by the title or cover. Well worth the time to read.

You can find an excerpt from the book here: https://mikemorrell.org/2022/01/the-souls-slow-ripening-christine-valters-paintner/ 

And the book can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Souls-Slow-Ripening-Practices-Seeking/dp/1932057102/

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

 

Book Review: Call and Response: Litanies for Congregational Prayer, by Fran Pratt

Call and Response: Litanies for Congregational Prayer, by Fran Pratt (Outpost Press © 2018)

Reviewed by Kerry Greenhill

Fran Pratt’s Call and Response: Litanies for Congregational Prayer is a meaningful addition to any pastor or worship leader’s bookshelf of resources. She brings the passion of a convert to liturgical worship, with energy and fresh, contemporary language to lead a congregation in coming into God’s presence with new awareness.

The introduction (“Or, How Liturgy Saved My Life”) beautifully summarizes the power of written corporate liturgy for spiritual formation and stimulating the prayer lives of individuals and the church as a whole. Pratt’s litanies cover a range of spiritual needs, social issues, and liturgical seasons, from Litanies for Looking Inward, Looking Outward, and Coping, to Church Rituals, Communal Worship, Advent, and Lent.

 Theologically, the liturgies will speak to a wide range of Christian traditions, as many include scripture woven into the prayers. The author offers a mix of God’s transcendence and immanence, and social issues include attention to racism (in the US context), and victims of sexual violence, where Jesus accepting “all genders” is as close as the author comes to affirming LGBTQ+ people.

A minor distraction for me was seeing the vocative “O” (as in, “we pray to you, O God”) rendered as the interjection “Oh.” I can’t tell whether this was an intentional attempt to update seemingly archaic language, or an editorial oversight.

Over all, the content is powerful, authentic, poetic prayer that works for both individual and communal use, and I highly recommend it to anyone planning worship.

+++

Disclaimer: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.

Link Love:

Call and Response on Amazon
Fran Pratt’s Website
Fran Pratt on Instagram
Fran Pratt on Facebook
Fran Pratt on Twitter

#CallAndResponse 

Book Review: Pray Like a Gourmet

Pray Like a Gourmet: Creative Ways to Feed Your Soul, by David Brazzeal
Reviewed by Kerry Greenhill

I am a prayer book junkie. I love books on prayer and spirituality – I love buying them, love reading them, and sometimes I even put them into practice. Sometimes. So while I liked the premise of Pray Like a Gourmet: Creative Ways to Feed Your Soul, I didn’t expect to learn much that was new, or gain insights I hadn’t heard before. I was pleasantly surprised.

The extended metaphor of prayer as a meal we can enjoy in God’s company works on many levels. I have to admit, the first couple chapters I was resisting the author’s style and found it a little cheesy. But that may say more about my inherent skepticism than a flaw in the writing.

The insight I found most intriguing is the idea that you can plan your prayer time – like a menu – based on types of prayer (praise, confession, lament, joining, etc.) and modes of expression (writing, music, movement). I realized that my unexamined expectation was that you schedule your prayer time, then it just happens – maybe with words, maybe with silence, but spontaneously, as the Spirit leads. I like the idea that the Spirit can lead you through planning a richer, more diverse, and more creative combination of approaches than whatever your default is.

I also appreciated the specific suggestions for how to experiment with the different types and modes of prayer. There are lots of ideas for practical application here, along with sound theology that leaves room for readers of a variety of perspectives.

I love the high-quality paper and full-color artwork that graces the pages. One minor frustration was that some of the text is in yellow or orange, making it difficult to read. Fortunately, these are generally only a word or phrase here and there, so it doesn't interfere significantly with the book's readability.


Ultimately, I found Pray Like a Gourmet to be an interesting, accessible read that would work well for individual or group study. I commend it to all who are seeking to expand or deepen their prayer life.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.

When You Stop Walking on Water

For those stepping out of parish ministry

The rhythms are different
this side of the pulpit.
Like walking ashore
after hours
or weeks
on rocking waves,
your sea legs may persist awhile,
unsteadying your gait
and haunting your dreams
with the sensation of motion
in the midst of unmoving crowds.

You will look up at the night sky
and forget you do not have to plot a course
between the rocks and the reef,
charting seasons and casting stories
by force of longstanding habit.

You may not miss the grueling hours
or the demands of captaining your crew,
the churn of stomach in stormy waters
or the constant vigilance for dangers hidden
just below the surface,
but at times you will look out upon the shining, shifting ocean
and find yourself unmoored by dazzling splendor
or grim eternity,
the tides that keep on changing
while you are standing still.

