I was a slacker this week and didn’t really post anything (besides this quick update of sorts).

That being said, I wanted to share a few things that have been feeding me lately. I hope you enjoy…

My friend, Nadia, gave this incredible sermon a couple of weeks ago that you should definitely check out (and please subscribe to her newsletter and read all of her books if you haven’t already)…

Wolves and Lesser Shepherds

Nearly 20 years ago on Good Shepherd Sunday, when my daughter Harper was 4 years old, the pastor was giving the children’s sermon; he had gathered all the little kids around and was going to have them sing that song, “I just wanna be a sheep baa baa baa baa” which they had all practiced earlier - and so, guitar slung over his alb, the young pastor asks the children the leading question: “Ok kids, what do you want to be? And all the kids say “a sheep!” except my daughter Harper, who says “a mermaid!”. [Click here to read (and please watch her sermon - you won’t regret it).]

Another friend of mine, Erin Reese, who is an amazing non-dual thinker and spiritual buff, wrote what I thought was a really good depiction of the ‘dark night of the soul.’ Maybe it’ll meet you where you are right now…

The Dark Night of the Soul

We’ve heard the proverbial term, “dark night of the soul,” referring to a particularly painful, seemingly hopeless point in the life – a period where nothing makes sense anymore. When we're in such a state, no matter where we turn, it feels like there is only emptiness. But this isn’t the sort of spacious emptiness or soul “spaciousness” we yearn for and aim for in meditative living. No, it is a deficient emptiness. Even to muster hope feels utterly useless and meaningless… [Click here to read.]

Finally, if you haven’t yet signed up for the late Fr. Henri Nouwen’s daily meditations, run over and do it now right here. You’ll get daily espresso shots of grace delivered to your inbox by one of the world’s most expansive and graceful theologians - a true pastoral soul. [Here’s that link again.]

Until next time, as always…

Grace + Godspeed,
Jonas

Along the Way with Jonas Ellison

Weekly Compendium