Speaking or writing or drawing or painting of the sacred is an extremely fragile enterprise—as is building and sustaining relationships. But despite the many times our words and works seem to whoosh right past one another without making a meaningful connection, we keep trying. We must.
Your approach is appropriate. I've found that my "voice" shifts as I write to someone I yearn to love well. In your post, I hear this same kind of subtle voice shift and perhaps a tiny bit more of the tenderness in your heart. Know that I (and many others, based on the comments below) don't take this lightly. It's a precious gift. Thank you.
It's extraordinarily painful to feel like an outsider to the Church. Even traumatic. I've been there. To a large degree, I am still an outsider, though I do my best to show up and be present. The bad news is that much of what hurts me is still there, and I often go into emotional spasms when it shows up. But the good news is that I'm sensing something new emerging in the Church and in me.
I found a spark in a tiny congregation in Edinburgh, Scotland. I've felt strong flickerings in the writings of folks like Curt Thompson, Wesley Vander Lugt, N.T. Wright, Kelly Kapic, Mako Fujimora, and many more. Something is afoot. A kind of new "wineskin" is being offered to the Church that offers a more expansive space for the Spirit to move in mysterious ways. But it's not about scale, or anything that can be bought or sold or programmed. It's not about a new doctrine, but a revivification of an ancient one that we seem to have forgotten how to live into. You are right. We need a new language for this.
Literally have been having the word Christianese rolling around my head and thoughts this last week! You always have the words to say and express what I haven’t been able to articulate. Words are not my gift so thank you for always having the right ones to say that give me answers and a way to breathe knowing it’s not just me. ❤️
Well, this just brought me to tears before my morning coffee. In the best way.
What once held comfort and certainty, now is grating and constricting. The language I once used (and filled 2 books with 😳) feels so so small and foreign for how I now live. Many of the things I’d freely and casually tell thousands of strangers from pulpits and blog posts, I no longer want to share at all. Yet I feel more connected to the One Who is Love than I ever did by “trying” to be more connected. I am learning to be grateful for good things without being an turd and not to have to explain hard things as anything other than what they are.
My language has morphed to Wonder, Love and metaphor to in a very faltering way explain a new journey I really am still… and I hope I will always be finding new language for. Where I felt moved by worship music and settings, I find my being in silence and sunshine and dirt and sitting under trees. Of harvesting pennywort (dollar weed) from my lawn and replanting it in its own patch. (It’s edible and delicious.)
I still love Jesus with all my breath but my language and experience of Christ has grown in the last decade of dark hard things… which leaves many people in my world worried about my theology and eternity. That and I cuss judiciously now.
I guess you could say my language was once tame and content with cages, but has been rescued, rehabilitated and allowed to be released back to the wild where its is allowed to exist in a place deeper than words. Even if that wild place is simply my backyard.
Because as one Christian man whom I deeply respect said, sometimes those are the right words.
Unlike a decades-long friend who, when I was recently with them, expressed they were glad to see I was "doing better" than when we had been together a few months ago, because at the prior togetherness I had "used a word you shouldn't" [I'm quite certain it was something mild like "hell," knowing they are quite sensitive to these things, exactly as I used to be] and seemed very bitter. Never mind that when we were together prior I was discussing some deeply painful and personal harms I had experienced and was (still am) now processing.
And yes, I am sure this friend worries for my theology. Ah, well. I know that I know that I know Jesus. No one can take that away.
SO much goodness here, but I want you to know that your footnotes are often my favorite part of your writing (both in your books and Substack). It's a bonus view into your creative brilliance. Thanks for who you are. <3
Stunning!!!! I walk away today carrying a simple prayer… let love fill the hole… the judgment in my heart and let me see each person as someone I am connected to!!!
"And I want—I pray—for Christ to become my consciousness so that my judgement of those who do not speak like me, who do not vote like me, who might not yet have suffered like me, who perhaps have not shared privileges I have had, who see my language as heresy or my heart as deceived can also be held in unending connection and love."