There are blessings in this landlubber's life,
as all the throngs who never went to sea
can easily testify.
But have patience with yourself
as you relearn how to walk on solid ground.
For you have seen beyond the horizon
and you yet carry with you
the knowledge of winds and weather,
rising and falling,
harnessing the elements
to move through time and space.

Here, too, is Sabbath
and starlight
and soaring toward mystery,
even in stillness.
Even on land.

© 2014 Kerry Greenhill

A Blessing for Those Beginning a New Ministry Appointment

to be read with the tongue positioned gently in the cheek

May your car start easily and your keys turn smoothly to open the church doors;
may your accompanist arrive early and your liturgist be on time.
May you accurately gauge the height of chancel steps and the length of your robe,
and may your microphone amplify your voice without ear-splitting feedback.
May your sermon notes remain in order and your mouth not get too dry;
may your insights find a landing place in ears and hearts and minds.
May your congregation welcome you with grace and hospitality,
and wait until you’ve learned their names before triangulating you in their drama.
May your preaching be genuine and your own heart be fully present,
and may the Holy Mystery surround and fill and meet you in this new place,
today and each day that you are here.

© 2014 Kerry Greenhill

Water Breaks

Another new year, another renewed commitment to writing. But this year I have a plan, and even with a baby on the way, I really will make it happen!

Here's a prayer-poem for the Baptism of Jesus, which is this Sunday. 

Water Breaks

Frozen, it expands

until it cannot be contained

by pipes too fixed and firm

in their places. 

Rushing, it roars 

through canyons and down streambeds

washing away dust, 

mud, rock, road,

truck, house, church, 

town. 

Pulsing, it pours

or trickles down the legs

after months of suspending 

a growing miracle

as another woman 

crosses the threshold

toward meeting her descending child. 

Lapping, it opens

as a man's head emerges

from the quiet murky mystery

into shimmering, dove-shaped

light. 

Dripping and dancing, it blesses

infant, child, youth, adult

with the grace that goes before us, 

tearing down walls 

between sisters and brothers,

smashing the chains of alienation,

anger, judgment, fear, 

addiction, apathy, despair,

and death. 

May the water within you

and around you

break 

in ways that make life

and wholeness

more possible each day. 

Permission is granted to use this prayer-poem in worship. Please acknowledge with (c) Kerry Greenhill, 2014.

New job

Last month, I started a new job. For those of you playing along at home, that's 3 places of employment, which is my new excuse for not blogging (or doing much non-work-related writing) over the past few weeks. In addition to serving as Associate Pastor at Highlands UMC (the position that ends next week), and Communications Manager for Family Voices Colorado, I am now the Field Coordinator for Imagine No Malaria in the Rocky Mountain Conference of The United Methodist Church.

I'm excited to be part of Imagine No Malaria's extraordinary and historic work to end preventable deaths and suffering from malaria in Africa, where  a child dies from malaria every 60 seconds. That's far too many children who don't live to see adulthood, but the death rate is already half what it was just a few years ago.

The United Methodist Church is partnering with the UN Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in developing a comprehensive approach that includes the insecticide-treated bed nets that made Nothing But Nets such a successful campaign, and adds other prevention measures (draining standing water where the mosquitoes that spread malaria breed), plus treatment by stocking hospitals and clinics with rapid diagnostic kits and effective medications, education on how to use bed nets and the importance of seeking treatment quickly through trained community health workers, communication by radio and cell phone to raise public awareness, and advocacy for continued global health funding to fight these diseases of poverty.

As a denomination, we are working to raise $75 million by 2015. The Rocky Mountain Conference share of that is $1.2 million, which seems like a lot until you learn that it works out to just $20 for every member of every United Methodist Church in our region (Colorado, Utah, most of Wyoming). I am confident that we can achieve this goal, and it is my hope that we will surpass it with the enthusiasm of a people who believe that Jesus came so that all people might have abundant life in God's name (John 10:10).

If you're interested in learning more about this ministry of healing and saving lives, you can follow the campaign in Rocky Mountain at our blog, like the RMC Facebook page, or contact me at kerry [at] rmcumc [dot] com.

We now return to your regularly scheduled programming.

