J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books I love so much, is my go-to person when I’m struggling with how to introduce a new and strange world of ideas that has only just emerged from my research.
“This way of resurrection is scandalous. This hope seems like such a far reach. It did then for Mary and the disciples. It does now. But here’s what I will give witness to, on this night: God meets us in that hope. God is present there at the tomb, even before we can recognize this Risen One. It is a scandalous act to hope. And again and again, against all odds, God meets us there in the depths of darkness. God comes to us, under the crash of waves, calling our name. God hears our hope, pulling us from the waters and into new life.”
― The Night Lake: A Young Priest Maps the Topography of Grief
― The Night Lake: A Young Priest Maps the Topography of Grief
“They knew our names and they knew our parents. But they did not know us, because not knowing was essential to their power.”
― The Water Dancer
― The Water Dancer
“first learned about the idea of photography as a form of lectio divina (divine reading) called visio divina, or divine vision, from Christine Valters Paintner. Visio divina involves meditating on an image and asking God to speak to us in that. We can also “read” nature and nature can read (or speak) to us.”
― Be Kind to Yourself: Releasing Frustrations and Embracing Joy
― Be Kind to Yourself: Releasing Frustrations and Embracing Joy
“Earth is so thick with divine possibility that it is a wonder we can walk anywhere without cracking our shins on altars.” —Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World”
― The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days
― The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days
“Mary bears the unbearable. This is her witness as the God-bearer. We are called to do the same, to bear the unbearable, with and for each other. We have to trust that we do not bear the suffering alone. Listen to the truth Jesus speaks, in the midst of all pain: behold, we belong to one another.”
― The Night Lake: A Young Priest Maps the Topography of Grief
― The Night Lake: A Young Priest Maps the Topography of Grief
Gail’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Gail’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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