This is so hopeful. Especially "who might not yet have suffered like me." When someone I love thoughtlessly rails against people on disability or puts "logic" over "feelings" my blood pretty much vaporizes in an instant. But I can hope for Christ to flow through that without erasing my righteous indignation and turn my response into love.
Logic over feelings sends me into a spin of anger. I lived my life that way until my body would no longer let me. I've spent the last year learning to attune to my body and it's emotions. It's been damn hard and beautifully rewarding work.
I too appreciate KJ's prayer to let the love of Christ flow through her to those people as well. I suppose that I need to adopt this prayer and mindset too. For my own good, and for theirs.
I hear you (though I'm sorry for triggering that anger!). And WELL DONE. That work is not easy, and it's often not supported by the people around you. But it is good and healing.
The things you share about faith are more relatable and accurately said of my own heart and experience than anyone else (besides my 🔥 husband) —🤣, couldn’t resist, I hate those “hot” objectifying interjections as well 🙄 — umm don’t get me started on worship lyrics, or omg, the “God did ____”testimonies. It was really really good for my heart to hear that latter example. I guess your message today told me it’s okay I have what feels like ungodly reactions to this evangelical-if you will- lingo. I have been through a lot over the last decade and I don’t fit in in many of my circles bc I don’t use the right words. Some might say I’m too stuck in pain bc life didn’t miraculously make a turn for me. [hidden] Suffering is a regular companion of mine and I can’t receive praise for how I’m navigating it all bc, if I’m honest, I’m regularly angry, sad, and wrestling in prayer for healing & I hate faking words to look like a good Christian, so I don’t receive the praise, “You are navigating this so well.” 🙄 Nor do I want that! But holding to my truth, desiring (desperately needing?) authenticity, and not just speaking the Christianese is…lonely.😑
Yet, God has met me deeply.🥹🥹 I know there’s stuff in me that needs redemption, like you share here, too. I long to be open to it, but I’m not here to fake my way. If it’s God’s work in me, it’s gotta be for real God. Thanks, KJ 👊🏻 wish we could be friends in real life. ☺️
KJ - I wrote you some things my husband & I went through when our church had transformed into cultic. My husband wrote an autobiography about our life- he has a section containing our experience with an authoritarian leadership. If you’d like to read some excerpts from that, I could send them, but want to send privately. If you’re interested in reading them, let me know how to do that.
Hi Bonnie, I’m so glad you and he have written down your own stories with care. I’m not in a place where reading that would be good for me, but I do hope you’ll share your stories with others in ways that honor what you’ve lived. 🙏🏼
KJ - I am kinda embarrassed- I keep trying to attribute all my remission on age, health.
But I realized I don’t recall making any payments for Embody. I gapped, so just need some guidance- I’d like to pay thru PayPal which I think I read I could. What I don’t really have a clue is how much I owe by now. I may have paid for subscription at one point when purchasing a book?
Not sure, if you could check how many years I’ve received Embody I will use PayPal.. I would also like to donate a few subscriptions to your site to some in need, thank you & I do apologize- I did totally gap, but want to get current.
Thank you so much! Hope I’m writing where I need to now.
Hey there! You paid for a year subscription, and it renews automatically in a couple days, October 6th. If you’d like to donate to the subscription scholarship fund, you are welcome to do so on Venmo to @kjramseywrites
KJ - this is really beautiful! Like other ways I have felt connected to you - 1st - finding hope in my pain from all your books- this embody article takes me way back to when our sincere Christian group slowly turned into full-on cult.
