Beautiful, powerful prayer. Thank you for sharing that. I'm thinking a lot about electoral politics vs governing lately. I often get teary when I go to vote. I love the long lines of people. The cheerful, encouraging volunteers. I love when parents bring young children to explain how it all works. And when the whole room cheers for a first-time voter. I have seen recently naturalized folks taking family photos out front, grunning and teary eyed. We do this in schools and churches and libraries and community centers. The whole thing just moves me.it is the best of America. For a moment we are not enemies or consumers we are citizens and neighbors. Even though we may be voting wildly differently, this collective event feels like Nish's quote. But of course the shadow side is always there these days. I cannot get over the fact that just before this election someone in his political fervor beat Nancy Pelosi's 81 year old husband with a hammer. A very different kind of tears. 😔 Praying a lot. Guirding our loins for the holidays. Thankful for folks like Pantsuit Politics and Sharon Says So who are like the anti-Limbaughs, undoing decades of damage one nuanced political conversation at a time. 🥘 Foodwise our house is going into full comfort food mode, and we have big plans to make a roast beef with authentic yorkshire pudding.
Coming from a family that lived in a place where there really wasn't anything resembling real democracy, I'm grateful every single time for the opportunity to vote—and I'm also reminded that it isn't enough. Thanks, too, for the prompt to make Yorkshire puddings... it's been a long while.
Thank you for those prayers. Im disappointed in my home Nashville's election results. Redistricting broke our county into separate parts so now Nashville will be represented by a republican for the first time since the reconstruction era. Immediately after a bill was proposed to criminalize drag shows. It's frustrating to feel like those in power are manipulating things to their own ends with seemingly no care for actually representing the people who live here. Everything feels so broken. Trying to concentrate on prayer and community and things that I can control over things I can't.
Your prayer would have been some comfort to me that morning but I can offer it to my 2016 self... and anyway she's still right here reading, believing those sunflower seeds are blooming in a number of ways. Thank you. I'm staring at the Gulf today. It's beautiful. Fresh shrimp tonight. I'm a cocktail sauce fan but lately I'm fascinated with dark, mustardy variations of remoulade. I can't get enough of it. Jeff, I admire your Independent voting status. I just shifted mine after many years of the same and am grateful that clearly so many showed up to vote. What's giving me hope? The steady breeze in these palm trees, and the reminder of my grandfather who would have been 122 today! :) He was a UMC pastor and he passed his love of the church to me. I wondered if he would be proud of me this morning, as my work is so untraditional and demands such a different view of who the church actually is. Just as I wondered this during my morning meditations, a dolphin leapt high out of the gulf waters. Thats been with me all day.
I am a Grand Rapids resident, like you. I am thrilled with the election results. I make no bones about my distaste for what serves as the Republican party today. I recommend this panel from Georgetown to you, on Christian Nationalism, which you mention in your blog today. It starts at about the 14 minute mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6L5QXTgErI
Oh that prayer. 💟 Thank you for sharing those beautiful words--much needed in my life these days. I will read & reread it in the days & weeks to come. My home state (SC) continued to vote in ways that will keep our citizens mired in prejudice, poverty, & backward movement. I feel hopeless & angry. The words in your prayer have already soothed my spirit. I am grateful.
I love the variety iof subjects in your newsletter. This one especially. Every topic— your reflections on friendship and politics and cooking— and the profound and moving prayer were meaningful to me. Thankyou!🙏
Loved the prayer, ty. I’d love to see you cooking and chatting with friends on the Food Network! Also, I’m sure you’ve thought of creating a cook-story book to share your recipes and life stories. It would be so cool. I unexpectedly look forward to reading the cooking section of these posts! 🤩
Beautiful, powerful prayer. Thank you for sharing that. I'm thinking a lot about electoral politics vs governing lately. I often get teary when I go to vote. I love the long lines of people. The cheerful, encouraging volunteers. I love when parents bring young children to explain how it all works. And when the whole room cheers for a first-time voter. I have seen recently naturalized folks taking family photos out front, grunning and teary eyed. We do this in schools and churches and libraries and community centers. The whole thing just moves me.it is the best of America. For a moment we are not enemies or consumers we are citizens and neighbors. Even though we may be voting wildly differently, this collective event feels like Nish's quote. But of course the shadow side is always there these days. I cannot get over the fact that just before this election someone in his political fervor beat Nancy Pelosi's 81 year old husband with a hammer. A very different kind of tears. 😔 Praying a lot. Guirding our loins for the holidays. Thankful for folks like Pantsuit Politics and Sharon Says So who are like the anti-Limbaughs, undoing decades of damage one nuanced political conversation at a time. 🥘 Foodwise our house is going into full comfort food mode, and we have big plans to make a roast beef with authentic yorkshire pudding.
Coming from a family that lived in a place where there really wasn't anything resembling real democracy, I'm grateful every single time for the opportunity to vote—and I'm also reminded that it isn't enough. Thanks, too, for the prompt to make Yorkshire puddings... it's been a long while.
Thank you for those prayers. Im disappointed in my home Nashville's election results. Redistricting broke our county into separate parts so now Nashville will be represented by a republican for the first time since the reconstruction era. Immediately after a bill was proposed to criminalize drag shows. It's frustrating to feel like those in power are manipulating things to their own ends with seemingly no care for actually representing the people who live here. Everything feels so broken. Trying to concentrate on prayer and community and things that I can control over things I can't.
Your prayer would have been some comfort to me that morning but I can offer it to my 2016 self... and anyway she's still right here reading, believing those sunflower seeds are blooming in a number of ways. Thank you. I'm staring at the Gulf today. It's beautiful. Fresh shrimp tonight. I'm a cocktail sauce fan but lately I'm fascinated with dark, mustardy variations of remoulade. I can't get enough of it. Jeff, I admire your Independent voting status. I just shifted mine after many years of the same and am grateful that clearly so many showed up to vote. What's giving me hope? The steady breeze in these palm trees, and the reminder of my grandfather who would have been 122 today! :) He was a UMC pastor and he passed his love of the church to me. I wondered if he would be proud of me this morning, as my work is so untraditional and demands such a different view of who the church actually is. Just as I wondered this during my morning meditations, a dolphin leapt high out of the gulf waters. Thats been with me all day.
May dolphins and gentle breezes continue to greet you!
Grateful for the ways you reflect on simplicity and complexity at the same time ❤️🙏, enjoy your time on the Cape!
I am a Grand Rapids resident, like you. I am thrilled with the election results. I make no bones about my distaste for what serves as the Republican party today. I recommend this panel from Georgetown to you, on Christian Nationalism, which you mention in your blog today. It starts at about the 14 minute mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6L5QXTgErI
Thank you, Jeff, for sharing this prayer.
Enjoy the Cape,one of my favorite places.
Oh that prayer. 💟 Thank you for sharing those beautiful words--much needed in my life these days. I will read & reread it in the days & weeks to come. My home state (SC) continued to vote in ways that will keep our citizens mired in prejudice, poverty, & backward movement. I feel hopeless & angry. The words in your prayer have already soothed my spirit. I am grateful.
I love the variety iof subjects in your newsletter. This one especially. Every topic— your reflections on friendship and politics and cooking— and the profound and moving prayer were meaningful to me. Thankyou!🙏
Loved the prayer, ty. I’d love to see you cooking and chatting with friends on the Food Network! Also, I’m sure you’ve thought of creating a cook-story book to share your recipes and life stories. It would be so cool. I unexpectedly look forward to reading the cooking section of these posts! 🤩
I love all of this Jeff- thank you❤️🙏
Ah, you were so close!
Next time!