We Will Set Our Hope
I hope you each have some rest and rejoicing ahead of you during the next few days. Our family is looking forward to visiting Maggie’s side of the family and a quick trip to Nashville. (We’ve never been; got any recommendations for us?)
This is a good time to say how much I appreciate your interest in this newsletter. Every time someone replies I’m reminded that these intermittent missives aren’t disappearing into the internet void. (I love getting replies and happily respond to each one.) Also, a huge thanks to those who’ve made a one time donation or upgraded to a pay-what-you-want subscription. Your generosity is covering the fee I now pay for the newsletter. Thank you!
I’m reading W.H. Auden’s oratorio, For the Time Being, for the first time this Advent and Christmas. Earlier this week this stanza wrapped me up and shook me into stillness.
We who must die demand a miracle.
How could the Eternal do a temporal act,
The Infinite become a finite fact?
Nothing can save us that is possible:
We who must die demand a miracle.
Nothing can save us that is possible! And so we praise the One whose redemption defied possibility.
Merry Christmas, friends.
We Will Set Our Hope
In the aftermath of the presidential election, I’ve been connecting with my friends Dr. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson and Latasha Morrison. It’s clear to us that the days ahead will call for courage, wisdom, and hope. During one of our conversations Natasha shared 2 Corinthians 1:10, “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.” This promise has become a helpful frame as we consider the ministry of reconciliation amidst pervasive turmoil, polarization, and opposition.
With that in mind, the three of us are hosting a webinar on January 23 at 12:00 PM ET, just a few days after the presidential inauguration, to reflect on these themes. We’ll share the invitation more widely after Christmas, but I wanted to give you the info first. If you’re interested in joining us, please register here.
Plundered Updates
I’ve enjoyed being the guest on a couple of podcasts recently to talk about themes from Plundered. A friend from Wheaton Graduate School days, Kristi Beck Cain, graciously invited me to join her on “Bring Me My Books.” And Andrew Camp, a former pastor and culinary expert, had me on his podcast, “The Biggest Table.”
Know someone with a podcast? Feel free to send them my way!
The View From Here
We got a bit of snow this week, but it’s the wintertime lake that is my favorite. Look at those waves!