Kyrie eleison: on the Newtown, Connecticut, shooting

My heart breaks for the children, families, and community of Newtown, Connecticut today. Although I do not believe God causes or intends violence in the world, the phrase "Kyrie eleison," ancient Greek for "Lord, have mercy," keeps running through my mind. In a more extended form, this is my prayer:

Mothering God, bring comfort to those who mourn. God of justice and mercy, teach us what changes we can make in our society to prevent such tragedies, and give us the courage to persevere in the face of opposition. Holy One, remind us once more that we are all your children, all sisters and brothers in one human family, all inextricably woven together in the fabric of creation, and transform us by that knowledge to regard one another with love. In the name of Jesus, who was called the Prince of Peace, I pray. Amen.

A quick Google search for "school shooting" yields 163,000,000 results. After the Wikipedia entry for the category, the names of places display like a devastating roll call: Amish school shooting. Rio de Janeiro. Emsdetten. Kauhajoki. Rocori. Maryland. Ohio. Although it has yet to reach the top 10 results, today's tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, leaving 18 children (kindergarteners) and 10 adults dead, is sure to show up soon. A friend posted on Twitter that there have been 31 school shootings since Columbine - and that doesn't include movie theaters, Sikh temples, camps, malls, and other places that should be safe.

I have opinions about what we as a society should do at the policy level, to make mental health services more available and guns, especially automatic or semi-automatic weapons, less so. And I have theological beliefs about what God desires for humankind (abundant life, justice, love, wholeness). And I am so grateful for my friends and colleagues who are making eloquent arguments that unite those two arenas in urgent calls to action - because I do not believe that prayer, by itself, is sufficient response. I believe God calls us to put prayer into action, to help bring about the kin'dom of heaven on earth.

But right now, I have a sermon to finish writing, about light in the darkness, about longing for something brighter and muddling through, about choosing joy in the midst of struggle. And so I pray that if, today, you need to turn off the news to be kind to yourself, to show love for your family, to cultivate peace in your own heart, that you will do that. And I pray that we will engage in conversation, as friends and family, as communities, as a nation and as a global society, about how to care for those with mental illness, how to stay connected to people who are troubled so they do not reach the extremes of despair and isolation, how to protect children and other vulnerable people, how to prevent violence and offer healing to those who carry the scars of violence in body, mind, or spirit, and how together we can move toward a vision of a world of justice, peace, compassion, and joy.

God of the Whirlwind (a prayer-poem from a safe distance)

Great, generative, expansive God,
we live in this universe beyond comprehension
on a planet we sometimes think we own,
and we narrow our vision to human-sized concerns:
paychecks and home repair, love and betrayal,
the silence of infertility or the chaotic clutter of children's clamor.
We forget how wide and unbending the continent,
how vast and all-conceiving the sea.
Yet our sacred stories bear witness that you are not uncaring,
that the sparrow no less than the sperm whale
is worthy of your fierce tenderness.
We are like the blades of grass
that flourish for a season and then vanish,
like the crimson sulfur amber leaves
that drift from outstretched limbs
to re-enter the cycle of death and transformation.
These winds, wild whirling clouds and whipping rain
that lash and batter land, sea, islands, trees,
beaches and buildings,
landmarks and lilies --
they do not speak of grace or blessing,
love or life abundant,
as far as we can see,
and so we pray to be kept out of their way,
safe from harm in your embrace.
Yet when there will be suffering,
for lilies and grass and sparrows and whales,
who are we to exempt ourselves from it?
Just one more species crying out for preservation,
when all along we have not protected others
(not our sisters who are beaten or our brothers who are bullied,
not our children who are addicted or our mothers who are neglected,
not our fathers who are trained to kill and be killed,
or our grandparents who are left alone without memory,
not even our rivers or trees or sea or sky,
who provide for our needs world without end amen).
We seek your mercy, since we see you as all-powerful,
but perhaps what we need even more is to hear
in the silence after the storm
your still, small voice
inviting us to pray
with our hands, feet, eyes, mouths,
hearts, bodies, and souls,
that the world will be made whole
that the world will be made holy
that the hole will be made well
and the well would hold out hope
for the hopeless and the powerless and the small and the still
that we all would be made one
in sorrow, in joy, in struggle, in healing,
that the whirlwind would bring no death
without new life
and that each life would be seen as precious
in the whole whirling cycle of resurrection.
May our hearts be broken open
by the breaking of others,
and our lives be made whole
by humbling ourselves to hold the broken.
In the name of the teacher healer prophet mystic
rebel servant leader king,
may it be so and ever so
in the world of the whirlwind
and the swirl of the Spirit.
Amen.

Fires in Colorado

Here in the Denver area, we have had smoky haze in the air for a couple weeks, and temperatures near or above 100F for almost a week now, but I'm trying to remain thankful since we are not in any danger from wildfire. Colorado is not the only state with fires burning, but there are several burning here at the moment, and a couple that are doing terrible damage to residential areas.

