I have been home alone this week – kiddos have been visiting with their grandparents. It all came about suddenly and before I knew it, they were off on their trip and I was home alone. I had a million things on my “must-do list”, the least of which was to write some thoughtful (no little ones interrupting my train of thought! yay!!!) blog posts.
But I have had the startling experience of unproductivity in the face of all this independence. Yes, I still had my job to do every morning for several hours. Yes, we managed to shop for and purchase a second car. Yes, we’ve moved Abbey’s bedroom out of our walk-in closet and into the boys’ room (this required a lot of painting). Yes, we are still trying to get the boys’ room ready downstairs. Yes, Logan and I went out to celebrate our tenth anniversary (I thought for sure I would have a sentimental blog post about how our relationship has grown and changed and beautifully improved over the years). But I have been lonely and uninspired without my entourage. I’ve also avoided everyone else in my life and turned into a hermit this week!
So I decided today it was the least I could do to share some of my favorite posts from other bloggers this week. When I have my little posse back, I’ll be eager to be having adult thoughts again and won’t be zoning out to “White Collar” episodes every night. Without further ado…
This week, Jon Huckins wrote about “Raising Girls In a World Where They are Less Than Human.” I would encourage you to email this powerful post to the fathers of daughters in your contact list. I did.
The Junia Project shared the “10 Best Sites for Egalitarians (+5 more).” Check them out!
Esther Emery explained “What Feminists and Complementarians Have in Common (Let Me Be a Woman).” In a similar vein, Marg Mowczko wisely taught us “How to Keep Friends and Influence People” when sharing our Egalitarian views with others.
Tim and Anne Evans share a third post in their marriage series on The Junia Project, “Co-Leadership in Marriage: Who’s In Authority?” Earlier posts in the series: “Co-Leadership in Marriage: Let’s Talk about Submission” and “Co-Leadership in Marriage: What about Headship?”
I loved this piece by Rachel Held Evans on modesty for Q: “Modesty: I Don’t Think it Means What You Think it Means.”
Sarah Bessey wrote this beautiful piece for The High Calling: “Rethinking Scarcity: A Legacy of Abundance.” Here are a couple quotes to whet your appetite:
The myth of scarcity tells the powerful to accumulate and take and dominate, to be driven by the fear of Not Enough and Never Enough. We make our decisions out of fear and anxiety that there isn’t enough for us. These core beliefs can lead us to the treacheries of war and hunger, injustice and inequality. We must keep others down so we can stay on top. We stockpile money and food and comforts at the expense of one another and our own souls. Throughout Scripture, we can see the myth of scarcity’s impact on—and even within—the nation of Israel. The prophets wrote and stood in bold criticism against the empire’s myth of scarcity that built on the backs of the poor and oppressed….
…But it’s within the life of our Jesus that we see it most clearly: Jesus was the full embodiment of what it means to be human in the way that God intended. He uplifts instead of tearing down, he heals instead of kills, he lays down his life instead of fighting to survive, he chooses compassion instead of numb acceptance, he is water to a thirsty soul, bread to the hungry, oil of joy for mourning. And instead of death, he is life. Life!\
And The Work of the People posted a new video with Sarah Bessey that you should not miss: “Detoxing From Not Enough.”
Here is a link to a free ebook by Oscar Romero: “The Violence of Love.” I will definitely be reading this. He was martyred while he was the archbishop of San Salvador, assassinated for his work on behalf of the oppressed.
Ann Voskamp’s weekly “Multivitamins for Your Weekend” always bring a smile.
I wholeheartedly agree with Elizabeth Esther on parents who use home schooling as a means to abusing their children. Makes me furious. Gotta love her title: “Protecting Christian homeschooling’s reputation vs. protecting abused kids, slam poetry for menstruation, children of Christian narcissists and books I’ve been reading.”
I really love Kathy Escobar. This week she has been sharing a helpful series on grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. We’re all grieving something, so this is powerful stuff.
And don’t miss the CBE links: “The Scroll Links Up 6/27/14”.
Thanks for stopping by, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook!
The Beautiful Kingdom Builders 