Summer permission slips

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Welcome to Nourish, a newsletter to help you be kinder to yourself and others. I'm Erin Strybis, a writer, mama, believer and bookworm. In this issue: summer permission slips, a call to hospitality and seasonal delights.

Dear reader,

Summertime is in full swing and, with it, came a slew of unsettling news. I’m a highly sensitive person and an empath, so when bad things happen, I instinctually absorb their heaviness. If you’re anything like me, you’re searching for something, anything to lighten your load and remind you that “the heart of life is good.”

It is, friend. Kindness doesn't usually make headlines, but it shows up in fresh bread from a neighbor, teachers who love on our children and communities organizing for change.

While I’ll never tell you to ignore injustice, I'll always champion the need for rest, especially in these trying times. The spiritual practice of rest equips us for the sorely needed work of peacemaking. With that in mind, here are some summer permission slips to guide your rest:

You have permission… to chase the light. To stay out all day and receive a kiss from our guiding star. To feel its warmth on your cheeks, to witness the magic hour when it bathes the land in gold, to stay for its setting, a blaze of glory and color, still burning when darkness falls, still shining when we can’t see it.

You have permission… to turn off the news. To recall a time without tweets and texts and TikTok. To leave your phone at home, race to an open field, turn your thirsty eyes to the breaking story above and drink in the heavens. To sprint barefoot in the grass, fall down on your knees, ground yourself in its softness and listen for the hum of creation. Hear the cardinal’s call. Hear the crickets chirp. Hear the natural world alive, praising.

You have permission… to eat ice cream for dinner. (You’re an adult, after all!) To nourish yourself without guilt and delight in sweetness.

You have permission… to wear your swimsuit. To stand confident in the body you have (not the body you want, the body you miss, the body you’re working toward), to ditch every unkind thought and enjoy the gifts of your body, worthy and useful, heart beating strong, you're still breathing and that's something to celebrate.

You have permission… to wade into the water. To play, to let every worry wash away with the tide and simply float. Be still and rest. Be still and know your place in our vast cosmos. You may be small, but you can still create ripples.

You have permission… to scream. To march. To dance, even when you feel like throwing up. To vote your conscience. To raise your voice. To make art. Please, make your art. Our hungry hearts long for a taste of goodness.

You have permission… to skip town. To plan your dream vacation. Set the time aside. Set the money aside. Trust that your work will be waiting when you return. You’ll never regret an extra toast or laughter with your favorites. Take the trip. You are the artist of your life, and God only knows how much time you’ll get to paint this canvas. I hope you’ll make it a beauty.

SEIZE DELIGHT: One of my favorite writers says “being in and with one’s delight, daily, ... actually requires vigilance. It also requires faith that delight will be with you daily, that you needn’t hoard it. No scarcity of delight.” Indeed, paying attention to daily pleasures might be a key to contentment. What’s bringing you delight these days? Can you find more of it? Here’s my answer:

To beat the heat, I’m loving this beachy herbal tea on ice and this fruity Moscato. For dessert I’m reaching for these tasty caramels or a homemade lactation cookie (I’ve made this recipe multiple times for myself and other new mamas — it’s a keeper!).
Watching my oldest ride his bike without training wheels is a delight, albeit one that’s bittersweet.
Another delight: We’re getting extra outside time this summer, thanks, in part, to my career shift. I’m slathering this sunscreen on my face, neck, ears and hands. It's the first I've found that doesn't make me break out. For the rest of my body, I use this easy-to-apply sunscreen spray.
For a fun escape, I’m loving the Ms. Marvel miniseries on Disney+. The show is giving me major Spiderman: Homecoming and Never Have I Ever vibes. Newcomer Iman Vellani shines as Kamala Khan (AKA the superhero Ms. Marvel).
Finally, caring for our lil' babe is a true delight. At five months, he’s in the golden stage of infancy — charming, cuddly and not mobile (yet!).

EMBRACE ABUNDANCE: Before we had kids, Jay and I loved to host at our tiny Chicago apartment. We threw Halloween bashes, cookouts and had friends over for dinner regularly. Then we had kids, then COVID and, well, it’s been a minute since we’ve hosted guests — other than our family. When I think about hosting, I’m often confronted by my limiting beliefs around hospitality: our house is too cramped, our dinner table’s too old, I won’t be able to feed a crowd. But Rachel Nevergall in a beautiful micro essay reminds me of this truth: “Abundance is a mindset, a ministry, a prayer.” She encourages us to invite people into our spaces and be connectors. “It will be days later, as you’re still working your way through leftovers, that you’ll wonder why you ever worried about enough," she writes. "There was always enough. Enough room, enough food, enough friends." I’m challenging myself to host one outdoor gathering before summer ends. I invite you to do the same.

~BOOK UPDATE~

After overcoming a case of writer’s block, I’ve turned in my first set of devotions to our editors at Church Publishing, Inc., and I’m now working on my second set. We've also chosen a cover and title, which I can’t wait to share with you in the months ahead. (ICYMI, here's my note announcing the book I'm writing with Kim Knowle-Zeller.) More updates to come!

Two upcoming books I’m looking forward to:

BREAKING THE JAR: My friend Kelsi Folsom is a poet who writes with stunning imagery and deep faith. Her upcoming poetry collection, Breaking the Jar is "an unfiltered look at the harrowing path into and out of bondage" toward hope. I quickly preordered my copy and you can do the same here.
SHAKY GROUND: I first met Bible teacher and author Traci Rhoades in a Collegeville Institute writing workshop and was struck by her lovely prose and her passion for connecting Christians across denominations. This month on Instagram, I’ll be hosting a giveaway for her new release, Shaky Ground: What to do When the Bottom Drops Out. If you haven't already, be sure to follow me for all the details!

Beautiful words that I read and loved:

A few pieces I wrote:

This August, I’m taking a social media sabbatical and break from this newsletter to focus on our book manuscript, due Sept. 1. The next time you'll hear from me will be in September.

Thanks for reading, and I pray you encounter rest, delight and abundance in all your summer adventures.

Grace and peace,
Erin

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"Love yourself.
Then forget it.
Then, love the world."
—Mary Oliver