Leigh Kramer

In Honor of Our Anniversary

It's hard to believe but this month marks the one year anniversary of the What I'm Into linkup. Last November I explained how WII worked and invited you to play along.

I didn't know what to expect. After all, I'm not a big blogger. I marvel over people who announce a linkup and people respond in droves. I knew that wouldn't be me. I hoped 5 people would link up, including the people I'd already inspired to write their own WII posts pre-linkup.

24 of you lovely people showed up.

I practically pinched myself!

Month after month, new folks have linked up for the first time. What I'm Into continues to grow, which is so crazy to me. Some of you even say it's your favorite link up. That's even crazier. I'm still doing my best to read them all, which I've managed every month but two. Not too shabby.

A few of my dear friends link up regularly- I'm looking at you, Anne, Addie, Renee, and Sarah- and it's such a treat catching up on their lives this way. But the linkup has also expanded my circle.

I love seeing now-familiar faces and the way you've made WII your own. I know, for instance, Kamille is going to feature some amazing sounding recipes. Kathleen will reference some DIY organic food item or simple way of life I need to try. Grace added a category for apps, which is genius. Micha actually made a gif, be still my heart. Christie, Fiona, and Christina will add at least a few books to my To Read list. Let's face it: most of you add a book to my To Read list. Antonia is going to tell me about the latest and greatest when it comes to lipstick and nail polish- in addition to music, theology books, and whatnot. Karen tempts me to go back to Ireland. Yes, please. Not too many guys link up but Ben totally brought his A-game last month. I could go on and on.

We bond in the comments over books read (or which need to be read) and TV shows watched. We giggle over our guilty pleasures. (Cara, RHOC for life!) We commiserate over the disappointments and celebrate the wins. A community has popped up in our midst and I never could have guessed it. Who knew a shared love of entertainment would bring people together? I have loved seeing friendships grow between bloggers, especially as you've discovered kindred spirits.

I have no words for those of you who keep coming back for more, whether you've joined in every month or do so here and there. Fewer words still for those of you who diligently visit the other participants. Adele, in particular, should receive an award for this.

Thank you, dear readers. Truly. Whether you've linked up or shared what you were into in the comments, thank you. It's been a fun ride.

In honor of our anniversary, I decided to host a giveaway for the November edition of What I'm Into. We're celebrating ourselves! If you link up a post, you'll be entered to win. I haven't decided what you'll win yet (so many possibilities) but I'm sure you'll like it. And because the giveaway is funded by me and because we have participants from around the world, I'm opening it up to everyone no matter where they live.

The November linkup starts Monday December 2 (a few days later due to Thanksgiving in the US). I'll share more details about the giveaway then but now you have plenty of time to get your post ready.

Also, in honor of our anniversary, I changed the What I'm Into button. I feel fancy. You're welcome.

<div class="What-I'm-Into-button" style="width: 250px; margin: 0 auto;"> <a href="http://www.leighkramer.com/blog/what-im-into" rel="nofollow"> <img src="http://www.leighkramer.com/What%20I%27m%20Into%20button.jpg" alt="What I'm Into" width="250" height="188" /> </a> </div>

 

What should the What I'm Into Anniversary giveaway be? (Within reason. I'm still looking for a money tree. But I do want to know what you'd like!)

Books I Keep Meaning To Read

I can't even tell you how many times a friend has mentioned a book and I've responded with "I've been meaning to read that!" While I do want to read a good percentage of the books in the world, certain ones keep falling lower and lower on my reading priorities scale.

Last week, Andi wrote about the books she kept meaning to read. I thought it was time for this book nerd to weigh in on the subject. We all have books we want to read or think we should read and yet there they are, year after year, not being read.

Best of all, our lists probably look very different. I am shocked whenever I encounter someone who hasn't yet read my favorite novel A Prayer for Owen Meany. Even more shocked when I find someone who has read it and didn't love it. (I don't judge people for much but...)

I know there will probably be a book on my list that you think is the best thing since peanut butter united with chocolate. Maybe, just maybe, your words will convince me to read it at long last. Or maybe not. My To Read list and Books I Own But Haven't Read Yet are staggeringly long for a reason. In fact, most of the books I've meant to read aren't even on my To Read list. That's how sure I am that soon and very soon I'll be turning their pages.