My husband was a pretty new Christian so when our wedding approached- we were told we would live with another family. One of the leaders. his wife & 2 kids. What I hadn’t realized was were smack in the middle of what I later knew was Authoritarianism. My husband, new & enthused took the bait & while I protested with all the reasons I did not want to do this, I didn’t know, our church also was at a point where me, the wife to be, nothing I said mattered. So our 1st year of marriage was by far our worst. My husband worked all the time- I was at home, sharing chores with the wife. I’ll keep this short, but it wasn’t long before I was terribly depressed & my husband believing everything they said was God. By end of 1st year& I should add, in retrospect the leaders over us weren’t much older & they were definitely taking their hits by their leaders, one man in charge finally says - this living together- for a new wife, was very confusing as I really didn’t know who I answered to - husband- the husband & wife we lived with? So we needed to move out. It was a little too late to save me from total devastation.
My husband is most grieved for what happened to me that year. As he started to wake up, he also realized he needed to hear God, not any man at that point. Slowly, we both began to heal & truly learned to love each other. He was a very independent thinker before this time. We eventually moved far away & found ourselves skeptical of any church. I came across a book called The Devastated Christian. This guy was describing what we lived through & I realized I was still devastated. My husband became his independent self & it took many painful years of looking for Christians we could trust. It is a wonder we came out of this Christians at all. Many marriages did not survive. What I knew was, that I really knew Jesus & we would find our way. Jesus Revolution movie was definitely my beginnings of Christianity- heard Lonnie Frisbee preach- it was truly a Jesus movement & Jesus was at the heart of it! What my husband & I didn’t know was how wrong Christians could be. This is over 5O years ago.
The Devastated Christian author says this ugly Authoritarian movement hits about every 50 years. Sounds like it found its way into yours & Ryan’s life. You two with all your additional pain, came through it as well. Still loving Jesus, each other & then figuring out where to go from there & looks like the search is rather endless. I do know the church we are now - mostly old people :). But, somehow most of them did not have to fall into the trap. Though I still think the people who really loved Jesus were the ones who showed up when I got sick. My husband’s closest friend - they have breakfast every week, are pretty like-minded as far as just not wanting to run & do everything our church does. My husband still rebels when a speaker will say, ok everyone move up- closing in gap from back - my husband won’t move. I rarely go, but hope to do that if health stays a little better. Have lottsa pillows & blankets to bring to be comfortable outside of my chair at home. I was fortunate to make genuine friends (lost my best 2017) but some remain from where we put our kids in a Christian school. I sure don’t believe everyone has to go to a Christian school, but we did - my kids did & I am so grateful for how they all love the Lord. Having said that. especially with our culture today I know my daughter who has kids in public school has had to be so vigilant in teaching them to discern truth from so much garbage. She did a great job! I just want to tell you who she is as she is on Facebook- Carly Webber, she started a ministry Stronger- she counsels women - mostly young with young kids, who are in abused relationships in marriage or not married. She lives in Great Falls & it’s a growing ministry- (she’s been on radio). Now trains women to counsel & they can do long distance due to internet. She came through a terrible divorce when husband cheated & wouldn’t quit. One of the most terrible times in our lives as well as we watched what grandkids went through & my daughter, learned first hand how to navigate as she thought marriage was for life. You can check her out on Facebook. Just if you know anyone in this place - I would recommend her, not just because she’s my daughter. She has amazed me & passed me up long ago in wisdom- well she does still ask me questions- like how to make our chocolate pie for Thanksgiving. I’m going another tangent here- but I realized chocolate was missing at Thanksgiving- the only
holiday I know that lacked that.
But back to you & Ryan- we admire you both so much -& will sure pray for you as you continue to grow & search? We never stop learning- though I don’t want to learn anymore- it’s just the reality of life. Love you dearly & pray for both of you - so glad you have each other. Sounds like you found a good one too! ❤️🙏💕
Reading this post of yours is like a delicious and nourishing meal to me! There are times for "cussing". My older sister married a man she was sure would become a professor then became a pastor. Her words of wisdom for decades has been, "Mondays are for cussing!" I love my big sister! You'd like her, too.
Those are a lot of interesting thoughts. It's definitely not an angle I'm familiar with but a lot of what you said resonates with me but in a different manner. For me, I'm enjoying getting into this Christianese (I love the word). I'm enjoying finding a lot of words I say, ideas I have have been covered by others sometimes verbatim. For me that shows I'm growing in Christ. Thanks for the article.
