This week along the way
The Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
It’s been a couple of weeks! We had a big day in our national/global collective on November 5th. I was going to opine about it, but the punditverse was so loud that I decided to go to bed instead (‘twas a good choice).
Then, I was going to attempt a “day after” post, but I wasn’t in the right place for output. It crossed my mind to give a “week after” post a shot, but again, I declined. I just haven’t really known what to say here (though I did muster a homily about things, which you can see below).
Even apart from the global discourse and national news, it’s been a very full couple of weeks in just my neck of the forest. I’ve been hit with a wave of funerals and memorials lately from inside and outside of my own church community. Add those to the week’s normal duties, and getting to this newsletter has been a chore, to say the least.
But thank God, there’ve been so many others offering such amazing thoughts that I’ve decided to keep my mouth closed and ears open to their nourishing words that I’ve so desperately needed in this turbulent time.
Like this, from author Anne Lamott (more here)…
“Why aren’t I freaking out more? I don’t know. I just believe in goodness, radical self care, and that grace bats last. So sue me.”
- Anne Lamott
Or this, from Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber (more here)…
I just can’t just blow sunshine up anyone’s ass today, Lord, so I ask that you send what they need, please.
If it is possible to remind us that millions of human beings throughout history have lived through worse political situations and still managed to make art, and find joy, and share meals and resist despair, could you do that for us please? And then keep guiding us toward their wisdom.
In fact, cover us all in a wisdom that is not available in memes, and hot takes.
- Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber
I get Nadia’s point, but I have to say, I’ve come across memes that have been encouraging lately. Like this one from author Matt Haig…
As much as I love Matt’s optimism, with the way the algorithms are set up, methinks we’re a looooong way from a nuanced internet.
Alas, a few yesses come to mind…
Yes to nuance.
Yes to in-person1 conversations.
Yes to sitting in the tension together, in love.
I’ve been busting my brain on the direction of this newsletter since I paused my daily posting frequency a few weeks ago. I’ve been asking myself just exactly what it is I’m doing here. What is the point of this space? Why am I showing up here? Because I really don’t want to waste your time or mine. I’ve been praying for a crystal-clear vision before taking the next step.
Give me a big idea, God!
Maybe this approach works for some people. I know writers who have their editorial calendars filled in for months. They know exactly what they’re going to say this week, and next, and…
Yeah…
But my brain doesn’t work this way.
Never has.
Just the other day, I read a quote that put words to the way my creativity is wired and I wish I’d read it years ago because it would’ve saved me so much creative angst…
“I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say.”
― Flannery O'Connor
So good…
It looks like I’ll just have to write through it. It is, after all, why I named this newsletter “Along the Way.” There is no main point in mind. The only point is where we are right now along the way. Always.
However, we are (conveniently enough) nearing the end of the liturgical year. In a couple weeks, we’ll be stepping into Advent and beginning a new church year.
Following the rhythms of the year through the church seasons and organizing the year around the life of Christ is so grounding. If you’re not acquainted with the liturgical calendar, the super-skinny gist is this…
The Church Year begins with Advent, as we wait for the arrival of Jesus - Emmanuel or God with us - celebrated at Christmas. Then, we turn the page to Epiphany, celebrating Christ revealing himself to the world. Next up is Lent, when we prepare for the remembrance of Christ's death during Holy Week. We find the crescendo of the liturgical year at Easter as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the ushering in of the New Creation. In Pentecost, we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit, who sustains us in our life in Christ during the season known as Ordinary time. And then we start the next year in Advent again.
Here’s my plan… I want to send you at least one weekly post that corresponds with that week in the liturgical year. This gives me a theme for the week (which helps give me somewhat of a creative guardrail). And if I get to more in the week, great. But we’ll see how it goes.
That said, I want to expand things a bit beyond what I might share in a Sunday homily (though I’ll include those as well). I want to keep this space playful and light. That’s what’s so great about Substack. They’ve brought back the appeal of old-school blogging. And old-school blogs are a ton of fun. A genre of their own.
Anyhow…
If you’re a paid subscriber, I’ll include a paywalled voiceover of most posts here (and you always get more than what’s written in the voiceovers, plus they add a nice personal touch, for what it’s worth). If you want the voiceovers and whatever else I decide to do for paid subscribers, just email me and let me know. I’ll turn no one away who needs a bit of help (and hey, ‘tis the season).
Okay, that’s it for now. It feels great being back in touch. More to come as we close the church year and start anew in December.
This is important.
I so appreciate your post today Jonas. It is "balm" for my soul and simultaneously calm for my/our inherent need for connection, friend to friend. And the few quotes you included give me room to embrace my humanity as both a writer and just a normal (what ever that is) guy wanting to share his thoughts (what ever they may be.) Thanks for staying with us! Love you!