 

Here are 10 books I've been meaning to read for a while:

 

1. The Brothers K- David James Duncan

This one has been on my radar since high school, though I no longer recall who first told me about it. I'm sure they told me it was a fresh take on The Brothers Karamazov, which I had read for high school English summer reading. This may have accounted for my lack of enthusiasm in picking up the Brothers K. But I'm older and wiser now and have more appreciation for Russian Lit. Plus, people I adore also adore this book. 

 

2. One Hundred Years of Solitude- Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I've meant to read this one since high school as well but also don't remember who steered me in its direction. Perhaps my Spanish teacher after I fell in love with Pablo Neruda's poetry or my English teacher after we read Like Water for Chocolate. I do enjoy some magical realism. 

 

3. Anna Karenina- Leo Tolstoy

As I mentioned above, I do appreciate Russian literature but I'm wary of it at the same time. Anna Karenina seems like one of those books I should read and yet I haven't quite compelled myself to pick up the tome.

 

4. Our Mutual Friend- Charles Dickens

Several years ago, a friend lent me the BBC movie and I was swiftly consumed by the 5 or 6 hour long tale. Before that, I had no idea Dickens had written a book with that title. I wanted to read this book and peruse more of Dickens catalog, beyond what I'd read in high school and college. 

 

5. Of Mice and Men- John Steinbeck

I suffered through Grapes of Wrath and loved East of Eden. I've been meaning to read this one for over 15 years now, ever since we watched part of the movie in English class. Maybe I should just watch the rest of the film.

 

6. Lolita- Vladimir Nabokov

This book comes up all the time on classics lists but no part of me has ever been interested in reading about a pedophile. Still, good friends have raved about the craftsmanship and one has gone so far as to say it's one of her favorite books.

 

7. Bel Canto- Ann Patchett

Several years ago, my aunt Sue was in town visiting from Oregon and our conversation turned to books. She asked if I'd read any Patchett and I said no. She told me I should read this one. I've since read a different book by Patchett but not this one yet. Though I am highly motivated since I saw her speak with Renee Fleming a couple of months ago and learned that Bel Canto is being turned into an opera at the Lyric in Chicago.

 

8. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day- Winifred Watson

I want to read this one because I like the movie so much. It just makes me happy. I hear the book is even better.

 

9. After Mandela: The Struggle for Freedom in Post-Apartheid South Africa- Douglas Foster

This is a newer addition to the "I need to read this STAT" list. When I finished Nelson Mandela's stunning book Long Walk to Freedom in early 2012, I knew I wanted to learn more apartheid and what had happened since Mandela's presidency, as well as more about Desmond Tutu. It's stayed as good intentions. I've heard consistently great things about Foster's book and since I really do want to learn more, I'll probably track down a copy soon. I usually need a little extra motivation when it comes to historical non-fiction, which is ridiculous because once I start reading, I'm generally hooked. Not all history books are dry and dull!

 

10. Lit- Mary Karr

All of my people tell me to read this compelling memoir. And I swear I'm going to one of these days.

 

What books do you keep meaning to read?

 Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Grammarly. I use Grammarly for online proofreading because, as George Bailey once said, "every time a bell rings, a grammar geek gets its wings."

Disclosure : Amazon Affiliate links included in this post.  If you click through to Amazon, any purchase you make supports this site.

A Woman Gave Me Communion

Of all things, a Janette Oke book started it. I read her books voraciously starting in 3rd grade. When The Calling of Emily Evans came out, I was in 5th grade and eager to read the book that kicked off her Women of the West series.

It turned out Emily Evans' calling was to be a pastor and this stumped me. Only men could be pastors. No question about it. I felt a bit sorry for Janette Oke getting it wrong. Maybe these things happened in Canada, I thought. Not here and certainly not back in the 1800s.

Still, I read the book start to finish because I loved Janette Oke and because I never walked away from a book.

I no longer remember the plot. I do remember finding it hard to judge Emily Evans. It may have been fiction but it seemed pretty clear she'd been called to be a pastor. I couldn't argue with what she felt God had told her. Unless she heard God wrong? That was too much to consider.

