I don’t know what happened when I turned 35.
The pandemic began, sure, but something shifted in me a few months prior.
I think a trigger point was the news of Rachel Held Evan’s death. I don’t know much about her; I’ve never read her books so I have no idea if I’d even agree with her. But not only was she a writer, she was a mother. A mother my age with little children the same age. A professing believer in Jesus. That was enough commonality to make me pause. To bring a sense of memento mori to my spirit.
My sense of time seemed to really sharpen. The rest of my life didn’t feel so far away anymore. And I felt convicted over how I used my kid-free time. When I got a break from my twin toddlers, I’d go out, grab coffee and shop (Ya, I was one of those Target moms). But I felt the urge to trade in consumerism for creating. For intentionality. I reasoned that if my life were actually shorter than the supposed 85-90 years I just automatically assumed I’d live, then I definitely didn’t want to leave any unfinished work that I felt equipped and called to do.
Really, I think I just became more aware of eternity.
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”
Proverbs 15:3
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Read This Book.
My last post was a book review of Counterfeit Kingdom, and my thoughts on the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). Right after finishing that book, I met a good friend for coffee and she gave me the perfect next book to read: The Postmodern Pilgrim’s Progress by the creators of the Babylon Bee.
Last week, I thought Counterfeit Kingdom was the highest book recommendation I could currently give a fellow Christian, but if the choice was between that and The Postmodern Pilgrim’s Progress, I’d go with the latter.
Man, it was that good.
I can’t even describe to you how relatable it was, how encouraging, how insightful. Stories stick with you more than fact sheets, though both deal in reality. I’m sure that’s why Jesus used parables, and those old, but enduring fables were written. I never read the original Pilgrim's Progress, though I have a children's version at home. I do know this one follows the original, though the characters are a little more specific to our particular cultural oddities, both in and out of church.
The book somehow strikes the rare balance of depth, snark, honesty, and ease of reading. I don't know about you, but that checks all MY boxes.
Your next step after finishing this post should be obvious.
Happy reading!
