LOAM

011: The Dance We're Fighting For: Sabbatical and Resistance in DC

011: The Dance We're Fighting For: Sabbatical and Resistance in DC A Conversation on Rest, Resistance, and Ministry in Turbulent Times Podcast: The LOAM Podcast - A Conversation on a More Beautiful Gospel Hosts: Anthony Parrott and Tonetta Landis-Aina Episode Length: ~35 minutes Recording Context: First full day of federal government shutdown in DC, amid ICE raids, mass firings, and political turmoil Episode Summary After a long summer break, Anthony and Tonetta reunite to discuss Tonetta's sabbatical experience and what it means to do ministry in Washington, DC during a time of unprecedented crisis. This honest conversation explores the tensions between rest and resistance, pastoral care and prophetic action, and joy and suffering. Tonetta shares what surprised her about stepping away from ministry, while both hosts grapple with how progressive faith communities can stay awake to injustice without succumbing to burnout. "During the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, we buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced all night. And it was the dance that kept us in the fight because it was the dance we were fighting for." — Dan Savage Episode Highlights & Timestamps [00:00:00] Welcome Back & Sabbatical Energy Anthony and Tonetta reconnect after the summer break, with Tonetta bringing post-sabbatical energy and even downloading new apps. The conversation opens with the importance of listener feedback and sets the stage for discussing both sabbatical and ministry in crisis. [00:02:10] Sabbatical Interview Begins Anthony interviews Tonetta about her three-month sabbatical, exploring what she hoped for versus what actually happened. [00:03:22] What Were You Hoping For? * Spending more time with her 3-year-old daughter before she started school * Exploring the theme of "home" after multiple moves in five years * Reading about place, gardens, and cultivating earth * What didn't happen: organizing email and tech projects * Discovery: Becoming very good at "puttering" - taking longer than expected to reach restful spaces The Bathrobe Moment: Anthony describes visiting Tonetta on a Sunday afternoon to find her in full sabbatical mode - in a bathrobe, completely at rest while her family attended church. [00:08:40] Chaos in the City, Rest at Home Did the intense summer in DC interrupt Tonetta's rest? Surprisingly, not much. She intentionally "holed up" in August knowing there would be plenty to do in September. As a Black queer woman in America, she notes that there's always suffering to be present to - but she won't survive if she stays constantly present to it. "I'm a black queer woman in America... when I have a chance to try to step away, I do. I won't survive if I just stay present to it consistently." On joy and resistance: Tonetta references Mary Oliver's poem "Don't Hesitate" [https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/519479-if-you-suddenly-and-unexpectedly-feel-joy-don-t-hesitate-give]: "Joy is not made to be a crumb." When genuine joy happens, it is almost always appropriate to lean into it. [00:13:00] The Dance We Were Fighting For Discussion of Dan Savage's powerful quote [https://www.portlandmercury.com/savage-love/2025/01/21/47609318/savage-love-trump-and-dump] about the AIDS crisis, and how it connects to T.S. Eliot's poetry about the Trinitarian dance. "At the still point of the turning world... at the still point, there the dance is." — T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets (Burnt Norton) [http://www.coldbacon.com/poems/fq.html] Tonetta connects this to the idea that at the heart of the Trinity there is joy, love, and mutuality - and that the dance is what we're fighting for, the overflow of divine life. [00:14:41] What Did You Learn About Yourself as a Leader? Practicing Silence: Tonetta discovered the beauty of contemplative silence - not typical in the Pentecostal/charismatic spaces where she grew up. Learning to find God in silence at home, then recognizing that presence in unexpected quiet moments throughout the day. The Bible and Work: Tonetta realized how intertwined the Bible has become with her job. It's hard to approach Scripture in a lighthearted way when it's so associated with work. She started Lectio Divina but found herself wanting to "study" passages - which didn't feel good. A major takeaway: she needs to cultivate ways to disconnect the Bible from her work. Anthony's Lesson: Coming out of his own sabbatical, Anthony learned he has "two modes: uninvolved or in charge" - which is a problem. He had to learn to be okay with other people leading in ways he wouldn't, and that it won't hurt him. [00:18:09] What Did You Miss or Not Miss? The Surprise: Tonetta thought she'd visit synagogues, houses of worship, and connect with other church leaders. Instead, she just wanted to be home, pray, and listen to gospel music. Her family went to church while she "bathed in the silence." This gave her much more understanding and respect for congregants who want to step away from church sometimes. A congregant's response: "So now what you think is that we stay home to pray. I'm gonna just tell you that might not always be what we're doing, just to be clear." "My entire life I have been in gathered church spaces and I found it so refreshing to be out of those." [00:20:27] Doing Ministry in DC Right Now Tonetta pulls a card from Tricia Hersey's Rest Deck [https://thenapministry.com/rest-deck/]: "Rest is my foundation to build, invent, restore, and imagine the world I wanna see." The tension: How do you carry the rhythm of sabbatical while there's so much to be done? Government workers need support, the city is in crisis, and the needs feel endless. Justin Fung's Question: How do you stay awake but not alarmist? Action as Antidote: Sometimes action is the antidote to anxiety - not always perfect action, but right-sized action that fits what you're able to do. [00:23:15] Activists or Shepherds? Prophetic Action vs. Pastoral Care How does a progressive church discern between mobilizing for justice work and creating sanctuary for exhausted congregants? Tonetta's Answer: It's about rhythm and discernment. You need diversity in community - different kinds of leaders leaning in different directions. If you only have one voice or one approach, you'll be unbalanced. The Spectrum of Organizing: Every movement needs educators, disruptors, caregivers, writers, people who can lead chants, administrators - you can't all be doing the same thing. "We can't all be ears. We can't all be hands. We can't all be cooking our food over dung fires like Ezekiel." The Problem of Charismatic Leadership: When churches accidentally recreate themselves around one leader's gifts and style. The work of pastors is to intentionally pull together people who are smarter and more capable than them at things they aren't doing. [00:27:32] Spiritual Gifts and Progressive Churches Tonetta observes that progressive/liberationist churches may have "ceded some ground" when it comes to developing people's spiritual gifts. She advocates for: * Marrying traditional spiritual gifts teaching with social justice frameworks * Recognizing how gifts show up differently depending on privilege and social location * Not being afraid of Pentecostal/charismatic practices like speaking in tongues * Putting diverse leaders "up front" so people see their own gifts accepted Coming Out: Tonetta shares that she speaks in tongues, something she's "been threatened to be educated out of" but is reclaiming as important to who she is. [00:31:03] Streets vs. Desk: The Tension of Pastoral Work Tonetta wrestles with whether she should just be "in the streets" like Jeremiah or Ezekiel, doing disruptive prophetic acts - especially as someone whose inclination is toward the "world of ideas." Anthony's Response: All movements need people doing administrative work. If you're hosting a bus boycott, someone has to figure out how people will get to work. BUT you also need people in your life asking: "Are you using that as an excuse to not get on the streets?" [00:33:03] What Are You Watching/Reading? Tonetta: Practicing weekly points of whimsy. Currently reading about the spirituality of abolition and watching Craig of the Creek [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_of_the_Creek] (Cartoon Network) - an 11-minute episode show about community that brings joy and explores theological connections. Anthony: All Creatures Great and Small [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/shows/all-creatures-great-and-small/] (2020 PBS/Masterpiece remake) - a comfort watch about a veterinary practice in 1930s Yorkshire, England. "The moral quandaries of the show are like, do we tell the farmer their cow is going to die... the world's least important moral quandaries and it is a relief." Key Themes & Concepts Rest as Resistance * Rest is not selfish - it's survival, especially for marginalized communities * Joy is not a crumb - it's abundant and meant to be fully experienced * Historical resistance movements sustained themselves through joy, dance, and community * Action can be antidote to anxiety, but rest must be the foundation Ministry in Crisis * How to stay awake without becoming alarmist * Balancing prophetic action with pastoral care * The necessity of diverse gifts and leadership styles * Progressive churches need to reclaim spiritual gifts development Sabbatical Lessons * The art of "puttering" - allowing rest to take as long as it needs * Stepping away from