Gosh! Thank you for putting into words how my husband and I feel. I’ve been off grid a lot this year due to really ill health. Plus the last 12 years have been one crisis after another. In that time our faith language has also changed and we feel often lost within our own denomination, unsure why we just don’t fit. Thank you for speaking the words of our hearts 💕 🙏
You had me with the fishbowl meme. Or was it the quote you shared from Marianne who said. “The purpose of your life is to allow that love to extend through you to the person you are thinking about or encountering.”
I have been wondering more than ever in these divisive times how to break through the barriers of hatred that are spreading in our world like a virus. Then I read your words when you said "I wonder what ways of speaking, what ways of writing my books and talking on the phone to my Republican parents or replying to a rude comment on my Instagram might carry nourishment along that web instead of cutting it off as only for those who speak and act in symbols like mine." It brought a smile to my face, and I said to myself it is time for me to subscribe to KJ's writings and become engaged here!
Bill! Your words and support mean so much to me, especially because YOU were one of the first to invite me into a more expansive dialogue about faith. I think about our talks at Camp every now and then and have always wanted to write about how that summer shifted something deep in me. Maybe we need to exchange a letter here too? Email me at kj@kjramsey.com if you’d be interested, old friend. And: zero pressure and zero rush!
Thank you KJ. I forwarded Ryan’s recent post to my adult children and some dear friends. It was so good! And I will do the same with this. Thank you for articulating the oft unspoken, unnamed experience of so many of us. Grateful for your courage to put these words out in the universe. I am reading and holding them with much thought and care. Jackie P
Speaking or writing or drawing or painting of the sacred is an extremely fragile enterprise—as is building and sustaining relationships. But despite the many times our words and works seem to whoosh right past one another without making a meaningful connection, we keep trying. We must.
Your approach is appropriate. I've found that my "voice" shifts as I write to someone I yearn to love well. In your post, I hear this same kind of subtle voice shift and perhaps a tiny bit more of the tenderness in your heart. Know that I (and many others, based on the comments below) don't take this lightly. It's a precious gift. Thank you.
It's extraordinarily painful to feel like an outsider to the Church. Even traumatic. I've been there. To a large degree, I am still an outsider, though I do my best to show up and be present. The bad news is that much of what hurts me is still there, and I often go into emotional spasms when it shows up. But the good news is that I'm sensing something new emerging in the Church and in me.
I found a spark in a tiny congregation in Edinburgh, Scotland. I've felt strong flickerings in the writings of folks like Curt Thompson, Wesley Vander Lugt, N.T. Wright, Kelly Kapic, Mako Fujimora, and many more. Something is afoot. A kind of new "wineskin" is being offered to the Church that offers a more expansive space for the Spirit to move in mysterious ways. But it's not about scale, or anything that can be bought or sold or programmed. It's not about a new doctrine, but a revivification of an ancient one that we seem to have forgotten how to live into. You are right. We need a new language for this.
Literally have been having the word Christianese rolling around my head and thoughts this last week! You always have the words to say and express what I haven’t been able to articulate. Words are not my gift so thank you for always having the right ones to say that give me answers and a way to breathe knowing it’s not just me. ❤️
Well, this just brought me to tears before my morning coffee. In the best way.
What once held comfort and certainty, now is grating and constricting. The language I once used (and filled 2 books with 😳) feels so so small and foreign for how I now live. Many of the things I’d freely and casually tell thousands of strangers from pulpits and blog posts, I no longer want to share at all. Yet I feel more connected to the One Who is Love than I ever did by “trying” to be more connected. I am learning to be grateful for good things without being an turd and not to have to explain hard things as anything other than what they are.
