podcast — Blog — Lauren Burdette

Happy New Year! After a full, joyful yet germ-filled break, we are back to the grind of work and school. In between the laundry and unpacking and grocery shopping and cleaning, I’m taking a few minutes to welcome the new decade. When our family celebrated New Year’s, Declan said, “I’m going to write a Thank You Letter to 2019 and a Welcome Letter to 2020.” I thought that was a brilliant idea. Here are mine. Maybe you’ll be inspired to write your own.

2019, Thank You for all the new opportunities, the chances to grow and stretch and learn. Last year was the first time I had a Word of the Year - TRUST. 2019, you taught me so much about trust, as I released the podcast and the book into the world. You taught me trust as I sent my kids to school. You reminded me again and again that I’m not in in control, but I’m also not alone .Thank you, for coffee and friendship and laughter and family, for tears and dreams and trips and rest. Thank you, for every single moment.

2020, Welcome! May I be open to all you might hold. May I not be fearful or anxious; may I continue to deepen in the trust this past year has taught me. My word for 2020 is HOPE. My spiritual director offered me that word, along with a challenge. We were processing some transitions coming up this year, and I said, “I’d like to feel hopeful, but I mostly feel nervous.” She replied, “You may want to think about how to live out hope, instead of just feeling it.”

As I’ve sat with that concept, and wondered what an active hope would look like, I’ve become more and more intrigued about the possibility of hope. I’ve made the journey from feeling to verb with love - love has grown muscles and skin and strength. Faith has moved as well, from a feeling to an active living out. What would it look like to embark on that journey with hope? Instead of sitting back and wanting to feel hopeful, how might I be hope in the world?

One clear way I’m already being invited to live out hope - and to deepen in the trust I learned last year - is by asking for your help. In the last few weeks of December, both my laptop and my microphone died. For the Life As Spiritual Practice podcast to continue, I need new equipment. Would you be able to donate even $5 or $10 to keep it going? You’ll receive another email in a few days about the podcast and fundraising, but for now please check out my GoFundMe and share if you can.

If you write a letter to 2019 or 2020, or pick a word of the year, I’d love to hear about it. Drop me an email, comment on the blog or on social media. May this new year contain joy and surprise and growth for all of us.

Happy 2019! I hope that your holiday season and new year were full of rest and connection and joyful surprise.

As I settle into the new year, I’m trying something…well…new! I’ve never had a “word of the year” before, but I’ve been intrigued by the idea. I’ve wondered what it could be like to pick a theme and to see how God might speak through it. As I prayed over this coming year and what is on the horizon, I heard God whispering to me to lean into TRUST. There are changes coming this year for me and my family, and some exciting new risks, and I can already see how returning to the word TRUST has loosened some of the fear and anxiety I carry around change.

I’m curious if you have a word of the year, and how you’ve chosen it. Is this a practice you’ve tried in the past? Or maybe it’s a new concept for you too? I shared about this on social media last week, and I was encouraged by all the responses. People are carrying some beautiful words and postures into the new year.

PODCAST

One of the places of great risk for me this year is through the podcast, Life As Spiritual Practice. After placing this project on hold in the fall, I feel ready to share these stories of connection with the holy. I also feel scared and nervous, and leaning into that word TRUST! The first episode will launch later this week, with new episodes each week through the end of February. You will receive an email when each episode becomes available. It will give you a behind-the-scenes look at the episode, and invite you more deeply into the practice that is explored that week. I hope and pray that this podcast will be a source of warmth, connection, and inspiration in these cold winter months (for those of us in the northern hemisphere!).

BOOK LAUNCH EVENTS

Another place of risk and hope is the launch of This Life That Is Ours: Motherhood As Spiritual Practice! It’s hard to believe, after four years of work, that this book will soon be in the hands of readers! There are two events coming up in April to celebrate. You will receive separate invitations closer to the dates, but if you’re like me, you’re already planning your spring, so I wanted to share in advance!

In Pittsburgh, PA: You are invited to a launch party at White Whale Bookstore on April 6th, 7-9pm. There will be books available to purchase. I’ll give a brief reading, and then sign books. Come eat and drink and celebrate with me!

In Springfield, OH: On Saturday, April 13th, 1-3 pm, I’ll be giving an Author Program at the Clark County Public Library. I’ll give a talk on the writing process and the content of the book, and then have a book signing. There will be food and drink and books available to purchase. I hope you can join me for this celebration!

Thank you so much - for sharing this journey with me, for letting me hear a bit of your sacred story, and for the ways you bring light into the world. I am grateful for you.