It’s December Storied people!
We’re happy to report that most of our Christmas shopping is finished (just need to find something for dad, why is he always the hardest on to shop for!?) Now all that’s left is to pack for Northern Ireland.
We hope this season has been kind to you and that you’re enjoying plenty of time with the people you love. Not a ton to say at the top of this email except that we just want to remind you all that there is no Storied Zoom call this month AND we’re taking the last two Fridays of the month off from sending out newsletters (seeing as they are Christmas Eve and NYE!)
Which means next issue will be the last one for the year!
Can’t wait to dive into another year of growing spiritually together as a community!
Much love,
Gabby + Chris
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
By Gabby Llewellyn
I’m driving around our neighbourhood in East Nashville on muscle memory as the tears stream down my face. They always do when I listen to Judy Garland sing “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”
No one told me that as you get older Christmastime shines a light on grief and loss. And yet, as an adult, it feels like grief is so entirely interwoven with this season it’s impossible to separate the two.
And so when Judy sings “Next year all our troubles will be miles away,” I cry even harder because the songwriters wrote that line knowing grief never leaves us, not really. There are no platitudes, no amount of sugar cookies, or roaring fires that make it okay.
When it comes to our evolving faith, too, there is plenty to grieve. The loss of a simplistic faith that fit neatly into our idealogical boxes, the loss of community, perhaps the loss of being able to find comfort in the arms of church.