My language has morphed to Wonder, Love and metaphor to in a very faltering way explain a new journey I really am still… and I hope I will always be finding new language for. Where I felt moved by worship music and settings, I find my being in silence and sunshine and dirt and sitting under trees. Of harvesting pennywort (dollar weed) from my lawn and replanting it in its own patch. (It’s edible and delicious.)
I still love Jesus with all my breath but my language and experience of Christ has grown in the last decade of dark hard things… which leaves many people in my world worried about my theology and eternity. That and I cuss judiciously now.
I guess you could say my language was once tame and content with cages, but has been rescued, rehabilitated and allowed to be released back to the wild where its is allowed to exist in a place deeper than words. Even if that wild place is simply my backyard.
So freaking grateful for you! 🥰🥰🥰
Cuss judiciously.
Yes.
Because as one Christian man whom I deeply respect said, sometimes those are the right words.
Unlike a decades-long friend who, when I was recently with them, expressed they were glad to see I was "doing better" than when we had been together a few months ago, because at the prior togetherness I had "used a word you shouldn't" [I'm quite certain it was something mild like "hell," knowing they are quite sensitive to these things, exactly as I used to be] and seemed very bitter. Never mind that when we were together prior I was discussing some deeply painful and personal harms I had experienced and was (still am) now processing.
And yes, I am sure this friend worries for my theology. Ah, well. I know that I know that I know Jesus. No one can take that away.
SO much goodness here, but I want you to know that your footnotes are often my favorite part of your writing (both in your books and Substack). It's a bonus view into your creative brilliance. Thanks for who you are. <3
Same!!!
Stunning!!!! I walk away today carrying a simple prayer… let love fill the hole… the judgment in my heart and let me see each person as someone I am connected to!!!
"And I want—I pray—for Christ to become my consciousness so that my judgement of those who do not speak like me, who do not vote like me, who might not yet have suffered like me, who perhaps have not shared privileges I have had, who see my language as heresy or my heart as deceived can also be held in unending connection and love."
This is so hopeful. Especially "who might not yet have suffered like me." When someone I love thoughtlessly rails against people on disability or puts "logic" over "feelings" my blood pretty much vaporizes in an instant. But I can hope for Christ to flow through that without erasing my righteous indignation and turn my response into love.
Logic over feelings sends me into a spin of anger. I lived my life that way until my body would no longer let me. I've spent the last year learning to attune to my body and it's emotions. It's been damn hard and beautifully rewarding work.
I too appreciate KJ's prayer to let the love of Christ flow through her to those people as well. I suppose that I need to adopt this prayer and mindset too. For my own good, and for theirs.
I hear you (though I'm sorry for triggering that anger!). And WELL DONE. That work is not easy, and it's often not supported by the people around you. But it is good and healing.
Oh, YOU didn't trigger anything!
It's heating people promote that way of being that makes me angry. And yes, it is massively hard for most people to support that. Massively.
The things you share about faith are more relatable and accurately said of my own heart and experience than anyone else (besides my 🔥 husband) —🤣, couldn’t resist, I hate those “hot” objectifying interjections as well 🙄 — umm don’t get me started on worship lyrics, or omg, the “God did ____”testimonies. It was really really good for my heart to hear that latter example. I guess your message today told me it’s okay I have what feels like ungodly reactions to this evangelical-if you will- lingo. I have been through a lot over the last decade and I don’t fit in in many of my circles bc I don’t use the right words. Some might say I’m too stuck in pain bc life didn’t miraculously make a turn for me. [hidden] Suffering is a regular companion of mine and I can’t receive praise for how I’m navigating it all bc, if I’m honest, I’m regularly angry, sad, and wrestling in prayer for healing & I hate faking words to look like a good Christian, so I don’t receive the praise, “You are navigating this so well.” 🙄 Nor do I want that! But holding to my truth, desiring (desperately needing?) authenticity, and not just speaking the Christianese is…lonely.😑
Yet, God has met me deeply.🥹🥹 I know there’s stuff in me that needs redemption, like you share here, too. I long to be open to it, but I’m not here to fake my way. If it’s God’s work in me, it’s gotta be for real God. Thanks, KJ 👊🏻 wish we could be friends in real life. ☺️
KJ - I wrote you some things my husband & I went through when our church had transformed into cultic. My husband wrote an autobiography about our life- he has a section containing our experience with an authoritarian leadership. If you’d like to read some excerpts from that, I could send them, but want to send privately. If you’re interested in reading them, let me know how to do that.
