You and Me in September's Christianity Today

A big thank you to delightful editor Mark Moring and Christianity Today— for discussing my work with this online community, HighCallingBlogs, and (very cool!) our Twitter improv poetry— in their September issue...

Participant First: L.L. Barkat Creates in the Context of Online Community


Article Photo, by L.L. Barkat.

The Accidental Green Life

When the apostle Paul wrote, "Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love," it's doubtful he intended any commentary on the state of garbage disposal in Corinth. Likewise, when Richard Foster first wrote Celebration of Discipline, he wasn't particularly addressing whether suburban families should buy an SUV versus a compact car. Even so, in urging us deeper into faith, both men seamlessly promote the accidental green life...

Read more of The Accidental Green Life: How Christian Piety Can Grace the Earth at Christianity Today's Kyria magazine.

(Fun... I totally forgot I'd submitted that article, and just discovered it's been published this week. :)


Wild Rosemary photo, by L.L. Barkat.

Turning Down Christianity Today

It is tempting to commercialize one's art, since the need for a paycheck and reputation-development are real.

But if the most beautiful, powerful things we produce are indeed a gift, as Lewis Hyde notes in The Gift, then we may need to occasionally turn down an opportunity to sell, if it means debasement of the work.

Which brings us to our story. Almost two years ago I got a very exciting email from an awesome editor at Christianity Today. "We want the article," it said. "Can you cut the piece to 1300 words?" I'm not a prima donna (much) about my writing, but I knew that to say yes to this request would mean killing the spirit of the article, excising its most beautiful parts.

Indeed, when the editor sent back a potential draft to show me how we could make it work, the beauty was gone. This was not about the editor's skill; it was about the size of the box. The beauty had to go.

Let me tell you, it was not easy to say, "I can't sell it." I needed that sale, or so it seemed. My book was about to come out. It was the first time CT had offered to buy from me. I couldn't see into the future and know there would be another CT opportunity (there was, just a few months later).

At present, the piece has made it through several approval rounds at another magazine. Who knows if they will buy it. Or the next magazine, or the next. It can take time to find a home for beauty. And if we never do, at least it is still beauty and has found a home in us.

Commercial Times Square photo by L.L. Barkat. Post is for Chapter 8 of Hyde's The Gift.

RELATED POSTS:
High Calling Blogs The Gift: Work as Art
Laura's Priceless

Thanksgiving: Farmers, Slaves and Stories

I'm thinking about Thanksgiving with...

Pennies and a Big Blue Sky over at High Calling Blogs

and Marching Farmers, Homeless Slaves over at Christianity Today.

Also, it's not too late for you to join the festivities and add your post to the Thanksgiving Celebration. On that note, I wanted to share this little clip I found in my outdoor journal, while I was working on God in the Yard this past weekend:

Why should anyone care about another person's story? If it is told well, and honestly, one might find oneself there, perhaps even find God. And that is a blessing indeed, if it brings a measure of truth and healing or inspiration and challenge.

To this, I've been reading our Thanksgiving Celebration stories, where I've found myself, found God, been moved, blessed. I've also tried to make space for others in my heart and mind, which seems to me a form of hospitality— listening to stories where I don't find myself but I find Other and God-near-Other...

Stories of sudden loss and shocking loss. Reflections on thanks unsent, then sent. Moments of surprising birth, dealing with displacement and finding joy despite financial loss. And, last but not least, an aside on potential turkey extraction.

I wonder if all hospitality actually begins with listening to the other's story, taking others seriously, as the Message translation says somewhere in Psalms...

In any case, today I'm grateful for you and your stories. Happy Thanksgiving, friends.


Fall Trees painting by Saima Barkat. Used with permission.

RELATED:
LL's Thanksgiving: Out-Take, an unpublished section of the CT article
LL's Grace Table, a reflection from the little woods

A Bite of Pie and Thanks

Thanksgiving.

What does it conjure for you? Food, football, sleep, too many dirty dishes? On November 20-something-ish (how's that for a definitive date), at Christianity Today, I'm set to talk about marching farmers and homeless slaves, to reflect on how we can celebrate a festival of thanks. [update: article here.] A partner post called Thanksgiving: Pennies and a Big Blue Sky is up at High Calling Blogs.

When it comes to Thanksgiving, though, I bet you also have a lot to share. That's why I'm extending an invitation...

___________________

You are cordially invited by L.L. Barkat to join a Thanksgiving Celebration. Just post about a Thanksgiving memory, something you are thankful for this year, a special family Thanksgiving tradition, your favorite "thanksgiving" bible verse, or anything else you can dream up.

Be serious, spiritual, creative, beautiful, humorous, whatever... it's a celebration and good celebrations welcome all kinds of expression!

As a token of thanks for joining us, L.L. will link to you in the Thanksgiving Celebration post (and Christianity Today and High Calling Blogs will link back to said post, so their readers can check out the full celebration). You can make L.L.'s link-love job easier by dropping a comment at the Thanksgiving Celebration post. See you at the pie table!

To participate in the Thanksgiving Celebration:

1. post your Thanksgiving reflection with the invitation above and this little list of two
2. send the invitation to 5 or more friends (or just stash it in your cyber-drawer as a keepsake and take another bite of pie)
___________________

You bring the stuffing, I'll bring the cider. And we can smile, sigh, laugh, weep or dance together across the wires. Happy Thanksgiving!


Though anyone reading this post is free to attend, I'm going to specifically invite...

Ann Voskamp
Jennifer Dukes Lee
Mark D. Roberts
Joy
Monica Brand
Tina Howard
Laure
Billy Coffey
Andrea
Ann Kroeker
Tammy
Jim Martin
Ted Gossard
Jennifer
Katrina
Kirsten
Erica Hale
Heidi
Ed Gilbreath

THE FEAST:

Tina's God Math and Gratitude, Billy's Thanksgiving Story, LL's Grace Table, Erica Hale's Thanksgiving, Jennifer Dukes Lee's Beds, Heidi's An Un-American Thanksgiving, Jennifer at Snapshot's Come on Over to My Place, Katrina's Thankfulness Leaves, Robert and David's Thanks for nothing?, Chris's Beyond Thankful, LL's Nine-Patch Togetherness, Tammy's Baby Grands and Oreo Turkeys, Ann K's Thanksgiving Preview, Christine Scheller's Thankful for 23 Years, Linda's Thanksgiving Memory, Lynn's Thanksgiving, Monica's Five Thanks, Joy's The Definition of Joy, Jim Martin's Thankful, Ann Voskamp's Thanksgiving Rightly Addressed, Ted G's Giving Thanks, Marcus's Thanksgiving, Coffee and the Squanto Hop, LL's Thanksgiving: Out-Take, Sarah's I'm Thankful for Speeding Tickets and Flat Tires, Laughing's Scent of Celebration, Gina's Reflections, Lori's Thanksgiving at the Payne Homestead, Jenni's It Just Doesn't Cut It, Daune's Celebrating His Goodness