Sandi Villarreal Earlier this month, Pope Francis, in his first public appearance after returning to the Vatican following an 11-day hospital stay for a scheduled surgery, told those gathered in St. Peter’s Square to “learn to take a break” and truly rest. “Let us beware, brothers and sisters, of efficiency,” Francis said, “let us put a halt to the frantic running around dictated by our agendas.” He was reflecting on Mark 6:30-34, in which Jesus instructs the disciples to “come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while,” after they told him all the preaching and teaching they had been doing. “Rest a while,” he told them. Holy, ever-elusive rest — it’s a simple command but, in my experience, a complicated practice. The pandemic has forced workers and corporations to engage in conversations around overwork, death-by-a-thousand- When I was recovering from my own surgery and accompanying hospital stay in late January, my body forced bed rest. I had planned for a couple of days off of work, but it stretched into more than a week; the severity of what had just happened caught me off guard. And I was restless. I wanted a lesson; this all had to mean something. So I took doses of books like medicine; I thought I could force a healthy mind and spirit with the wisdom of others, giving purpose to my newly foregrounded mortality. Friends sent me reading lists; my husband teased me about my emotional support pile.
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Our Latest As Eviction Moratorium Ends, Faith Groups Brace for Impact (by Jeff A. Chamer) With millions behind on their rent, many could be at risk of homelessness when the moratorium expires on Aug. 1. My Lola Is Decolonizing the Garden of Eden (by Yanan Melo) It is possible to imagine a new ecological reality outside of colonialism. Women are leading the way. ‘The Terrorists Perceived Themselves To Be Christians’ (by Lexi McMenamin) In testimony to Congress, Daniel Hodges and other officers described what they saw on Jan. 6 — including Christian nationalism. Snorting Nutmeg at Vacation Bible School with Lucy Dacus (by Jenna Barnett) In her new album, Home Video, Dacus unpacks her often churchy adolescence.
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From the Magazine What Otters Can Teach Us About Dismantling Empire (by Rose Marie Berger) When empire is “game master,” Jesus-followers should interrogate the “play.” |
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Job Opening: Director, Inclusive America Project The Inclusive America Project at the Aspen Institute is looking for a new Director. If you are interested in helping us build a more inclusive and just society, apply to be a part of our team by clicking the link above. Tell the Senate to Reauthorize VAWA The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) became a law 25 years ago, providing crucial protections for women and survivors of domestic violence. VAWA is now up for reauthorization but is being held up in the Senate. Please ask your senators to vote for this important bill. |
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