Christine, I used to hate those sermons about being lukewarm! I'm a type B personality, which means I'm naturally lukewarm unless I'm doing something new and exciting. I just knew God was gonna spit me out any second, and I'd be on the highway to hell (a favorite AC/DC song btw; I must be pretty far down that highway just for liking the song. In fact, that song is probably a rocket sled to hell among evangelicals--LOL)!
It's good to hear you've learned to accept slowing down a bit for winter, Christine. Last winter, our friend Katye quoted somebody to me who said wise words about winter being a time when our bodies naturally need to slow down and rest, to follow the dormancy cycle of nature. That made a lot of sense to me, and for once I didn't resent the cold, dark, and lessened activity of winter.
(sorry for the delay - I kept thinking about your comment and apparently forgot I hadn't responded yet!) Hahaha I love that you're "Type B" and naturally lukewarm unless on a passion project, I assume. I feel like I'm a type B brain in a type A body (maybe??) - like I usually have to be "on the go" a lot, usually multitasking, but I hate planning and I definitely hate(d) evangelizing because I'm much too shy!
Lol rocket sleds to hell indeed!
Aw, I wonder if Katye was quoting ummm Katherine May, I think? She was interviewed on On Being and I actually listened to the interview twice. About "wintering." Loved the idea, and it sounds really appealing right now.
Oh, I totally hear you about evangelizing, Christine! Hated that expectation—very hard for us shy folks. Thanks for the Katherine May reference; that interview is now on my list. I hope your type A body can slow down to match your type B brain this winter! 😊
Amen! I felt that way after 9 /11. My gynecologist recognized this as some sort of save -the-world complex of which she had been seeing a lot in those dark days, and wisely prescribed Zolof. Medicine can also serve God.
Ohh that's really interesting! I was in 8th grade when 9/11 happened so wasn't quite as checked in with the adult world, but I can see that happening. Anxiety and depression med for the win!
I relate to this so much. I just stumbled on your Substack through the comments on Marla Taviano's (👆 haha) and I'm so grateful I did. The idea of pressure and expectations in evangelicalism and life in general is something I'm deconstructing and working through in counseling. It never occured to me that it could also be related to the place where you live. I grew up in Colorado and definitely know what you mean about the pressure to be outdoorsy and have adventures all the time. Never realized moving to Colombia might carry similar pressures... not only *travel around the country every long weekend and experience the beautiful culture, landmarks, biodiversity etc.* but also the *be a good missionary/expat church member* pressures. Really interesting to see that connection to the cultural pressures of the place where you live. Thanks for this and I'm going to have to go back and read your previous posts soon.
Oh that is awesome - welcome; glad you're here!! :) And another Coloradan, too! So you totally get it. That's a lot of pressure to be experiencing in Columbia - like it sounds amazing, but also major FOMO if you're not doing everything, plus the whole missionary / expat thing. Whew! I'm going to go check out your Substack too!
Christine, I used to hate those sermons about being lukewarm! I'm a type B personality, which means I'm naturally lukewarm unless I'm doing something new and exciting. I just knew God was gonna spit me out any second, and I'd be on the highway to hell (a favorite AC/DC song btw; I must be pretty far down that highway just for liking the song. In fact, that song is probably a rocket sled to hell among evangelicals--LOL)!
It's good to hear you've learned to accept slowing down a bit for winter, Christine. Last winter, our friend Katye quoted somebody to me who said wise words about winter being a time when our bodies naturally need to slow down and rest, to follow the dormancy cycle of nature. That made a lot of sense to me, and for once I didn't resent the cold, dark, and lessened activity of winter.
(sorry for the delay - I kept thinking about your comment and apparently forgot I hadn't responded yet!) Hahaha I love that you're "Type B" and naturally lukewarm unless on a passion project, I assume. I feel like I'm a type B brain in a type A body (maybe??) - like I usually have to be "on the go" a lot, usually multitasking, but I hate planning and I definitely hate(d) evangelizing because I'm much too shy!
Lol rocket sleds to hell indeed!
Aw, I wonder if Katye was quoting ummm Katherine May, I think? She was interviewed on On Being and I actually listened to the interview twice. About "wintering." Loved the idea, and it sounds really appealing right now.
Oh, I totally hear you about evangelizing, Christine! Hated that expectation—very hard for us shy folks. Thanks for the Katherine May reference; that interview is now on my list. I hope your type A body can slow down to match your type B brain this winter! 😊
Amen! I felt that way after 9 /11. My gynecologist recognized this as some sort of save -the-world complex of which she had been seeing a lot in those dark days, and wisely prescribed Zolof. Medicine can also serve God.
Ohh that's really interesting! I was in 8th grade when 9/11 happened so wasn't quite as checked in with the adult world, but I can see that happening. Anxiety and depression med for the win!
I relate to this so much. I just stumbled on your Substack through the comments on Marla Taviano's (👆 haha) and I'm so grateful I did. The idea of pressure and expectations in evangelicalism and life in general is something I'm deconstructing and working through in counseling. It never occured to me that it could also be related to the place where you live. I grew up in Colorado and definitely know what you mean about the pressure to be outdoorsy and have adventures all the time. Never realized moving to Colombia might carry similar pressures... not only *travel around the country every long weekend and experience the beautiful culture, landmarks, biodiversity etc.* but also the *be a good missionary/expat church member* pressures. Really interesting to see that connection to the cultural pressures of the place where you live. Thanks for this and I'm going to have to go back and read your previous posts soon.
Oh that is awesome - welcome; glad you're here!! :) And another Coloradan, too! So you totally get it. That's a lot of pressure to be experiencing in Columbia - like it sounds amazing, but also major FOMO if you're not doing everything, plus the whole missionary / expat thing. Whew! I'm going to go check out your Substack too!
This is beautiful. Synchronicity for the win! ❄️❄️❄️
Thank you, Marla! ❤️