I really thought I’d be able to get these posts up earlier in the day, but some mornings are just busier than others. Coming off a long, holiday weekend I had to spend some time meal planning and grocery shopping, two of my least favorite things. Though I think I like putting away the groceries even less, if that’s possible. To keep me motivated through all the kitchen stuff I often listen to podcasts. Today I clicked on to a Jen Hatmaker podcast I have in my queue because it’s an interview with Father Richard Rohr. I’m a little over halfway through it, and it’s fascinating. I know he’s a bit of a controversial figure in some faith circles, but what he teaches makes a lot of sense. Though I can’t quite decide how I feel about it all. Would love to hear your thoughts if you have read any of his books. A friend and I are meeting tonight to discuss his teachings, amongst other things we are wresting through in our faith journeys.
I titled this blog post ‘Overdressed’ because that’s essentially what happened today. It was cold and overcast this morning, so I reached for some moderately warm items (anyone else always crave knits in the morning??). Now it’s warmed up a bit, and I may be overdressed, but hey, sometimes a girl needs to change her clothes halfway through the day.
P.S. Repeating this color palette immediately.
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Holly Boatneck (S), Curator (mushroom)
White Wide Leg Denim (28), c/o ABLE (self-cropped)
Clementine Clog (41), c/o Bryr
Fisherman Tote, Esby
Her Only Dress necklace c/o Seaworthy (made in Portland!) save 15% with the code ‘SEA&SALT’
I used an essay by Richard Rohr when putting together my writing sample for seminary! But that’s actually the only thing I’ve read. I want to look more into his writing, because I suspect he may have some good ways of thinking about Christianity and ecology.
Yes, Leah, don’t delay! I think it will really resonate with you. Honestly, it’s kind of blowing open so many things for me. It’s good, exciting and scary.
I’ve read a bunch of his writing (though certainly not all) and listened to some of his interviews, lectures, podcasts, etc. I think he provides a wonderful corrective and perspective on Christianity. His ability for self-critique is refreshing, and his demeanor is delightful. I don’t think the point is to agree or disagree with everything he says, but to allow it to re-frame the way you think about things and to open up space for transformation.
Yes, so well said. It’s a bit of a mind bender too. Sometimes I need to hear things a few time to truly start to wrap my mind around it. It’s very info dense! I love his demeanor too!
Agreed! I signed up for his daily emails for a time and they were really helpful in allowing short sections of his thoughts to marinate in my brain. Sometimes my husband and I will read them before bed and it’s a nice way to get in a contemplative mindset for sleep.
About eight years ago, after graduating from my undergrad, I dove deep into the world of progressive Christian voices you have exploring of late–RHE, Sarah Bessey, Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, Richard Rohr, Brian Zahnd, Christena Cleveland, DL Mayfield, Jen Hatmaker, Father Gregory Boyle, and many more. Each time I encountered their various reflections on faith and the church in America, I felt less alone in my anger and confusion over the ways in which evangelicals no longer represented the way I understood God or humanity or the world. Similarly, I felt less alone in the deep grief I was experiencing at feeling like an outsider in the community that once felt like home. I shared their laments, their doubts, their anger, their sensation that much of American evangelicalism was missing the broader point of love, justice, mercy, peace.
And yet, many of these authors also write meaningfully and truthfully about how their experience with the (mostly) evangelical tradition shaped who they are, how it offered priceless gifts that we might continue to carry along the way, even as we continue to evolve and shift in our identities and understandings of God. I am grateful for this, too, for the ways they have demonstrated how to sift through old ideas and not throw out everything in anger or despair.
I continue to identify as a Christian person today, but to do so, I had to completely deconstruct my old belief system and build something new–something more alive and less rigid, more flexible and less obsessed with black-and-white thinking. And I am grateful for the journey. Although it was painful and disorienting at times to have so many of my fundamental beliefs and assumptions challenged, I also have the sensation of being invited into freedom and expansiveness. I once read a description of this journey as being like the restoration of an ancient and precious painting: we have to chip away the layers to uncover the original masterpiece, hidden below the centuries of grime and neglect.
All this to say–I wish you well on your own journey! It might help to anticipate that it will feel terrifying and confusing at times, but the beautiful thing about these brave and wise voices is that they help us believe there might be something worthwhile on the other side of the struggle.
Thanks so much Sarah for this thoughtful comment. It IS completely terrifying, and writing the little bit that I have here on the blog makes me feel naked. But it’s exciting, and I hope it’s fruitful in my life. I love the idea of chipping away the layers to get to the ancient, that is a beautiful concept (and mental picture). I am with you on the freedom and expansiveness. Thank you again for sharing so beautifully here, I really appreciate it!