On New Hobbies {And Loving Sarah Bessey}

Apparently, I have a new hobby.

Nope, it’s not ribbon twirling.

And unfortunately, it’s not underwater basket weaving.

You guessed it, launch teams (Actually, you probably didn’t. Thanks for trying.)

About a month ago, I had the pleasant surprise of finding out I made the launch team for Sarah Bessey’s new book, “Out of Sorts.” But before I start feeling extremely special, it’s important to add that everyone who applied was accepted for her team.

Did this dampen my excitement? Not a bit.

This is the way Sarah is, so generous. Both in the way she set up our team but also in her writing. I sincerely love her open handedness with all things.

“Out of Sorts” officially releases on November 3rd and may I just say: if you have ever, in any capacity, engaged doubt in your faith walk, this book is for you.

If you have ever felt sure of something, and then realized it’s more complex than you realized, this book is for you.

If you have ever had to unpack the grief of hopes you once had because people fail or disappoint, yep, it’s for you, too.

While I’m going to write a more detailed blog next week on what I’ve learned from “Out of Sorts,” here’s what I’ll say now. Sarah masterfully invites each of us to look at the baggage we are carrying regarding our stories and our faith, and she encourages us to allow God to move through them.

I find this refreshing.

Not everyone is comfortable saying, “Yes, do ask questions.” Or, “Yes, do grieve your pains and your losses and your stories.”

If there is anything I’ve learned about pain and our stories, it’s that we must engage them. We must live inside our stories and process them, in order for us to find acceptance and ultimately healing.  

While we can never do any of this all at once, I think this is why it matters for us to hear the tales of others who have done similar work.

In a way, I hope and pray each of us have our own “out of sorts” moments in our lives. I have always found folks who are willing to lean into their pain are able to bring a special connection to folks around them.

I hope you’ll join me this next week as I write on an important reflection Sarah posed to each of us on the team. It’s simple but profound, and it goes like this: I used to think ______________, and now I think _________________.

I can’t wait to dive into this one, in a way it’s the very essence of our growth.

And as Sarah says, “If our theology doesn’t shift and change over our lifetimes, then I have to wonder if we’re paying attention.”