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Click here to enterHere are brief summaries and links to posts on the blog, Lisa notes, in June 2022.
“I have to write to discover what I am doing.”
– Flannery O’Connor
Here are 6 books I recommend from what I finished reading in June.
[See previously recommended books here]
1. It’s OK That You’re Not OK
Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand
by Megan Devine
This is a 5-star book in my opinion. (I marked over 150 passages.)
If you are experiencing grief (from any kind of loss) or you’re in close relationship with someone going through grief, this book is very beneficial. Megan reminds us that grief is normal; it’s not a problem in need of a solution. Stop trying to “solve” grief. As the title says, it’s okay that you’re not ok.
“Our culture sees grief as a kind of malady: a terrifying, messy emotion that needs to be cleaned up and put behind us as soon as possible. As a result, we have outdated beliefs around how long grief should last and what it should look like. We see it as something to overcome, something to fix, rather than something to tend or support.”
2. The Happiness Trap
How to Stop Struggling and Start Living: A Guide to ACT
by Russ Harris
And somewhat related to the book on grief above, this is another 5-star book.
Our myths about happiness abound:
To counteract these myths, Russ Harris suggests starting with acceptance:
“It means fully opening yourself to your present reality—acknowledging how it is, right here and now, and letting go of the struggle with life as it is in this moment.”
ACT stands for Accept your thoughts and feelings, Connect with your values, and Take effective action. I highly recommend this book, too.
3. Native
Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God
by Kaitlin B. Curtice
I heard Kaitlin Curtice speak at a conference we went to a few weekends ago. Her quiet tone held strong force over the room as she shared what it’s like being an Indigenous person and a Christian in our country. So I knew I had to read her book when I got home. I’m glad I did. I learned so much.
“Because the Indigenous story has been buried under the white story, it will take a lot of work to uncover it. It will take more than Indigenous peoples to do the work—it will take all people. Decolonization doesn’t mean we go back to the beginning, but it means we fix what is broken now, for future generations.”
4. You Got Anything Stronger?
Stories
by Gabrielle Union
I enjoyed this part 2 of Gabrielle Union’s memoir (I haven’t read her first book yet, We’re Going to Need More Wine). She’s brutally honest about her life, her career, her marriage to pro basketball player Dwyane Wade, her zigzag journey to motherhood, all while living in black skin in America.
Here’s a taste:
“I have white friends. I say this to be funny, because that’s what racists always say, right? ‘I can’t be racist, I have a Black friend.’ Have they been to that Black person’s home? Are they in a picture in that Black person’s home, or is this a transactional working relationship? If they feel that close, they should go ask their Black friend if they’re racist then.”
5. Undistracted
Capture Your Purpose. Rediscover Your Joy.
by Bob Goff
Bob Goff is an inspiring storyteller whose life reads like an adventure novel. In this book he weaves his stories together with his faith and his goal of living undistracted. This isn’t my favorite book of his (Everybody, Always is my favorite), but it’s still a wonderful book.
[Read my review and quotes from Undistracted here]
6. A Tale for the Time Being
by Ruth Ozeki
This is a quirky novel about Ruth, a novelist in Canada, who discovers a diary that washes ashore on the beach, written by 16-year-old Nao from Tokyo. The story hops between past and present as we learn Nao’s story as Ruth reads along. The book is very well written and contains a bit of drama, history, and insights on time and relationships.
What good book are YOU reading this month? Please share in the comments.
This week’s memory verse for the 8-8-8 Bible Memory Challenge is Romans 8:28.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
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Near the end of each month I share four somethings with others at Heather’s.
And here’s my latest One Second Everyday monthly video . . .
[click here if you can’t see the video]
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I love using the Waze app on my phone to give me turn-by-turn directions when I’m out and about. GPS apps have been life-changers for me.
But lately I love an added bonus: I switched to the “Headspace” voice option offered free by Waze. She still gives me the basic directions but she also tells me these things periodically:
The soothing voice may be a small thing, but it makes navigating a little less stressful for me.
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To invest in your spirituality, one of the tips in this book is to:
Nurture the practices of spiritual resilience.
It takes work to be resilient, but it is possible even in hard circumstances. For inspiration, McLaren reminds us in the book (and gives lots of resources in the footnotes) to look back at our ancestors and neighbors who have shown resilience through the years.
“Their legacy teaches us to see each intensifying episode of turbulence as a labor pain from which a new creative opportunity can born. Life will be tough; the only question is whether we will become tougher, wiser, and more resilient.”
In my own current difficult situation, I look to the resilient women who have walked this path ahead of me and have remained strong and gracious in their spiritual journeys with God.
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Granted, I’ve only taken step one—I mailed in my application to help staff our local polling places on election days here in Alabama.
But it took courage for me to do even this baby step. So I’m pausing to acknowledge it.
I don’t want to lose our democracy, so if this is one small thing I can do to help keep it in place, I want to step out of my comfort zone and do it.
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I’ve not been looking for a new friend, but I won’t turn one down if she arrives. Finding new friends in adulthood is not as easy as in younger years.
Shannan, one of my newer friends the past couple of years, met a new friend Cathy. She recognized Cathy and I had similar interests. So Shannan set up a meeting for all three of us to meet for coffee on a Sunday afternoon.
It was delightful! Shannan was right. Cathy and I do have a lot in common. I look forward to developing my friendship with both Shannan and Cathy.
Link your blog post below about your One Word and share an update about your One Word in the comments.
You’re at the halfway point with your One Word for the year. Do you remember why you chose it?
Below are 3 questions for you to consider. Can you give a one-sentence answer for each one?
How would you answer these questions?
Think about them this month. Talk them over with fellow One-Worders or with a friend. Pray for wisdom in how you’d like to answer these same questions at the end of the year.
1. WHY DID I CHOOSE THIS WORD?
2. WHY IS THAT GOAL IMPORTANT TO ME?
3. WHY IS THIS WORD HELPING ME THIS YEAR OR NOT HELPING ME?
This One Word linkup will remain open through Thursday night, June 30, for your One Word updates.
The next One Word linkup will begin Friday, July 22 (every One Word linkup in 2022 opens on the 22nd).
Why did you choose your One Word for 2022? Leave a comment here about your One Word.
