Joy in the city
The Pope is praying for us!!
I remember calling my mom during my early days of living in New York City, telling her that I felt so lonely. Walking down the street, I passed restaurants filled with people and parks with groups of friends sprawled across picnic blankets, yet there I was walking down the street alone with my mom in my AirPods.
Thankfully, my social calendar was soon blessed with school events and new friends, but every once in a while I’d feel that same pang walking out of Mass on a Sunday afternoon, seeing groups of friends enjoying brunch at the restaurants by the park, as I made my way alone to my favorite bench to read.
Over time, I learned that I was not unique in this experience: many of my friends expressed similar sentiments that New York felt like a lonely city. When there’s so much going on, it can feel like everyone has plans but you. And I don’t think NYC is alone in this — most, if not all, cities can feel lonely at times. Many city dwellers are far from our families, building constellations of community and support systems star by star, with plenty of missteps and lonely moments along the way.
Every month, the Pope asks the global church to join in prayer for a specific intention. I was so moved when I read his intention for August:
Lord, may our urban communities be open and welcoming homes, places where hope is shared, where no one feels invisible, and where the joy of your Gospel shines. Let us pray that in large cities often marked by anonymity and loneliness we find new ways to proclaim the Gospel, discovering creative paths to build community.
I found that intention so, so heartwarming. Ugh, I love our pope.
I think he knows as well as I do that the joys of friendship and community in the city are made even sweeter because of how challenging they can be to cultivate. The importance of an invitation, the joy of running into someone excited to see you on the street. Being called by name at the local coffee shop or workout studio. Running into a friend at Trader Joe’s or the pool. And I am so grateful the universal church is praying for our cities and our city dwellers this month!! May our city communities be places of great joy and light.
In Christ,
Jane
What I’m loving lately
Jurassic Park
I don’t know how to explain it because it makes no sense even to me, but I am obsessed with the movie Jurassic Park, and as long as there are no little kiddos around me on the plane, I will put it on (or Jaws… again, very out of character.) Anyway, this time around I was super touched by a moment Laura Dern has with the man (John Hammond) who created Jurassic Park (spoiler: the dinos got out and are causing a ruckus), and he is musing on what he’ll do once he has “control” again, and Laura Dern says, “You never had control, that’s the illusion!” That’ll preach. John is so far out of control (his own grandchildren are running away from a T-Rex he created), and he’s still thinking that he can do it better, with more control next time — refusing to realize that this is outside of his power. I can’t say it’s the first time I’ve prayed over a Spielberg movie, but it was definitely a good thing to bring to the Lord: what is something I keep thinking I have control over that I need to give totally to Him? (It’s not a dinosaur theme park, although I would totally go to one).
Bookshop ministry
In every bookstore, there’s a tiny little shelf of Christian / religious books, and I’m always a little bummed to see three C.S. Lewis books next to seven on astrology and Tarot, so I’ve made it a mission to buy Catholic books when I find them in bookstores. My hope is that the powers that be see the incremental movement in their inventory and start stocking more good books! One day I hope to see Kramers with a whole shelf of Church Fathers ;) So this weekend, I wandered into a bookstore in the Denver Airport and picked up Thomas Merton’s Seven Storey Mountain, and it’s already changing my life.
Tahoe
What a dream to enjoy the weekend in my favorite place on earth celebrating my friend Julianna and her bachelorette!! I never tire of turning the corner and seeing the lake open up below us. There is something so so good about enjoying the beauty and fresh air of the outdoors.
Back into Seph Schlueter
I love this guy and his music. This whole album is on repeat right now. Turn it to Praise and Running Back to You <3
Prayer intentions
For a special intention