The true solitude of deep work edition of Weekend Favorites
What I've been up to lately plus work from other creators and cultivators who are helping us worship God, love people, and enjoy beauty - all arranged in lists of threes.
Dear friends,
I’ve been thinking about solitude this week. It’s a season of being deeply immersed in hard, but joyfully fulfilling work. I’m grateful for the work but also noticing a low-level (okay, high-level on some days) anxiety in the solitary nature of the work. I’m afraid to lose myself and my relationships to the demands of work. This happens all the time to people, of course. But the pattern of my life bends toward relational presence, with undercurrents of deep work. It’s a rhythm that fits me.
Still, in this season of writing, I’ve felt lonely but have needed to guard the quiet time for work.
On my walk today I wondered if, instead of loneliness, what I might actually be experiencing is intentional, formative solitude. In my research for The Spacious Path, I read a description Thomas Merton wrote of false solitude and true solitude:
”True solitude separates one man from the rest in order that he may freely develop the good that is his own, and then fulfill his true destiny by putting himself at the service of everyone else. False solitude separates a man from his brothers in such a way that he can no longer effectively give them anything or receive anything from them in his own spirit.”
Yes. I long for the solitude of work to draw me deeper into God’s heart and my own so that I can offer a good gift to everyone else. May it be so.
In the meantime, thank you for every prayer and word of encouragement. Thank you for purchasing the Advent Daybook, subscribing to the Daybook membership, sharing my work, and telling your friends about me. It spurs me on.
Without further ado, here are three highlights from my week to help me worship God, love people, and enjoy beauty.
1. Invoking Dorothy Day in for my masterclass this week
On November 8, the Church celebrated the patron saint of homeless people and people who lose their temper so it only seemed fitting to quote her in my presentation on spiritual direction as companionship.
2. Friend reunion at a wedding last weekend
We loved celebrating the wedding and loved reuniting with friends too. Also, isn’t the Rev. Jan beautiful? I told her she looked like a rock star officiating a wedding in her leather jacket and she said “That was my mother’s.” Her mother was also a rock-star Reverend. It runs in the family.
3. Still, still visiting the beach in November
Last week it was the evening moon, and this week the morning sun drew me to linger. I also saw the full moon and the tail-end of the lunar eclipse this week but didn’t even try to get a photo. The image is burned in my memory, though. At least until next month.
Peace of Christ to you, friends —body and soul,
Tamara
p.s. How has your week been? Where have you noticed moments of worship, love, and beauty? Leave a comment or send me an email. I love to hear from you!
What I’ve Been Up to Lately
1. ADVENT DAYBOOK 2022 .pdf is here!
ADVENT BEGINS ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27!
The Advent Daybook 2022 includes 29 meditations centered around Scripture, art, music, prayer, and practices to prepare our hearts, minds, and bodies for Christ’s arrival.
Plus, you’ll receive bonus content to celebrate all 12 days of Christmas!
2. Book Updates!
ORDINARY SAINTS: LIVING EVERYDAY LIFE TO THE GLORY OF GOD
I had the privilege of joining over forty other writers to help celebrate Square Halo’s twenty-fifth anniversary. The delightful and thought-provoking book includes essays on such topics as knitting, home repair, juggling, traffic, pipes, chronic pain, pretzels, and naps. (Guess who contributed the essay about naps?!?)
Coming February 2023 - preorder coupon code here
The Spacious Path: Practicing the Restful Way of Jesus in a Fragmented World is now available for pre-order!
While it won’t be released until June 2023, pre-ordering helps my publisher and online booksellers know that people are excited to read this book so please feel free to let them know by ordering your own copy.
You can pre-order the book from the following online booksellers:
Thank you!
Currently Reading
This post includes affiliate links in this post because I'm trying to be a good steward, and when you buy something through one of these links you don't pay more money, but in some magical twist of capitalism we get a little pocket change. Thanks!
A Playlist for your Weekend
O Praise Him
Weekend Favorites
A weekly celebration of creators & cultivators helping us worship God, love people, and enjoy beauty!
I curate this weekly reflection around 3 desires that frame my daily life: worship God, love people, and enjoy beauty. I am deeply indebted to the creators and cultivators who - through their work and witness - enlarge my imagination for worship, love, and beauty.
1. ‘Lakota Trinity’ by Father John Giuliani featured @christiansinvisualarts
November is Native American Heritage Month and this is one of my favorite images of the Trinity. Go to the post to see the Father image in the second slide.
2. How to support Veterans beyond a thank you on Veteran’s Day with @dianaoestreich
Army veteran and author Diana Oestreich invites us to join her with a creative, substantive way to say thank you to veterans this year. Take action here.
3. Pauline shows off her tapestry work @geoffreywalk
It’s been a while since I’ve checked in on this couple. They are more precious and full of the joy of life than ever!
Your Turn
One of my hopes for this weekly post is that you’ll feel invited to spend a few minutes reflecting with me about the previous week and how you’ve been drawn to three spiritual practices:
Worship God
Love People
Enjoy Beauty
So how has your week been? Where have you noticed moments of worship, love, and beauty? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment or send me an email. I love to hear from you!
You could also join the celebration on Instagram! Each Saturday on Instagram, I share three favorite creators/cultivators helping me worship God, love people, and enjoy beauty in the previous week.
If you’d like to share your own list, screenshot or save this image to your photos and fill in the blanks with your own selections, tag me @tamarahillmurphy, and then share it on your IG Stories!
Screenshot this image and post in your IG stories (don’t forget to tag me @tamarahillmurphy