Every week, I curate a list of the best links and articles to make you think and keep you informed. Enjoy!
Boy, has this been a week! I have spent the week finishing up grading and to-do lists from the semester and recovering from the exhaustion of writing two term papers last week (I know, my fault, I procrastinated!).
It's been good, though. Over the weekend, I got some really good news and spent a lot of time with my framily. Reego and I went to go see Civil War and we did some fun shopping and she took me to P.F. Changs to celebrate my surviving the semester. I have great friends.
This week's list is rather large--given that I haven't done one in a couple weeks!
My Writing
Two years ago: Love for the Journey (Spiritual Uprising Magazine) Two years ago, I was getting ready to leave Butler and wrote this post about transition. I'm so grateful that right now, I get to stay exactly where I am, which is where I want to be.
Last week: Unbreakable Willy Women: With Love to our Littlest on your Graduation (Popery, Pens, and Paperbacks): Last week, while in the depths of term paper writing, I wrote a blog post about the women in my family, particularly my little cousin who is graduating from high school. Love you, Maddie!
What I read recently:
Popery (Catholicism/Spirituality/Religion): With a lot about Fr. Dan, because I haven't done a link love since then.
Busting 8 Myths that Many Catholics Have about Holiness (Catholic Link): Some good thoughts in here.
The Catholic Church’s Wise Views on Illegal Immigration (Patheos): Of course, most Catholics just ignore this.
Archbishop of Canterbury offers monastic gap year at Lambeth Palace (Telegraph): I wish I could have done this.
Lady Gaga and the Online Eucharist Police: Since when did Christianity become more about preaching the rules than preaching the Gospel of mercy? (Aleteia): A good reminder about the Eucharist and its ability to transform.
Daniel Berrigan, S.J. Dies at Age 94 (Ignatian Solidarity Network): Love this man. Rest gently, father.
When Father Daniel Berrigan went underground in ‘The Holy Outlaw’ (Waging Nonviolence): When asked if he had changed anything, Fr. Berrigan responded, "The first evidence of anything really occurring in the lives of others is some evidence that some change has occurred to one’s self, and I’m quite certain that that has occurred.” What a great reminder that we must first work to change ourselves.
The Catholicism That Made Pope Francis Possible (Sojourners): Although he certainly didn't get much of a spotlight, activists and priests like Fr. Berrigan helped form the world in which our beloved Holy Father could be pope.
The Mother of Mujerista Theology (Sojourners): With the research I'm doing, Isazi-Dias is on my mind, so I thought I would share this.
Tell U.S. Bishops to Work With Catholics to Build a Church For Our Daughters (Groundswell): I think it would be interesting to have a conversation about this, but I don't actually know anyone who could have an intelligent conversation about it without yelling. So, I'm just sharing it here.
Pens/Pencils/Stationery:
A $341-million fountain pen market set to be bigger (China Daily): For all of you who thinks fountain pens are outdated, check this out!
Controversy in Chicago Part II: Getting to Know Each Other (The Pen Market): I've never encountered this problem at pen shows. Maybe it's because I have a tendency to become bffs with anyone I meet over the age of 60 or maybe it's because the vendors at smaller shows like Dallas have more patience. Either way, I have LOVED the vintage pen dealers I met. In fact, in spite of the fact that I'm a poor, starving college student, I tend to buy from the older guys because they're adorbs and sweet and talk to me with genuine interest about my life (you're getting a PhD in Literature? Wow, congratulations, you must work really hard!). Still, this is a great article for those who have a hard time getting what's going on with the other "side" of pendom.
Paperbacks (Reading, Books, and Writing):
- Austen with a Twist (Austin Public Library): Last week, in honor of Jane Austen's birthday, the Austin Public Library made this awesome post. Some great book recommendations in here!
31 Of The Funniest Tumblr Posts About Harry Potter (Buzzfeed): Because I never get tired of Harry Potter.
How to Host a Silent Reading Party in 7 Easy Steps (Book Riot): This sounds like heaven to me. Maybe we should get a group together in Dallas to do this?
Love & Friendship is finally a Jane Austen movie adaptation as funny as her books (Vox): Can't wait to see it!
Movies and TV:
- Dalek Relaxation Tape (Devour): Whovians: this is to make you giggle. SO relaxing!
Life in General:
- Things no Self-Respecting Adult Should be Doing on Facebook (Thrillist): I frequently feel like posting this article as a comment to friends' posts.
- The Ingeniously Creepy Ways People are Facebook Stalking You (Thrillist): I keep having conversations with students about this. Creepy.
Tough and Awkward Topics: Warning: there are a lot of "bathroom" articles in here.
One woman had a strange, eye-opening encounter in a Target bathroom. (Up Worthy): This post reminds us about what some of the backlash over the bathroom issues can be--this woman's experience was preposterous, but I have no trouble believing that it happened. People can be awful.
This Mom Shreds Every Bathroom Banner With A Startling Rant Everyone Must Read (American News X): I'm not sure about this particular website (I usually am wary of sites with titles like this), but the message from the mom is brutally honest and worth a read.
I’m a Christian and I Still Shop at Target (Patheos): I may not agree with this person 100% of the time, but for my more conservative friends, here is something to think about.
Debate rages over Fort Worth ISD superintendent’s transgender bathroom policy (Dallas Morning News): Why, yes, that is my good friend, Johnny, speaking up for his students' rights.
Oklahoma lawmakers call ‘state of emergency’ to stop trans kids from using the restroom (RawStory): As a friend said when she shared this, Oklahoma can't call a state of emergency when people's lives are in danger from floods, but they can call one over trans kids needing to pee.
We’ve been thinking about young motherhood all wrong (Fusion): This is an interesting article that makes some good points about young motherhood.
#MaybeHeDoesntHitYou shows how domestic violence is more than physical abuse (Hello, Giggles): Important.
To Make You Laugh:
Teary-Eyed Student Loan Officers Proudly Watch As $200,000 Asset Graduates From College (The Onion): This may be a little too on the nose.
Women Dropping Polite Hints In Western Art History (The Toast): "Baby, I love you, but reading is not a group activity."
Academia, Education, and Teaching:
Declining Student Resilience: A Serious Problem for Colleges (Psychology Today): I have seen this firsthand. Who is raising these kids?
Why Are the Highly Educated So Liberal? (NY Times): Interesting.
Parenting:
- The developmental milestone no one warns parents about (Aleteia): My spiritual director in Indiana used to talk about this, how kids get fussy right before they reach a new milestone. There's a great spiritual metaphor here for adults, too.