Thank you & God bless,
Bonnie Ruggiero
Hi Bonnie, I’m so glad you and he have written down your own stories with care. I’m not in a place where reading that would be good for me, but I do hope you’ll share your stories with others in ways that honor what you’ve lived. 🙏🏼
KJ - I am kinda embarrassed- I keep trying to attribute all my remission on age, health.
But I realized I don’t recall making any payments for Embody. I gapped, so just need some guidance- I’d like to pay thru PayPal which I think I read I could. What I don’t really have a clue is how much I owe by now. I may have paid for subscription at one point when purchasing a book?
Not sure, if you could check how many years I’ve received Embody I will use PayPal.. I would also like to donate a few subscriptions to your site to some in need, thank you & I do apologize- I did totally gap, but want to get current.
Thank you so much! Hope I’m writing where I need to now.
God bless,
Bonnie
Hey there! You paid for a year subscription, and it renews automatically in a couple days, October 6th. If you’d like to donate to the subscription scholarship fund, you are welcome to do so on Venmo to @kjramseywrites
Thanks for your support!
KJ - this is really beautiful! Like other ways I have felt connected to you - 1st - finding hope in my pain from all your books- this embody article takes me way back to when our sincere Christian group slowly turned into full-on cult.
My husband was a pretty new Christian so when our wedding approached- we were told we would live with another family. One of the leaders. his wife & 2 kids. What I hadn’t realized was were smack in the middle of what I later knew was Authoritarianism. My husband, new & enthused took the bait & while I protested with all the reasons I did not want to do this, I didn’t know, our church also was at a point where me, the wife to be, nothing I said mattered. So our 1st year of marriage was by far our worst. My husband worked all the time- I was at home, sharing chores with the wife. I’ll keep this short, but it wasn’t long before I was terribly depressed & my husband believing everything they said was God. By end of 1st year& I should add, in retrospect the leaders over us weren’t much older & they were definitely taking their hits by their leaders, one man in charge finally says - this living together- for a new wife, was very confusing as I really didn’t know who I answered to - husband- the husband & wife we lived with? So we needed to move out. It was a little too late to save me from total devastation.
My husband is most grieved for what happened to me that year. As he started to wake up, he also realized he needed to hear God, not any man at that point. Slowly, we both began to heal & truly learned to love each other. He was a very independent thinker before this time. We eventually moved far away & found ourselves skeptical of any church. I came across a book called The Devastated Christian. This guy was describing what we lived through & I realized I was still devastated. My husband became his independent self & it took many painful years of looking for Christians we could trust. It is a wonder we came out of this Christians at all. Many marriages did not survive. What I knew was, that I really knew Jesus & we would find our way. Jesus Revolution movie was definitely my beginnings of Christianity- heard Lonnie Frisbee preach- it was truly a Jesus movement & Jesus was at the heart of it! What my husband & I didn’t know was how wrong Christians could be. This is over 5O years ago.
