Hello!
True to earlier this week’s emphasis on my word economy here in the newsletter for the next few weeks (see #3, below), the next few issues of 5QT are ones where I’ll need to get right to it.
So… Let’s get right to it.
5 Quick Things ☕️
1. Earlier this week I said hello to paying subscribers by way of also sharing a prayer I’ve written — one asking the Lord to baptize my work before I begin. Perhaps it’s a help and blessing for you, too? “We humans are Your co-creators, invited to join You in the manifestation of Your glory, and like a child’s drawing, our feeble offerings are Your fatherly delight.”
2. In late July we traveled 4,000 miles round-trip between Oregon and Texas, pulling our scrappy little camper and spending nights in parks along the way. If you ever have a chance to do this: do it. Yes, it’s slow. Yes, there are many, many wide-open spaces with little more than dirt and sky. But that’s its charm. We fly over so much of our country, and in the process miss so much haunted beauty along farm roads with small towns full of stories to tell.
3. In case you missed it, a few days ago I shared five things I learned (or re-learned) this summer during my screen sabbath, as well as three exciting bits of news! 💍
4. On both our epic road trip and our pilgrimage earlier this summer, I lived out the foundational cardinal wisdom of traveling: pack light. My belongings for both journeys fit in one small-ish bag, and yet I still only wore half of what I brought. I re-wore my favorites almost every day. …Truly, pack light.
5. And finally, on my break I was tempted to scratch out my thoughts on why everyone should take frequent screen breaks, especially folks who eke out some kind of living through it (be that pennies per month, or even zero pennies but some form of personal enrichment from a regular practice). And then I remembered I already did that about a year ago.
Currently Reading, Watching, Listening 📻
My Summer 2025 playlist, compiled as I go about my day (but especially curated while on aforementioned 4,000-mile road trip)
Quotable 💬
“The most important thing in our lives is not so much what we can do as leaving room for what God can do. The great secret of all spiritual fruitfulness and growth is learning to let God act.”
― Jacques Philippe
Have you ever taken an extended screen or internet break? 💻
It’s been so long since I asked this poll question, I forgot what it was until a minute ago when I opened it. You already know how I feel about this: everyone, take a break.
Also, here’s the scout’s-honor truth: I love these weekly poll questions, but sometimes they’re hard to come up with, week after week. I need your help! If you’ve got a few, please submit any good (multiple-choice ONLY) questions, and let me know if you’d like credit. Thanks in advance!
Not yet, but I want to: 48.6%
Yes & it was glorious: 27.8%
No & no plans to: 21%
Yes & I didn't like it: 2.4%
Find next week’s poll here.
Join Me in Scotland! 🏴
Next summer’s family-friendly pilgrimage is the historic Highlands of Scotland — we’ll be visiting castles, exploring the Isle of Skye, attending day of the Highland Games, and more. …I’d love you to join me and my family.
Quick Links 🔗
🏴 Join the next pilgrimage!
Question(s) For You to Ponder… 🤔
What’s one small way I can take a “screen sabbath” this weekend, even for a few hours?
Have a great weekend,
- Tsh
p.s. - Today is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, which was one of my most confusing roadblocks on my journey to becoming Catholic a few years ago. This is a good explanation, as is this slightly longer one (though I admit, it’s still one of our mind-blowing doctrines that’s hard to wrap our brains around).
Thank you for the playlist.