gathered worship can be deeply restorative * The Bible can become too associated with work for pastors * Silence as spiritual practice (vs. charismatic noise) Resources & Links Books & Authors Mentioned * Tricia Hersey [https://thenapministry.com/] - Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto [https://www.amazon.com/Rest-Resistance-Manifesto-Tricia-Hersey/dp/0316365211] and The Rest Deck [https://thenapministry.com/rest-deck/] (50 practices to resist grind culture) * Mary Oliver - "Don't Hesitate [https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/519479-if-you-suddenly-and-unexpectedly-feel-joy-don-t-hesitate-give]" poem: "Joy is not made to be a crumb" * T.S. Eliot - Four Quartets [http://www.coldbacon.com/poems/fq.html] (especially "Burnt Norton" and "Little Gidding") * Dan Savage [https://www.portlandmercury.com/savage-love/2025/01/21/47609318/savage-love-trump-and-dump] - Quote on AIDS crisis, protest, and dancing Shows & Entertainment * Craig of the Creek [https://www.cartoonnetwork.com/video/craig-of-the-creek/index.html] - Cartoon Network animated series about community and imagination (11-minute episodes) * All Creatures Great and Small [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/shows/all-creatures-great-and-small/] - PBS Masterpiece 2020 remake set in 1930s Yorkshire following veterinarians Theological Concepts Explored * Rest as Resistance: Framework by Tricia Hersey/The Nap Ministry * The Dance: Dan Savage on AIDS activism + T.S. Eliot on Trinitarian dance * Joy as Liberation: Mary Oliver's vision of joy as abundant, not scarce * Contemplative Silence: Finding God beyond charismatic/Pentecostal noise * Spiritual Gifts: 1 Corinthians 12 - diversity of gifts in community * Prophetic Tension: Ezekiel/Jeremiah energy vs. administrative pastoral work Quotable Moments "I'm a black queer woman in America... there's enough of that, that when I have a chance to try to step away, I do. I won't survive if I just stay present to it consistently." "Joy is not a crumb. When genuine joy happens, it is almost always appropriate to lean into it." "We buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced all night. And it was the dance that kept us in the fight because it was the dance we were fighting for." "At the still point of the turning world... there the dance is... That is what we are fighting for. That is the overflow we're fighting for." "Rest is my foundation to build, invent, restore, and imagine the world I wanna see." "My entire life I have been in gathered church spaces and I found it so refreshing to be out of those." "We can't all be ears. We can't all be hands. We can't all be cooking our food over dung fires like Ezekiel." Discussion Questions * How do you practice rest as resistance in your own life? What gets in the way? * When have you experienced joy in the midst of difficult circumstances? How did that feel? * What's the difference between staying "awake" to injustice and becoming "alarmist"? * How does your community balance prophetic action and pastoral care? * What are your spiritual gifts? How do they show up differently based on your social location? * Do you have practices from charismatic/Pentecostal traditions that you've been "educated out of"? Should you reclaim them? * Is there a rhythm between "being in the streets" and "doing administrative work" in your activism? Connect with The LOAM Podcast * Instagram: @loam.fm [https://www.instagram.com/loam.fm/] * Anthony Parrott: @pastorparrott [https://www.instagram.com/pastorparrott/] (most platforms) * Tonetta Landis-Aina: @tonetta.landis [https://www.instagram.com/tonetta.landis/] (Instagram) * Feedback & Questions: podcast@loam.fm [podcast@loam.fm] The LOAM Podcast is a conversation on a more beautiful gospel, exploring faith, justice, and spiritual formation in the modern world. "Until next time. Bye y'all."

010: Rest as Resistance: Sabbath, Sabbaticals, and Becoming an Outlier

Rest as Resistance: Sabbath, Sabbaticals, and Becoming an Outlier Subtitle: A Conversation on Biblical Rest, Work Culture, and the Courage to Live Counter-Culturally Podcast: The LOAM Podcast - A Conversation on a More Beautiful Gospel Episode Type: Final episode with co-host before sabbatical Episode Summary In this deeply personal and theologically rich episode, hosts Anthony Parrott and the Reverend Sister Tonetta Landis-Aina explore the radical nature of rest in our productivity-obsessed culture. As Tonetta prepares for her first sabbatical, they dive into biblical perspectives on Sabbath, the resistance inherent in choosing rest, and how our earliest experiences with work and rest shape our adult practices. Key Takeaway: To practice true rest in our culture is to become "a fugitive from grind culture" and an outlier who chooses to