Five things Friday roundup: How to survive a coup

Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, USA by Alejandro Barba from unsplash.com Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, USA by Alejandro Barba from unsplash.com

1) Attempted coup and you

This week, like many of you, I watched the news as a violent mob of domestic terrorists attempted a coup at the capital. I heard my friends from both sides of the political aisle condemn this act. For many of us, we are far removed from what is happening at our nation’s epicenter. However, this week, I hope we can all think of something very basic. How do we act when things don’t go our way? Do we make a problem for waitstaff, customer service representatives, the manager, the person stocking the shelves? This may seem a far cry from insurrection, but at the root of all I mention is entitlement. This week, I hope we can all check our own entitlement, especially where and how it expresses itself. 
 

2) Epiphany

This month I was able to preach on Epiphany Sunday. My question to the congregation was “A revelation or a revolution?” Our Isaiah text talked about flipping the order of things, with the oppressed at the top getting revenge on the oppressors. I encouraged the congregation to have a conversation with the text and ask what a true revolution brings. Is it simply flipping things upside down? Or is it about transforming ourselves and the world around us? 
 

3) Reddit’s 52 weeks of cooking

My best friend introduced me to this Reddit list of what to cook for 52 weeks. A lot of the weeks are open to interpretation. For instance, I’m taking the concept of “last meal” as if it were my last meal on earth. For that, I’m going with comfort food. As time goes on, the list will be updated with subsequent weeks. I don’t know what I’m going to do for “confit week” though. I think that might require prayer. 
 

4) The floor is lava

If you’re like me, the weight of the world is on your shoulders much of the time. Even in my moments of leisure, I turn to books, podcasts, and television that are rather heavy in nature. This past week I discovered the Netflix show, “The floor is lava.” Contestants (peacefully) battle their way across this jacked up obstacle course and avoid falling because, well, the floor is made of lava and falling in causes you to lose. The show has contestants go in teams of 2 or 3 and they are creatively connected in some way. If you’re looking for something mindless, entertaining, and fun, I say give The floor is lava a shot. 
 

5) ConseCrate

Are you a clergywoman in need of a little cheer when the world is getting to be too much? I’ve heard from multiple other women clergy that this box subscription is a wonderful, welcome treat. Like many subscription boxes, the box is shipped several times a year but the contents are curated by clergywomen for clergywomen, with fun, thoughtful, and sacred items. While Christmas is over, this is a good idea for some women pastors in your life (hint hint). 

Joanne Gallardo

Joanne Gallardo is conference minister of Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference of Mennonite Church USA in Goshen, Indiana. Originally from northwest Ohio, Joanne Read More

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