Rituals and Sabbaths for Large Family Life
We all have family rituals, whether we realise that is what they are or not. In a larger family these rituals start to take on a life of their own, becoming a sort of adhesive that binds the family together. They might take a little bit of effort to set up, but if the fit is right, I reckon they become the things kids grow up and remember as part of themselves, helping them feel they belong. They communicate a sense of collective belonging that is one of the key ingredients to intrinsic wellbeing.
Making my own life-work manifesto
Lately I have been feeling very disillusioned with the academic life. I mean, I’ve always intellectually known that our reach is often short, our work ignored and overlooked, and our … Continue reading
Three Words 2018: Less, Dwell, Write
In the last few years I have been choosing some focus words for each year, rather than a New Year’s Resolution. In 2018, after reflecting on the words and things … Continue reading
Surviving Well Together
KELLY DOMBROSKI and STEPHEN HEALY describe a community economies approach to poverty which seeks to acknowledge what people are already doing in their communities to sustain themselves and then … Continue reading
Three Words 2017: Prepare, Deeper, Joy
Prepare, deeper, joy. For 2017, these were my touchstone words, reminding me of the things I was to ponder and experiment with this year. Choosing a word for the year … Continue reading
Why diversity matters in Christianity
If you have been around Christian churches long enough, you will know there is often both subtle and not-so-subtle pressures to conform to a certain understanding of Christianity — whatever … Continue reading
Be gone, cruel voices
I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this. I’m thinking of when you have something important to do, to say, but become paralysed by your uncertainty about your ability — … Continue reading
I know, I’ll wait, I’m here
This is re-post of a piece co-authored with Stephen Healy for The Daily Marinade , first published July 15th 2017. In a post circulating on facebook from 2016, a woman … Continue reading
Thinking-with, Dissenting-within
I am about three chapters in to Maria Puig de la Bellacasa’s book Matters of Care: Speculative Ethics in More Than Human Worlds. In the same way that Richard Rohr seems to … Continue reading
Vulnerability and Learning to be Affected
I’ve been struggling with an article for a long time. This piece of writing has evolved through 5 or 6 complete revisions and framings (and many, many more versions), including … Continue reading
The Waiting Day
Another re-blog from The Daily Marinade, a daily devotional I contribute to regularly. This is the time of waiting, the time of not-knowing, the time of awkward looks and sniffles, … Continue reading
Lent as a practice of social change
Reblogged from The Daily Marinade, a daily devotional by a collective of wonderful, thoughtful, spiritual people. Growing up in the Catholic tradition normally meant I at least knew when Lent … Continue reading
Completion: On getting stuff done
Every year, I choose three words and write them on a post-it note above my desk. They help me guide my decision-making for the year in a more intentional way. … Continue reading
Connect: On Making Grown-Up Friends.
Every year I choose three words, put them on a post note above my desk, and use them to help me prioritise my day-to-day decision-making. In 2016, one of those … Continue reading
How to do slow reading
My previous post ‘slow scholarship starts with slow reading’ prompted some questions around slow reading. What do I really mean by slow reading, and how do we do it? It … Continue reading
Quiet: A book review
Recently I was recommended Susan Cain’s book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. My first reaction to the recommendation was ‘but I’m not an … Continue reading
The Beautiful People Collection
Many of you will know I am an avid amateur people reader – that is, I often try to work out people’s temperaments and sometimes even full blown personality profiles … Continue reading
Yes, we know. Christians repurpose pagan festivals.
Well, you know it is a major Christian festival when the academic and social media sites I frequent put out yet another ‘expose’ of Christianity. I yawned at another article … Continue reading
Gender, Personality, and Social change
I have recently been reading David Keirsey‘s book Please Understand Me II, having read Please Understand Me in the first edition many years ago. He uses the Myer-Briggs personality categories … Continue reading
Women in Worship
My life seems to be a juxtaposition of multiple contradictions, which I am constantly trying to reconcile. One such apparent contradiction is my commitments to both Christianity and feminism. Now, … Continue reading