live into the world as it should be, rather than accepting the relentless pace of late-stage capitalism. Episode Highlights & Timestamps [Opening] Being an Outlier * Tonetta's upcoming sabbatical and the rarity of such policies in church work * The cultural confusion and sideways looks that come with extended rest * Introduction to Tricia Hersey's concept of being "a fugitive from grind culture" "To be a fugitive is to break free... embracing becoming an outlier. To live into practices of rest, you have to accept that you will be an outlier." [Mid-Episode] What Did You Learn from Your Caregivers About Rest? * Anthony's Story: Growing up with a father working brutal newspaper printing schedules, the family's disrupted rhythms, and the "I'll sleep when I'm dead" mentality * Tonetta's Story: Middle-class upbringing with a hardworking teacher father who gamed the system for stability, and the tension between being and doing * How childhood experiences with work and rest shape adult approaches to Sabbath [Biblical Foundation] Bible and Rest * Rhythms vs. Balance: Why Anthony believes balance is a lie and rhythms are biblical * Genesis Patterns: Daily, weekly, yearly, and jubilee cycles of work and rest * Technology as Resistance: How modern technology tries to override natural creation rhythms * John 15 - Fruitfulness and Abiding: The counterintuitive wisdom that even fruitful branches need pruning "If you want something to grow up into a strong, healthy plant... the first year you plant a grapevine, it's gonna bear some fruit... No. Cut it back. Wait a year... You wait at least three years before you start getting the fruit out of it." [Practical Theology] What Defines Sabbath for Each of Us? Anthony's Characteristics: * Work Stoppage: Forcing clarity about what constitutes work vs. rest * Reposing in Creation: Following God's example of stepping back and saying "this is good" * Alternative Identity: Leaning into identities beyond work - mother, Prince fan, tennis player Tonetta's Characteristics: * Play as Rest: Reclaiming play as non-productive but deeply engaging activity * Structured Rest: Understanding that rest doesn't have to be passive or unstructured * Communal Impact: How personal rest creates ripples enabling others to rest Key Biblical Passages Discussed * Genesis 1-2: Creation rhythms and the first Sabbath * John 15: The vine and branches - fruitfulness and abiding * Exodus & Deuteronomy: Sabbath commands including rest for community and livestock * Proverbs 8: Wisdom personified as playing and frolicking before God * Levitical patterns: Sabbatical years and Jubilee cycles Recommended Resources Books & Authors Mentioned: * Tricia Hersey - "Rest is Resistance" and Rest Deck * Cal Newport - Thoughts on focus as 21st-century currency * Wendell Berry - Technology and creation rhythms * Jürgen Moltmann - Liberation theology: Exodus and Sabbath as two sides of freedom * Cindy Wang Brandt - "Parenting Forward" on collective rest Concepts Explored: * Fugitivity and rest as resistance * Late-stage capitalism vs. biblical rhythms * Multitasking as myth vs. monotasking as focus * Play as non-productive engagement * Trauma-informed learning through play * Sabbath as community practice, not just individual discipline Discussion Questions * How do your earliest experiences with work and rest continue to shape your current practices? * In what ways might you need to become an "outlier" to practice meaningful rest? * What's the difference between "balance" and "rhythms" in your own life? * How can your personal rest create space for others in your community to rest? * What would it look like to reclaim "play" as an adult spiritual practice? * Where do you see technology overriding natural rhythms in your life? Quotable Moments "Rest is a human right. It is the first day of humanity's existence according to Genesis 2." "Focus is going to be the most important currency in the 21st century because... everybody is vying for our attention all the time." "There are two sides to liberation... exodus (leaving the system) and Sabbath (rest). Liberation does not exist unless both of those are in place." Connect with The LOAM Podcast * Instagram: @loam.fm * Anthony Parrott: @pastorparrott (most platforms) * Tonetta Landis-Aina: @tonneta.landis (Instagram) * Feedback & Questions: podcast@loam.fm The LOAM Podcast is a conversation on a more beautiful gospel, exploring faith, justice, and spiritual formation in the modern world. Special Note: This episode marks Tonetta's final appearance before her sabbatical. The hosts discuss the rarity and importance of sabbatical policies in church work, noting that The Table Church provides three months of sabbatical every three years - an incredibly generous and rare practice in religious organizations.