I added the novel to my bookshelf at home. I read Oke for several more years, predictable novels of settling in the West and falling in love. No more unsettling questions.

***

While we were in college, my friend had mentioned the pastor intern at her church numerous times. The intern's name was unisex so of course I assumed he was a man. Until my friend referred to the intern as "she."

My puzzlement must have shown on my face. "So women can be pastors in your denomination?"

"Yep," she confirmed, not thinking anything of it. This was normal. It was given. My curiosity lit up.

By college, I'd given up on my need to be right. We saw the matter differently and that was fine. I have opinions on most everything and I can hold my own in a debate but I much prefer to listen and explore the nuances of a topic together. I never forget how much I have left to learn.

***

Several years later, that same friend invited me on a canoe trip with her church in the Boundary Water. I couldn't say yes fast enough. I'd visited her church on the Southside from time to time and knew many of the congregants because of the White Sox home opener. I first heard a woman preach at her church. There was another female intern by this time and she was also going on the canoe trip.

As we paddled our way each day, I heard more of C's (the intern) story. Not only her decision to become a pastor and her experience in the Lutheran church but about her husband and daughters, about her previous experiences. At one point, she offered me specific wisdom and comfort that I am convinced a layperson would not have known to offer. C was meant to shepherd.

I wasn't any more comfortable with the idea of women preaching but I couldn't dismiss C or other women who felt called. I couldn't say they were misguided either. I knew enough about the way God called a person to accept that this could be true and right. But since I wasn't called to preach or lead, I figured I didn't need to figure it out.

***

Here's the part where I mention what I read on the matter of women and their role in the church. I didn't seek it out but as it came my way, I realized my hunger for more information, more nuance.

Rachel Held Evans' blog. The Resignation of Eve. Half the Church. The Women in Ministry series. Most recently, my dear friend Sarah Bessey's book Jesus Feminist (available tomorrow.)

It wasn't just reading but also seeing dear friends live out their calling right before my eyes, whether they preached, served, mothered, led. In front or behind the scenes. Women making much of the gifts God has given them. And I see I've been doing that, too. All along, no matter the should's and should nots.

Each story got at the heart of what bothered me about this issue: if God has given a women specific gifts, who are we to argue? What aspects of God do we miss when we restrict a gift by gender?

I know you might disagree and I'm not out to change any one's mind. How could I? I'm still trying to figure it out. But maybe we can listen together. Maybe we can learn.

***

A few weeks ago I went to another church on my short list. Both pastors are women. The guest preacher that day was also a woman.

Lots of firsts for me that morning. No man in a leadership role in sight. Sure, men helped collect the offering and gave out programs and sat in the pew. There were men leading worship alongside women. Both men and women assisted in giving communion.

The guest preacher spoke of our life's song and her words are still ringing in my ears. I saw myself reflected at the lectern.

It wasn't any better to have a woman preach. It was simply different. I experienced a piece of what most men take for granted each week in church.

When it was time for communion, I went forward and lined up next to my friend and others. A woman went down the line with the bread.

I held my hands cupped and expected to hear that this was Christ's body. Instead, she tailored her words to me and to each person around me. As if she saw in our countenance what this bread needed to be. Strength. Grace. Peace. Hope. Experiencing the body of Christ anew.

I blinked tears away. I ate. I drank.

Ally McBeal, River, and the Nostalgia of Friendship

The song River brings to mind Robert Downey Jr. and my college friends. Every Monday night we'd gather to watch our favorite shows. Conveniently, junior year we met up in the house where I and 3 others of our gang lived.

Robert Downey Jr. joined the cast of Ally McBeal during season 4. It was a risky decision at the time, as he was fresh from a stint in rehab- or was it jail? We were enthralled by the character he played. It didn't take long for a romantic storyline to begin between him and Ally. Every once in awhile, if we were lucky, he'd break into song. Much swooning occurred in Rock Island, IL those days.

Such was the case of the Christmas episode that year.

 

Any other Ally McBeal fans out there? I'm sharing about how the show helped form some of my most important friendships and what the song River means to me over at A Deeper Family. Head on over to read the rest.