Happy pub day!!! I love knowing you’ll be dancing tonight. In all of the vulnerable, heart-wrenching courage that goes into this work, it is so important that we also celebrate and play and dance. That requires dis-armored vulnerability too - but it’s the fun part :) I think we forget sometimes that the vulnerability thing isn’t just about serious work, it’s about everything. Thank you for the reminder of that this morning.
Just listened to this, have listened to every episode of The Sacred since it started, and now about to start listening to "Fully Alive" while going shopping in Asda.
Back from Asda. (Rarely more fully alive than in the reduced items scrum). First thoughts: loftily— I want a luminous soul, too. A little mean-spiritedly— a feeling of ‘aha - she’s nailed what I don’t like about Katherine Birbalsingh - it’s all sin and no forgiveness’ (then later, in the pet food aisle, a chastening sense that I was looking for reasons not to like her rather than confronting what it is she reflects in me that is what I *really* don’t like). Transformationally (perhaps, if I let it) — the resonance of “The things about ourselves that are unmentionable become unmanageable.”
Now to walk the dog in the company of you and avarice.
And surely a greater a privilege to have the author respond as there’s only one of you! Anyway, my feelings on the ‘avarice’ chapter - very challenging, of course, especially to hear how much more attention is given to money than to sexual morality or prayer in scripture and the to think how very little attention I’ve given it (other than to whine about billionaires). Interesting how the the relationship between global economics, nation, family and the individual play out here. I reject the ‘charity begins at home’ rhetoric of people arguing for less foreign aid (or less help for migrants) yet implicitly it’s my main excuse for not giving more - after all it’s not really *my* money, it’s *ours* - the majority of it earned by my wife in our case - and I can’t be giving away money that might deprive our kids of the latest iPhone (while buying myself the latest iPhone). Or deprive my wife of the exotic holidays she works so hard for and loves planning (and of course I reluctantly have to drag myself along despite my discomfort with the environmental implications of air travel (the drinks trolley? Again? But isn’t it breakfast time? Ok - I’ll have a Bloody Mary then, please)).
My current main take away at this stage? My uncomfortable relationship with ‘faith’ isn’t, at bottom, to do with difficulties squaring metaphysical objections to believing in a perfect deity presiding over an imperfect world (or whatever) but with a fear of the consequences of following Jesus. The former is an excellent excuse to swerve the demands of the latter.
Your talking about risk brought to memory the book 'Eloge du risque' (ode to risk') by the late author Anne Dufourmantelle, who argued beautifully about, not taking the risk of dying, but taking the risk of living. And she died by doing exactly that.
Elizabeth! I can see the bright dawn's beginnings from here in the US! Happy Publication Day, you wildly alive being! (You're already wildly published. The book is yet another fruitful artifact of your deeply established habits and roots.)
For me reading “See no Stranger “ by Valerie Kaur one of the few books to reduce me to tears another courage giver especially in these times hope your book lands and produces the response that you hope for
Happy pub day!!! I love knowing you’ll be dancing tonight. In all of the vulnerable, heart-wrenching courage that goes into this work, it is so important that we also celebrate and play and dance. That requires dis-armored vulnerability too - but it’s the fun part :) I think we forget sometimes that the vulnerability thing isn’t just about serious work, it’s about everything. Thank you for the reminder of that this morning.
There's that old Chinese saying (my rough translation) the straight tree winds up as lumber, while the twisted tree lives long and prospers.
Here's to the fellowship of twisted trees!
I'm through the first two chapters of your new book. It is brave and delightful and full of wisdom. A real treasure.
Thank you.
Just listened to this, have listened to every episode of The Sacred since it started, and now about to start listening to "Fully Alive" while going shopping in Asda.
That is not ironic.
Back from Asda. (Rarely more fully alive than in the reduced items scrum). First thoughts: loftily— I want a luminous soul, too. A little mean-spiritedly— a feeling of ‘aha - she’s nailed what I don’t like about Katherine Birbalsingh - it’s all sin and no forgiveness’ (then later, in the pet food aisle, a chastening sense that I was looking for reasons not to like her rather than confronting what it is she reflects in me that is what I *really* don’t like). Transformationally (perhaps, if I let it) — the resonance of “The things about ourselves that are unmentionable become unmanageable.”
Now to walk the dog in the company of you and avarice.
Ooof Ant. Thank you. This is the joy of it! Being in a conversation in someone’s else’s head but also here! What a privilege
And surely a greater a privilege to have the author respond as there’s only one of you! Anyway, my feelings on the ‘avarice’ chapter - very challenging, of course, especially to hear how much more attention is given to money than to sexual morality or prayer in scripture and the to think how very little attention I’ve given it (other than to whine about billionaires). Interesting how the the relationship between global economics, nation, family and the individual play out here. I reject the ‘charity begins at home’ rhetoric of people arguing for less foreign aid (or less help for migrants) yet implicitly it’s my main excuse for not giving more - after all it’s not really *my* money, it’s *ours* - the majority of it earned by my wife in our case - and I can’t be giving away money that might deprive our kids of the latest iPhone (while buying myself the latest iPhone). Or deprive my wife of the exotic holidays she works so hard for and loves planning (and of course I reluctantly have to drag myself along despite my discomfort with the environmental implications of air travel (the drinks trolley? Again? But isn’t it breakfast time? Ok - I’ll have a Bloody Mary then, please)).
My current main take away at this stage? My uncomfortable relationship with ‘faith’ isn’t, at bottom, to do with difficulties squaring metaphysical objections to believing in a perfect deity presiding over an imperfect world (or whatever) but with a fear of the consequences of following Jesus. The former is an excellent excuse to swerve the demands of the latter.
Your talking about risk brought to memory the book 'Eloge du risque' (ode to risk') by the late author Anne Dufourmantelle, who argued beautifully about, not taking the risk of dying, but taking the risk of living. And she died by doing exactly that.
Love this post on bravery, Elizabeth and congratulations on your book!
Elizabeth! I can see the bright dawn's beginnings from here in the US! Happy Publication Day, you wildly alive being! (You're already wildly published. The book is yet another fruitful artifact of your deeply established habits and roots.)
For me reading “See no Stranger “ by Valerie Kaur one of the few books to reduce me to tears another courage giver especially in these times hope your book lands and produces the response that you hope for
Happy book birthday, Elizabeth!
To call on Lin Manuel Miranda again:
Good morning.
Eyes up.
Hearts up.
Minds sharp.
Compassion on full blast.
(Sips coffee)
Okay let's go.
Thanks for these wonderful fragments, Elizabeth. Wishing you all the best for the reception of your book.