what a busy week at Sacred Sonder!
a quote i've been mulling over, and a few other things i'd recommend
Yes, it’s been a busy week here at the Sacred Sonder headquarters. I’ve been trying to write a few pieces on Taylor Swift’s new album Midnights and the highly-anticipated superhero movie Black Adam, but I haven’t had ample time to refine my ideas and put into words what I have in mind.
But! Thou shalt not fret. While I take a (very) short break from writing full newsletters for Sacred Sonder, here are a few things I’ve been reading, listening to, and reflecting on.
An insightful quote from my dear mentor and friend Dr. Ashish Varma in his latest article on Diwali and Indian American Christianity:
Today, just as I have the last few years, I will direct my children to see Diwali in the light of the Jesus who entered into darkness but whom the darkness could not overcome. It is tempting to see this use of Diwali as one more Diwali story among the many. However, what some see as refracted light — distorted attempts to speak of the light that overcomes darkness — I teach my kids to see as mirrors that should point to the light itself. John 1:8 refers to another John who was not the light but instead was a “witness to the light.” Just as early Roman Christians saw a mirror of the Incarnation in Saturnalia, I see a mirror for Indian people in Diwali. It demonstrates the hope of liberation from the binding evil of darkness and the impulse to look for deliverance to God above.
Taylor Swift’s latest album Midnights is genuinely revolutionary for Swifties such as myself. I’d recommend listening to the deluxe 3AM Edition as linked below:
The Netflix show Hilda, which has been such a treat to watch. The show is magical, charming, and captivating as it encourages me to recover the joys and wonders of childhood… even as an adult in seminary: