08|24: This embodied month.

A monthly newsletter about God's grace in the little, precious, tangible particularities of a life.

Aug 19, 2024

Hi sweet neighbors,

I’m starting a new tradition. Once each month (henceforth), I plan to interrupt the typical broadcast of more serious posts with something of a lighthearted test case of the primary message I have been preaching—that the Spirit is present in and wants to lavish grace upon all of your embodied experiences.

Simply put, I want to tell you where the life-giving Spirit is meeting me through tangible means, and I want to encourage you with a few important reminders:

This is your monthly reminder that your Good Father delights in your non-aesthetic moments too.
This is your monthly reminder to let aesthetic beauty build in your heart a bright hope for a world that is to come rather than an anxious attachment to the world where moth and rust destroy.
This is your monthly reminder that whatever your heart is looking for, at the deepest level, it will be found in Christ—and if you are a member of the body of Christ, then it is most likely to find sustainable relief as you invest your whole self into the life of that body.
This is your monthly reminder to stay hydrated, to wear sunscreen, to eat plenty of protein and fiber, to move your body regularly in ways that feel good to you, to get enough sleep, and to floss your teeth.
This is your monthly reminder that I am praying for you—by name or by email address if you are a subscriber, or in thought if you are just passing through. I value you, and you are important to me as a whole person. (If you have a specific prayer request, you can find information on how to send me a message on the About page.) I firmly believe that the very God who created you loves you, delights in you, and desires to heal your pain and restore your heart to life and wholeness.

So without further ado, this is my embodied month—August 2024:

What is inspiring me?

What am I eating?

This is my favorite three-minute smoothie: Just put 1/2 cup Greek yogurt; 1/2 cup kombucha (I like ginger-flavored); a teaspoon of matcha powder; a few leaves of baby kale (I keep mine in the freezer so it stays fresh longer); a teaspoon of honey; 3/4 cup frozen pineapple; and a splash of lime juice in a blender, and blend it until smooth. I’ll grant that it tastes a little “earthy,” but IT MAKES ME FEEL SO GOOD.

What ordinary object is dear to me?

We’re currently living in a temporary housing situation while we’re searching for our own permanent home to buy in Atlanta, which means that the vast majority of the quirky little treasures that give me joy are packed away in storage. This little guy was a recent acquisition though, so he’s sitting out where I can see him, and that makes me glad.

We used to keep loose change in a basket on the console table, but little hands frequently sought them out to play with, and they were thus known to find their way into various hiding spots in the couch cushions and A/C vents. I’ve been on the lookout for a piggy bank, and when I saw this cute dude on Facebook Marketplace for EIGHT DOLLARS I knew I had to race to claim him.

I think he needs a name. Any suggestions? (And for those of you who might be thinking, “But that looks like a girl pig!,” I regret to inform you—almost as much as I regret to have noticed myself—that the artist who created this item for some godforsaken reason thought it necessary to make an anatomically correct piggy bank?? So yes, he is a “he.”)

What am I listening to?*

*Don’t read anything into the lyrics—I’m just here for the vibes!

What am I reading?

I read this little volume in college, but now seemed like a good time to return to it. I had the thought recently that although theologians do not typically include “material culture” in their discussions of theological anthropology (except, perhaps, in relation to asceticism), the study of material culture is a vital component of anthropology proper—so why shouldn’t we consider its role in theological anthropology as well?

I now have a thick stack of monographs sitting on my bedroom dresser that I hope to thumb through in the months ahead, but before I move on to the modern works, I wanted to reground myself in some of the primary sources of the Early Church. This volume includes brief selections from Irenaeus, Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine, and several more.

It is such a delight to reread these ancient words. I know many might be intimidated to pick up sources such as these; that used to be me too. We tend to assume that the chasm of history between our current context and the context of the Early Church will sully our ability to understand them. But there’s a reason these writings have held staying power for centuries: it’s hard to find writing that’s more articulate, more precise, and more helpful in communicating the things that you really need to know. If you’ve never read your Church Fathers, let me humbly implore you that you’re missing out!—message me if you need a recommendation on where to start.

Now what about you?

All recommendations—for recipes, for books, for movies, for music, for art, or for any other material experience that cheers your heart—are more than welcome in the comments. What are the rest of us missing out on that you just can’t wait to share with somebody? This our neighborhood, and we need one another.

Until next time—

Affectionate thanks,

HLS