As far as I have read, there has only been one life lost to fires so far (the High Park Fire, west of Fort Collins, in that fire's first week), which is pretty incredible given the geographic spread of the destruction. However, a couple hundred homes have burned, as well as other properties, including the United Methodist Buckhorn Camp near Bellvue, and the Flying W Ranch down near Colorado Springs. Thousands have been evacuated from their homes, some for more than 2 weeks now. I wanted to share a brief prayer for the situation, and also some links to different ways people can help.

Holding in prayer:
-those who have lost homes and belongings to the fires
-those who have been evacuated and are waiting anxiously to learn whether they have a home to go back to
-those who are fighting the fires, risking their lives to protect the lives and livelihoods of others
-those who are serving and ministering to evacuees, victims, and firefighters.

God of grace and mercy, you promise to comfort those who mourn. May we know that you are with us, not in the raging flames, but in the tears and hugs of community drawing together, in the generosity and courage of those who make sacrifices for the benefit of others, in each life saved and each moment cherished as precious and holy. I confess I am skeptical about your control of the weather, since our earth's ecosystem is so complex, and this weather that is so harmful to our communities at this moment may be needed in some other part of the world; but God of healing, here in the western US we need rain, cooler temperatures, and an end to the winds that are driving these fires. We humans are barely more than ants or blades of grass in the long view of our planet, and yet you have promised that we are beloved and precious in your sight. Have mercy on your children, O God, and answer our prayers. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

How to Help:
United Methodist Links:

• Rocky Mountain Conference United Methodist News story, links & updates 
• Donate directly to RMCUMC Disaster Relief Fund at this link (under Conference Designated Giving, select Disaster Response Fund from the drop-down menu)
• Donate to United Methodist Committee on Relief, which will get involved in recovery efforts after the first response is concluded

General Statewide Links:

• The Red Cross and Salvation Army are doing good, important work, as are many other agencies
• Help Colorado Now
• Emergency preparedness and assistance, via The Denver Post 
• Agencies taking and distributing donations, via TheDenverChannel.com

Prayer for General Conference

So much for weekly blogging... I will post life/work/ministry updates sometime in the coming weeks, but for now I just wanted to share a prayer I am working on music for, as delegates from around the world meet in Tampa, Florida, to decide matters of great importance regarding the structure, policies, practices, and official teachings of The United Methodist Church. Others are doing excellent work reporting and reflecting on the specifics of those decisions; I am following along as time allows, and holding all involved in prayer.

Prayer for #GC2012

May our conversations be holy
May every vote be bathed in prayer
May we listen well to those who are on the margins
May we always speak with care

May we hear the voices of all God's children
May we always offer grace
May we see the image of Christ in one another
When we stand face to face

May the Holy Spirit lead us forward
through this valley of tears
May God's will be done on earth as in heaven
until we find healing and peace.

Football & Jesus

I am not watching football right now. You probably don't care about that, but I should explain that currently, the Denver Broncos are playing (and getting their collective behinds handed to them by) the New England Patriots in a championship game.

I live in Denver.

I used to live in New England.

So approximately half of my social networks are posting furiously about the game, some lamenting and others rejoicing. And it's only half because I am a church nerd (see blog name), so the other half of my contacts have been re-posting or reacting to a YouTube video featuring a spoken word piece called "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus."  More on that in a minute.

Tebow fever is big here in Denver, and in many church circles. Of course his name has become a verb, and the action it refers to has become what the reporters like to call "an internet sensation," with people from all over submitting photos and videos of the knee-down prayer posture. I have heard that some people call him "Tesus," or "white Jesus," and I admit to having smiled at the jokes.  I haven't done a ton of research, but from the little I know, his life story, his unashamed commitment to his faith, his sincerity, are all touching and beautiful.  I don't think it's (entirely) his fault that a crazy cult of personality has sprung up around him (snark/satire alert on that link).  But.  I hate football, and even Tim Tebow can't change that.

Hate is a strong word, and probably not quite accurate: I hate oppression and injustice, whereas I really just find football incredibly boring.  And a shocking waste of resources.  A colleague in ministry posted on Facebook,

How about this for a bet.
If the Broncos win: I'll Tebow at church tomorrow.
If the Broncos lose: You'll seriously consider the possibility that there is a serious theological problem with a God that answers the prayers of an NFL quarterback before those of a starving child.

Which raises a number of excellent questions about what we believe is the purpose or function of prayer, whether and how God intercedes in the world, and what the relative balance of responsibility  between God and humanity is for all kinds of things, from football games to ending starvation.  What are God's priorities?  What are ours? What is the relationship between God and human beings?

