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 May, 2020
Dear Friends,
When some friends in rural Iowa invited me to watch the burning of their prairie in early April, I jumped at the chance, in part because it was something to relieve the monotony of the quarantine. What I didn't expect was a spiritual lesson that I deeply needed.
This picture gives a sense for what it was like, but it doesn't convey the full drama of the event---the snap and crackle of the flames, the whoosh of air as the fire raced across the hill, and the intense heat that pulsated from the burning grasses. It was all strangely compelling and exciting, and not just because I've been stuck at home for weeks. I've watched prairie burns before, but none as dramatic as this one. It seemed as if all the sunshine that had nourished those plants for years was being released in one climactic conflagration.
The burn happened on Good Friday, and the more I reflected on the timing, the more significant it seemed. During that peculiar Holy Week in the middle of the pandemic, the fire struck me as a metaphor for what was spreading through the world---disease and death, economic destruction and political uncertainty. But it also carried a message about the resurrection that can come after tragedy.
The thing about these burns, you see, is that they're essential to the prairie ecosystem. You can't have a prairie without periodic fires, which clear away the dry thatch to allow new growth to emerge. They kill invasive species, release nutrients into the soil, and allow the native plants to flourish.
It took about an hour to burn six acres of prairie. After the fire had died out, the ground was blackened and bare. And if you didn't know much about prairies, that fire would have seemed like a terrible thing.
But standing on the edge of that field, I was reminded of the regenerative power that can accompany destruction, and that life and death are in a ceaseless dance and you can't have one without the other. That's the message of both a prairie fire and of Good Friday.
The prairie fire made me think, too, of what I want to release into the flames of this pandemic. My life is much less affected than that of many people, but this time of enforced isolation has made me re-examine my priorities and habits. I hope to emerge from the quarantine with less dry thatch cluttering my mind and heart.
Watching the prairie burn turned out to be the most meaningful part of my Holy Week. And in the weeks since, I've often thought of the green shoots of tiny plants that are now appearing in that blackened field, newly fertilized and bursting with life. They will have their time in the sun over the next few years, until the next time the prairie burns. Then the whole cycle will begin again.
I hope you are finding your own path through these challenging times and that you are starting to see some green shoots coming up.
Blessings,
Lori
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Recommended Reading:
 Poet, philosopher and cancer survivor Mark Nepo gives a year's worth of daily reflections in his classic The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have.
Author and researcher Brené Brown shares insights on perseverance and growth in Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone.
Psychologist Stephen Joseph examines the surprising ways tragedy can act as a catalyst for positive change in What Doesn't Kill Us: The New Psychology of Post-Traumatic Growth.
And here's one more book I recommend:
 I got the chance to review an advance copy of Anne Bokma's My Year of Living Spiritually: From Woo-Woo to Wonderful--One Woman's Quest for a More Soulful Life. Here's what I said in my endorsement:
In one experimental, life-changing year, Anne Bokma sets out on a series of spiritual adventures that range from taking magic mushrooms and hanging out with witches to hosting a death dinner. In the process she discovers new truths about herself, her childhood, and her complicated relationship with her mother. Her writing is fearless and honest, never settling for easy answers. Bokma gives us a model for how to seek a more authentic and grounded spiritual life with curiosity, openness, and passion. Read My Year of Living Spiritually for inspiration and tips on how you can take a walk on the wild side in your own spiritual life.
Book & Speaking Updates:
 My new book Near the Exit: Travels with the Not-So-Grim Reaper is a finalist for religion book of the year in the INDIES Awards from Foreword Reviews. The winners will be announced in June.
I was part of a panel of writers interviewed by Brian Allain of Writing For Your Life when our in-person Minnesota conference had to be re-scheduled. Listen to the YouTube video for advice on writing and cultivating spiritual growth during these trying times.
I moderated an online Interfaith Conversation on Caring for the Earth sponsored by the Iowa chapter of the environmental organization Moms Clean Airforce.
 My previous book, Holy Rover: Journeys in Search of Mystery, Miracles, and God is a memoir told through trips to a dozen holy sites around the world.
Both books are available in print, on Kindle, and in audio form on Amazon. And if you've enjoyed them, I hope you'll write a review on Amazon. Those reviews help other readers discover my work.
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