Saturday, January 6, 2018

2018 Reading Challenge

Do you have a shelf full of books you've never read? I sure do.
This year I'm going to do something about it.


Each month, I'm committed to reading 2 books. Some have been sitting on my shelf for years. Some I bought for my Kindle when they were $1.99 and have never been read. Some are old favorites that I don't own but will gladly check out of the public library. The idea is to not spend money buying new books.

Here's my list so far:

January: Of Mess and Moxie and Faithful Families
February: The Gifts of Imperfection and The Sacred Enneagram
March: Bird by Bird and Present Over Perfect
April: Mystics and Misfits and The New Jim Crow
May: Assimilate or Go Home and Asylum Denied
June: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and I Am Malala
July: The Grid and Moral Ground
August: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and God and the Green Divide
September: Radical and The Screwtape Letters
October: Hands Free Mama and One Thousand Gifts
November: Pastor's Kid and The Pastor's Family
December: ? and ?

As you can see, it's all just a bit of light reading (sarcasm font). Some of it is topical and thematic, some not.

But I need your help--I ran out of ideas for December. What should I add to this list? What are your favorite reads? Comment with your picks below!


Friday, January 5, 2018

My #oneword365 for 2018


Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
2 Corinthians 3:12

My word came to me quickly this year. It's been with me for several months, actually. This is the bulletin board above my desk.


The words that jump out at me most are bold and hope. And that's where I am these days: feeling the tension between fear and hope, between inaction and boldness.

2017 was a year that scared me. I did things that I wouldn't normally do: I traveled by myself to Seattle for the Climate Reality training, to Minnesota for a conference, and to Pittsburgh for a UMW tour of a fracking site. I drove all over Illinois presenting for Faith in Place. I marched. I had a few writing pieces published. I spoke at my sorority's national conference. I preached. I raised funds to combat human trafficking. I took steps to start getting serious about writing a book--I even let Todd read some of it.

I also encountered anxiety for the first time. I had to get serious about self care and prioritizing my mental health. I felt deep despair about the state of our country. I felt distress about the future of the Church. I saw racism with new eyes. I said #metoo. I felt fear in a way I'd never had before in my 37 years of sheltered, privileged existence.

This year will bring more things that scare me. I'll help craft and direct UMW's climate justice work. I'll be presenting at UMW's Assembly. I'll continue my outreach work with Faith in Place. I'll be attending a conference to help guide my steps in writing a book.

I'm scared, but I also see hope. I'm watching for resurrection. I'm praying with my feet. I'm clinging to Jesus. I'm ready for resistance. It's time to be BOLD.

What's your one word this year?

Previous words herehere, here, and here.
 
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