January 2022 (#2)
- Amanda Gorman revisits her history-making Inauguration Day poem with a gorgeous piece on state of mind and the place of terror. “I look at fear not as cowardice but as a call forward, a summons to fight for what we hold dear.” Don’t miss this from our national treasure.
- Robert P. Jones on the “Sacred Work of White Discomfort.” The title alone is valuable, and it’s one of the best essays I’ve read in this arena. “Particularly in white evangelical circles, discomfort is central to both salvation and discipleship.” Builds the overlooked bridge from the personal to the communal.
- And the brilliant Rev. Tish Harrison Warren makes this same case from the viewpoint of a pastor in “Is America Willing to Tell the Truth About Its History?” “Repentance for sin is not simply to feel sorry about something but to actively address and repair wrong that’s been done.” Thanks Pastor!
- Kyle Melnick on lacrosse and Mark Maske inside the NFL coaching universe offer a valuable glimpse into the institutional racism still gripping sports.
- And for some real-life comedy today, read this BBC report to the end…wonderfully British!
The Gathering 