Hi there,
Yet another reminder that these 5QTs are currently brief as I finish my current book manuscript.
5 Quick Things ☕️
1. Like yours, my heart has been so heavy this week with the news about both Charlie Kirk and Ukranian refugee Iryna Zarutska (and then a few weeks ago about Annunciation in Minnesota...). There’s nothing more I can say that hasn’t been said by so many others the past few days. But I have been just gutted, for myriad reasons. Oh, that poor girl—may the Lord be so near to her and her family. And I’ve heard from more than a few older folks that Kirk’s unthinkable murder feels reminiscent to RFK's assassination in 1968. What a dark week. Kyrie Eleison; Christe Eleison.
2. I appreciated this thought from Bishop Barron.
3. As well as these words of encouragement about righteous anger from Fr. Mike Schmitz.
4. It was also wild that yesterday was yet another anniversary of 9/11—wild that it's been 24 years already. In 2001, Kyle and I were still just friends, and we had flown from Kosovo to Turkey that day, the horrific atrocities happening while we were in the air. When we landed and queued at the passport/visa line, TVs were playing news coverage of the footage on repeat; they were still unfolding as we stood in the long line. I asked Kyle, “What is this they keep showing?” An American man behind us turned around and explained the news. “I thought it was an action movie,” Kyle said. I did too. That night, we arrived at our hostel in Istanbul and watched the coverage in a lounge room full of other Americans, some of whom were from Manhattan and were trying to reach loved ones over the phones with futility. It was all anybody in Turkey talked about the rest of the week; waiters, taxi drivers, and other strangers would learn we were Americans and went out of their way to extend their personal condolences to us. It was such a whirlwind, game-changing week—for both us and for the whole world.
5. And finally, I’m only a few minutes into this, but I’ll listen to anything with Scott Hahn.
Currently Reading, Watching, Listening 📻
It’s been a good week to dust off my Mourning & Hope playlist…
Quotable 💬
“There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for.”
― Samwise Gamgee, by way of J.R.R. Tolkien
What’s the best thing to do with a pineapple? 🍍
I see that we are not a creative bunch when it comes to pineapples. Even though I hardly drink alcohol anymore—or eat pineapples at all, really, I’m gonna go with making piña coladas. Either that, or use it as decoration. (Thanks to reader Colleen for submitting this question!)
Eat it straight: 66.3%
Put it on pizza: 11.3%
Make fruit salad: 9%
Make piña coladas: 6.7%
Use it as decoration: 3%
Use it as a weapon: 3%
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 the Highland Games, and more. I’d love you to join me and my family! (Update: Because I’ve been asked, heads up that there are currently 33 spots left.)
Quick Links 🔗
🏴 Join the next pilgrimage!
Question(s) For You to Ponder… 🤔
What easy-to-do thing helps you feel more human when life gets hard?
Have a great weekend,
- Tsh
p.s. - Kyle’s option was birds.
The easiest thing for me to do to feel more human is to just go outside. Not to accomplish anything, and no earbuds. Just to BE outside, feel the sun and the wind and to hear birdsong. To see the trees rustling and touch something natural. It always seems to calm my body and my brain, and the effect is almost immediate.
Thank you for this post and for sharing your thoughts as well as those from Fr. Mike and from Bishop Barron. You asked, "What easy-to-do thing helps you feel more human when life gets hard?" My first thought was chores: doing laundry or doing the dishes.