a new liturgy

My best friend Courtney introduced me to Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist the first year of college. I still remember Court and I taking turns, reading chapters out loud before bed, her words helping us refocus. I cannot express how profound that book was for me as I finished my freshman year. Without question, I recommend it for anyone who is missing joy and the beauty in daily living, finding themselves stagnant or stuck. Her second book Bittersweet was, of course, powerful. Giving thought and word to hard trials and pain. I am ready for her next book Bread & Wine, expecting it be my favorite, the power of eating a meal together, the community that takes place around food (includes recipes, too!).

She is an author. Her husband is a musician and worship pastor. His current project is called A New Liturgy:



A New Liturgy is our attempt to create holy space wherever we find ourselves. A moveable, sonic sanctuary. Released quarterly, each Liturgy is a 25 minute journey of music, prayer, scripture, and space that helps open us to The Almighty in any location, season, or emotion.  I really need this.

Really neat. Liturgy no. 3 includes my favorite Psalm and hymn, very powerful. It's beautiful to read and experience. I keep thinking of how amazing it would be to grab some of my favorite musicians, pastors and college professors to do something similar (Mumford-like sound under the direction of Pastor DeNeff, Dr. Riggs and Dr. Bressler). Summer project, right?

the language of flowers

I am reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, the first fiction book I've read in months, possible a year even. Only sixty pages in, and I'm already head over heels, smitten with her descriptions of flowers, the emotions tied to petals and stems.

It's good. And it isn't just about flowers, but also relationships and communication. The ways in which we speak without words. It's making me think.

(photo of a wedding arrangement by florist Amy Merrick, gorgeous, absolutely beautiful)

Update (9:00 p.m): And I might only have the last fifty pages to read. 

dying and caring

Not a lot of people want to talk about death, right? I quickly push it aside, refusing to fear or think about it, writing if off since I believe in Jesus Christ, and remind myself of hope in light of His resurrection. While Christians should find comfort in life after death, what does it mean in itself to die well? Shouldn't we discuss this type of thing?

Henri Nouwen does a beautiful job in his book Our Greatest Gift of discussing the personal and communal implications of death. While I want to write about what this book taught me, I'm just not there yet. For now, I'll share some of the most challenging and inspirational passages for me. In weeks to come, I hope to dissect some of these words so this type of conversation may transform my heart and allow it to challenge the way in which I live and care for others.

 "To care well for the dying, we must trust deeply that these people are loved as much as we are, and we must make that love visible by our presence; we must trust that their dying and death deepen their solidarity with the human family, and we must guide them in becoming part of the communion of saints; and finally, we must trust that their death, just as ours, will make their lives fruitful for generations to come. We must encourage them to let go of their fears and to hope beyond the boundaries of death...
When we have the courage to let go of our need to cure, our care can truly heal in ways far beyond our own dreams and expectations. With our gift of care, we can gently lead our dying brothers and sisters always deeper into the heart of God and God's universe."

Has anyone else read Our Greatest Gift? Or any other favorite quotes by Henri Nouwen? Next on my list is to read The Inner Voice of Love. Here are some more quotes from Our Greatest Gift, let me know what you think.

library day

Well, I feel accomplished. I went to the Princeton Public Library today, picked up my card, and gathered a few books to read. It's probably better for my brain than watching episodes of Mad Men and The Sing-Off. I haven't read fiction in a long time so notice most of these books are non-fiction.  Seriously, I'm still on the fifth chapter of the first Harry Potter. I'm getting nowhere with fiction.

I picked up three books by Henri Nouwen. My friend Lauren posted a quote by him on her blog recently, and my old roommate Courtney was always putting his words in places around our room. Plus, they are small reads.

I'm really excited to read N.T. Wright's latest book After You Believe. He's my favorite, plain and simple.  And I picked up one fiction book Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. It looked interesting. I've seen it before at bookstores. No one suggested it. I have no idea what it is about so anyone who does please share.

For those who haven't graduated or live in an academic community, college makes it easy to find good reads. Now, I'm clueless, and I seriously miss my Honors College book discussions. How am I suppose to understand anything without Dr. Bressler or Dr. Bounds?

So what are you reading right now? Fiction? Non-fiction? All recommendations are appreciated (seriously).

p.s. Yes, Courtney, I expect you to comment on this because you know everything about books... you're like Matilda.