Carrie Newcomer

These are times when telling the truth is a responsibility. These are times when strengthening the lines of communication and connection are essential. These are times when of the news of the heart must be transmitted as faithfully and daily as the news of the world. We are not without resources, deep and strong connections and the courage to keep loving this world.

Pondering Mr. Rogers

I do wonder sometimes what Mr. Rogers would have to say in these troubled times. I’m sure it would be helpful and most likely grounded in doable, human size and yet transcendent love. I’m pretty sure he would have something to say about the impact of the language we use, and the importance of acknowledging our own feelings and the feelings of others. I think he’d be a fiercely loving advocate for how children are faring in this uncertain world and call on all of us to care for the most vulnerable. Maybe he’d speak to the harmfulness (and perhaps spiritual bereftness) of intentional lying and bullying. I imagine he would say that we each contain an inner light wisdom within us, and it is safe to listen to our hearts and lean into our better selves —and that kindness and love will not lead us astray.

Really people, Mr Rogers had it going on—he knew that nurturing children and engaging in good neighborliness wasn’t just a nice idea, it was foundational thinking and I believe very good theology.

I don’t know how to change the whole world, but I do know I can have tremendous impact in how I choose to live my daily life, in how I choose to be in relationship with my neighbors. In these uncertain times, I don’t know how to fix all the things that are broken. But I do know how to mend a tear, reweave a frayed edge, and be a good and generally kind neighbor.

So this week, let us all tap into our own “inner Mr. Rogers”. Let us listen to our hearts and lean into what is stronger, softer and kinder. Let’s start from there.

I'm so excited to be in Chicago tomorrow at the Old Town School of Folk Music! There are a few tickets left. See you there!

carrienewcomer.com/tour

Several years ago, I visited a historic Shaker settlement with a small group of friends. Our docent and guide showed us around the grounds and simple, elegant buildings. In the main hall, we were shown a collection beautiful Shaker style chairs. She described how the long ago maker of one of these chairs would have assumed an attitude of reverence while in the act of creation. Even though their task was to build something simple and useful, they crafted the chair with an assumption that at any moment a passing (or ever present) angel might decide to stop, sit and rest its winged shoulders next to the chair’s smooth and sturdy back. The chair was built to be a place of repose for the sacred spirit of each person in the community, but it was also build for the unseen and mysterious presence that visits and lives among us.

I love the historian’s description of how something as simple as a shaker chair might be the resting place of some wondrous or luminous thing that might come and visit when we least expect. There is things we experience in our daily lives that are solid as a chair. There are also things we experience each day (if we are paying attention) that are just as real – like love, like hope, like kindness, like mystery which travels on its own wings and in its own eternal time.