P A U S E
Restful Christmastide, most memorable reads in 2023 + a poll for people married to a minister!
Happy Sixth Day of Christmas,
I hope you’re still celebrating (here are some ideas to help you keep all 12 days!) Leave me a quick hello in the comments. Extra high fives if you share a recent moment of restfulness.
A restful photo
Each week, I share a photo from our 2022 sabbatical in the UK, Ireland, Quebec, and upstate NY.
A prayerful pause
We’re celebrating Restful | Christmastide with a twelve-day “pageant,” taking us scene by scene through the birth of Christ accounts in Luke 2 and Matthew 2.
I am struck by the birth accounts in a new way this year.
I can’t get over all of the moving parts between heaven and earth, yet unseen to all but a few lucky people. I told Brian that as I read, I’m drawn to the parallels between the post-resurrection accounts. In both narratives, the writers describe in vibrant verbiage so much running around in awe, wonder, disbelief, and fear, with the supernatural and the ordinary all jumbled up together, yet only a few people witnessed these events. I love how God choreographs these cosmos-shifting events, and it makes me wonder what God is doing even now to orchestrate the plans for new heavens and new earth and Christ’s final arrival.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
How about you?
Where have you been able to pause and prayerfully reflect on God’s presence with you in this season?
How could you do that today?
Maybe you’d like to take a pause this week to ask Jesus, Where are you with us now in the feasting of Christmastide? How can I join you there?
Restful Things
Here are a few things that helped me worship God, love people, and enjoy beauty this season.
Links
Have you ever wondered about being trained as a Spiritual Director? I highly recommend the certificate program that trained me, Selah Spiritual Direction through Leadership Transformations. In January, you are invited to explore Selah with an online open house hosted by the Selah faculty. It’s free, and there are no strings attached, but you do need to register to receive the Zoom link. If you have questions, I’m also happy to help.
Earlier this year, Hearts and Minds Books posted a collection of book recommendations for pastors, "Lots of books for different sorts of pastors and their needs." The list includes my book, The Spacious Path: Practicing the Restful Way of Jesus in a Fragmented World, as a recommendation for pastors who are tired and needing help to develop spiritual rhythms. If you or someone you know is a pastor who is tired and needs help developing spiritual rhythms, read bookseller Byron Borger's meaningful take and consider purchasing a book or two through Hearts and Minds Books.
“Trust me, A Spacious Path is just that, spacious, inviting us to the journey, a way, a path. It is a restful and healing journal, a helpful guidebook, a beckoning.” (Byron Borger)
Watch my talk “Practicing the Restful Way of Jesus this Advent” with a small group of Anglicans from around North America. While the theological themes I highlighted are emphasized during Advent, the practice of watching and waiting for Jesus is something we’re invited to do all of the time. You can access my slides here or view them below.
If you are a woman serving in an Anglican church, I recommend signing up to the Lay Connect FB group for details about their monthly virtual gatherings. You can also sign up for details to arrive each month by email.
Most Memorable Reads in 2023
Take a look at my list of the 15 books that are lingering with me from 2023 on my Bookshop page. You can also find everything I read in 2023 and what I’m currently reading, as well as a whole bunch more thoughtful lists, at my bookstore.1
What did you enjoy reading in 2023? What do you hope to read in 2024?
Before you go…
Are you married to a minister? Would you like to talk about how to practice the restful way of Jesus with other people who know the good, bad, and ugly about the particular calling of being married to a minister?
In the coming weeks, I’ll be sending my paid subscribers a special invitation for a series of conversations about creating a Rule of Life for people married to ministers. I have been sensing God’s invitation to me to tend to this need in my own life and to offer to accompany others like me.
I’m curious if this resonates with any of you?
If you aren’t married to a minister but know someone who is, please share this post so they can also take the poll!
Whether you follow this newsletter for free or become a paid subscriber, thank you. It’s a privilege to share my work with you, and I pray that you will feel welcomed and respected in this space.
Restfully,
Tamara
p.s. Here’s a little Restful NYE playlist from me to you (it’s an oldie but a goodie!)
When you purchase a book through my Bookshop links, you don’t pay more but I receive a small commission. At least that’s what I’m told; it hasn’t happened yet!
I have been struck this year by how God came, the length He went through to be us, when He is so other us. To come, I would imagine, as a sperm cell into a young woman He created. Why not just walk in like He usually did in the OT, or fall upon. But to live like one of us from the absolute beginning is astoundingly astounding, and seemingly unnecessary. And to then come out of the birth canal, to gasp for air, to depend on His creation to feed Him and protect Him. Seems crazy. Who would come up with a plan like that. To live a life like ours, albeit short, and allow His own death, with stupefying cruelty. To know such a God as this. To be known by such a God as this. I've rested in this story and have relived my own life in His. To feel safe, even while Herod is after you, knowing you could depend on Mary and Joseph. I don't know. I can't put my finger on it, but it is so brilliant...the light. So pure.