The Devastated Christian author says this ugly Authoritarian movement hits about every 50 years. Sounds like it found its way into yours & Ryan’s life. You two with all your additional pain, came through it as well. Still loving Jesus, each other & then figuring out where to go from there & looks like the search is rather endless. I do know the church we are now - mostly old people :). But, somehow most of them did not have to fall into the trap. Though I still think the people who really loved Jesus were the ones who showed up when I got sick. My husband’s closest friend - they have breakfast every week, are pretty like-minded as far as just not wanting to run & do everything our church does. My husband still rebels when a speaker will say, ok everyone move up- closing in gap from back - my husband won’t move. I rarely go, but hope to do that if health stays a little better. Have lottsa pillows & blankets to bring to be comfortable outside of my chair at home. I was fortunate to make genuine friends (lost my best 2017) but some remain from where we put our kids in a Christian school. I sure don’t believe everyone has to go to a Christian school, but we did - my kids did & I am so grateful for how they all love the Lord. Having said that. especially with our culture today I know my daughter who has kids in public school has had to be so vigilant in teaching them to discern truth from so much garbage. She did a great job! I just want to tell you who she is as she is on Facebook- Carly Webber, she started a ministry Stronger- she counsels women - mostly young with young kids, who are in abused relationships in marriage or not married. She lives in Great Falls & it’s a growing ministry- (she’s been on radio). Now trains women to counsel & they can do long distance due to internet. She came through a terrible divorce when husband cheated & wouldn’t quit. One of the most terrible times in our lives as well as we watched what grandkids went through & my daughter, learned first hand how to navigate as she thought marriage was for life. You can check her out on Facebook. Just if you know anyone in this place - I would recommend her, not just because she’s my daughter. She has amazed me & passed me up long ago in wisdom- well she does still ask me questions- like how to make our chocolate pie for Thanksgiving. I’m going another tangent here- but I realized chocolate was missing at Thanksgiving- the only
holiday I know that lacked that.
But back to you & Ryan- we admire you both so much -& will sure pray for you as you continue to grow & search? We never stop learning- though I don’t want to learn anymore- it’s just the reality of life. Love you dearly & pray for both of you - so glad you have each other. Sounds like you found a good one too! ❤️🙏💕
Reading this post of yours is like a delicious and nourishing meal to me! There are times for "cussing". My older sister married a man she was sure would become a professor then became a pastor. Her words of wisdom for decades has been, "Mondays are for cussing!" I love my big sister! You'd like her, too.
Those are a lot of interesting thoughts. It's definitely not an angle I'm familiar with but a lot of what you said resonates with me but in a different manner. For me, I'm enjoying getting into this Christianese (I love the word). I'm enjoying finding a lot of words I say, ideas I have have been covered by others sometimes verbatim. For me that shows I'm growing in Christ. Thanks for the article.
As i go about my day today I will be recalling these thoughts and grappling with how to hear the world around me better.
Gosh! Thank you for putting into words how my husband and I feel. I’ve been off grid a lot this year due to really ill health. Plus the last 12 years have been one crisis after another. In that time our faith language has also changed and we feel often lost within our own denomination, unsure why we just don’t fit. Thank you for speaking the words of our hearts 💕 🙏
You had me with the fishbowl meme. Or was it the quote you shared from Marianne who said. “The purpose of your life is to allow that love to extend through you to the person you are thinking about or encountering.”
I have been wondering more than ever in these divisive times how to break through the barriers of hatred that are spreading in our world like a virus. Then I read your words when you said "I wonder what ways of speaking, what ways of writing my books and talking on the phone to my Republican parents or replying to a rude comment on my Instagram might carry nourishment along that web instead of cutting it off as only for those who speak and act in symbols like mine." It brought a smile to my face, and I said to myself it is time for me to subscribe to KJ's writings and become engaged here!
Bill! Your words and support mean so much to me, especially because YOU were one of the first to invite me into a more expansive dialogue about faith. I think about our talks at Camp every now and then and have always wanted to write about how that summer shifted something deep in me. Maybe we need to exchange a letter here too? Email me at kj@kjramsey.com if you’d be interested, old friend. And: zero pressure and zero rush!
Thank you KJ. I forwarded Ryan’s recent post to my adult children and some dear friends. It was so good! And I will do the same with this. Thank you for articulating the oft unspoken, unnamed experience of so many of us. Grateful for your courage to put these words out in the universe. I am reading and holding them with much thought and care. Jackie P
Thankful for your voice and this letter. Sitting In a similar place and I find comfort everytime you share your words, friend. ❤️