Showing on another TV channel tonight is the Miss America pageant. I didn't watch, but novelist Jennifer Weiner live-tweeted much of it so I caught glimpses of it through her words. And frankly, that was enough.  (Her final comment: "Thanks for enduring this insane anachronism with me. See you Monday for the #bachelor [which she live-tweets each time a new ep airs]. Because that's much more intellectual.")

Now, I find myself on the edge of a precipice, teetering on the brink of making blanket judgmental statements like, "Football is such a waste of time - football fans have no sense of what is important in life!" or "I can't believe we're still judging women based on what they look like in a swimsuit! Anyone who watches or participates in beauty pageants is so superficial!"  Both of which are as unfair as they are untrue. Because my idea of quality television?  Reveling in the nostalgia, glamor, romance, and intrigue of WWI-era aristocracy (and their staff) in Downton Abbey.  Which, of course, is smart and witty and incredibly fun, unlike football [ducking as the one football fan reading this throws a shoe]. But it has veeeerrry little to do with how I believe God wants me (or others) to live.

So. I can't throw stones at people who watch TV to be entertained, obviously.  But it does force me to confront the question: What are my priorities?  Around whom does my life revolve?  To what will I give my time, my energy, my money?  How does God call me to live?  And the answer I want to live into is this: To illuminate the ways God is at work in the world for love, joy, justice, beauty, and wholeness, and to invite others to join in that creative and life-giving work.

And to the young poet Bball1989 who wrote and performed “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,” I want to say, this is the work to which Jesus leads me. And I cannot do it without the community of faith and grace and tradition and Spirit called the Church.  Because although I understand your point about Jesus ending a certain kind of religion, a particular perspective on and way of practicing what it means to be religious, or faithful, or holy, or right with God, I do not believe that Jesus intended to end religion.

At its heart, religion - from the Latin, re- + ligāre  to bind, tie - is about the ties that bind us to one another, about re-connecting with the source of our being and our sisters and brothers, about not only beliefs but stories and prayers and practices and wisdom that link us in a long chain through history and around the world.  And like every other organization or institution or facet of civilization in which humans are involved, it gets corrupted, regularly, by some of the tendencies in human nature to draw circles that make sure some people are in and some people are out, or to feel better about ourselves by pointing out the flaws or failings of others.  But this is not religion, any more than it is education or government or art. This is sin.  And yes, Jesus helps us overcome sin - depending on your flavor of theology, he conquered it, or rooted it out, or heals us from it, or took away its power - but religion is how I keep learning to see Jesus in my daily life, instead of only in the Bible.  And it helps give me new frameworks for understanding how Jesus saves, and how God is at work in the world, beyond what was written 1900 years ago.  (Both Nadia and Christian wrote eloquently about this, so be sure to read their responses.)

So I do not apologize for not watching football, or for watching Downton Abbey. But I do pray that my life might bear witness to the loving, healing, creating, inspiring power of God at work through Jesus Christ, through community, through the traditions and practices and prayers and beliefs that have been handed down, questioned, reinterpreted, poked, prodded, sung, reclaimed, syncretized, celebrated, condemned, and preserved through religion.  And that we may all learn to pray sincerely for the will of God to be done on earth, as it is in heaven.  Where, I'm pretty sure, there is no football.

Advent... time to wait, to watch, to prepare for the unexpected

Obviously I am now an official blog slacker. If you want to know what I'm up to, Facebook is the best bet - both as a way to keep in touch, and what I'm likely to be doing on any given day!

I do want to lift up this great post on the God's Politics blog (part of the Sojourners community), as a reflection on how to sanctify our consumption in whatever form it takes:

A Pre-Consumption Prayer

by Rachel Anderson 11-28-2008

“Consumption” isn’t a bad word. Even as we watch the excesses of the consumer economy crumble and collapse around us, we should remember that the word “consume” also means “to eat.”

On Thursday, many of us consumed to excess as eaters; today, on “Black Friday,” many of us also consume to excess as shoppers. But as Eugene Cho pointed out so thoughtfully last week, buying stuff at low prices isn’t by itself a mark of shame or weakness. It is, in our post-agrarian, post-industrial society, a necessity. The issue isn’t whether we buy or not buy things. It is whether we do so with appreciation for all of God’s creation. read the whole article

This Advent I am seeking to celebrate the season in simpler, deeper, truer ways... I'll probably fall pretty far short, but I'm trying. Blessings on your seeking as well.