009: Death Cannot Digest Divinity (Atonement Part 2)

Episode Overview In this second part of their atonement series, hosts Anthony Parrott and Tonetta Landis-Aina dive deeper into healthier frameworks for understanding the cross, moving beyond problematic theologies toward more life-giving perspectives. They explore concepts like the harrowing of hell, Christus Victor, and René Girard's scapegoat theory while emphasizing how the cross reveals God's radical solidarity with the marginalized. Key Topics Discussed 1. The Cross as Radical Power Reversal * Challenges to Christian nationalism * Power displayed through weakness * The cross as counter-imperial statement 2. The Cross as Lynching * Connection between crucifixion and American lynching history * James Cone's The Cross and the Lynching Tree * Understanding the cross through the lens of racial violence and solidarity with victims 3. Language Matters: Reconciliation vs. Cleansing * Translation issues with "atonement" (at-one-ment) * Being saved from misconceptions about God's wrath, not from God's wrath itself 4. Participation in Atonement * Co-suffering love (not coercive suffering) * Local, contextual discipleship * Christ suffered ahead of us, not instead of us 5. The Harrowing of Hell * Jesus' descent to free the dead * Death as prison that cannot hold God * Early church imagery of chains breaking under the cross 6. Christus Victor * Christ's victory over sin, death, and evil * Both spiritual and physical dimensions * The church as continuation of Christ's victory through acts of love and justice 7. René Girard and Scapegoat Theory * Mimetic desire and rivalry * The cross as revelation (not blessing) of the scapegoat mechanism * Breaking cycles of accusation and violence Books and Resources Referenced Books Mentioned * The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone * Sacred Self-Care by Dr. Shaniqua Walker-Barnes * The Wood Between the Worlds by Brian Zahnd * The Day the Revolution Began by N.T. Wright * Crucifixion by Martin Hengel * The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky * The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis Scholars Referenced * René Girard (French philosopher, mimetic theory) * Dr. Shaniqua Walker-Barnes * Brian Zahnd * N.T. Wright * Martin Hengel * James Cone * Brian Blount (Black New Testament scholar) * Douglas Campbell * Scot McKnight * Jennifer Bashaw (on scapegoating) * Chris Green (theologian) * David Bentley Hart Key Scripture References * John 12:20-25 - Jesus on his coming death * Ephesians 4:8-10 - descent to lower regions * 1 Peter 3:18-20 - proclamation to imprisoned spirits * Hebrews 2 - freedom from fear of death * 1 John 3:8 - destroying the works of the devil * Colossians 2 - leading powers in parade Historical References * Alexamenos graffiti (Roman graffiti mocking Christians) * Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference * Birmingham church bombing * Lynching Memorial (Equal Justice Initiative) Memorable Quotes * "The cross is foolishness and we are faithful to foolishness" * "Death cannot digest divinity" * "Christ suffered ahead of us, not instead of us" * "We are slowly bending the arc of history towards justice" * "The crucifixion of Christ was not a defeat that was overturned by resurrection. Rather, it was a victory revealed in resurrection" Contact Information Instagram: @PastorParrott and @TonettaLandis Podcast Instagram: @loam.fm Email for questions: podcast@loam.fm Note to Listeners The hosts welcome questions for a potential Q&A episode. Send your questions to podcast@loam.fm to participate in future discussions about gospel, faith, and social justice.

008: Understanding Atonement: Beyond Punishment and Toward Love

Understanding Atonement: Beyond Punishment and Toward Love Subtitle: "Where Crosses, Penguins, and Penal Substitution Collide" Your Hosts Anthony Parrott and Tonetta Landis-Aina welcome you to LOAM Podcast - "a conversation on a more beautiful gospel." Episode Topics & Timestamps * [00:01:00] Introduction to Atonement - Why this conversation matters and setting the stage * [00:02:00] Caveat \#1: Embodied Reality - Atonement isn't just theory\; it's lived experience for many * [00:06:00] Caveat \#2: Dangerous Ideas - How teachings can be weaponized when misunderstood * [00:08:00] Personal Formation Stories - What were you taught about the cross? * [00:17:00] Penal Substitutionary Atonement Explained - Breaking down PSA and its problems * [00:24:00] Atonement and Justice - Wrestling with the need for justice without retribution * [00:30:00] The Power of Metaphor - How biblical writers used multiple images to describe mystery * [00:32:00] Art and Contemplation - Finding meaning through music and visual art Key Insights from This Episode The Translation Problem Anthony explains how William Tyndale's translation choices created theological confusion by using "atonement" for both Greek katalasso (reconciliation) and Hebrew kippur (decontamination/purification), leading to centuries of conflated meaning. Two Important Caveats Caveat \#1: Atonement theology isn't just abstract theory - it affects real people experiencing real crucifixion in their daily lives (unemployment, discrimination, systemic oppression). Caveat \#2: These ideas can be dangerous when mishandled, like "trying to pick up a snake in the wild" - they can mean the exact opposite of their intended message. The Problem with Penal Substitutionary Atonement * Makes punishment and retribution ultimate rather than love * Puts violence at the heart of God's character * Reduces the rich biblical metaphors to one narrow theory * Can perpetuate cycles of violence and revenge "If God will not forgive us until his son has been tortured to death for us, then God is a lot less forgiving than we are sometimes." - Herbert McCabe Toward a Better Understanding The hosts emphasize that biblical writers used multiple metaphors (sacrificial, legal, interpersonal, commercial, military) because they were trying to describe a mystery that transcends any single explanation. Resources & References Mentioned Books & Authors * Strange New World Podcast by Matthew Myers Bolton * Herbert McCabe - Catholic theologian quoted on forgiveness * Sally McFague - Theologian on metaphor and religious language * Robert Mulholland - Spiritual formation framework using Jungian archetypes * Jon Sobrino - Liberation theologian who wrote about "crucified peoples" Music & Art * "Lamb of God" - Choral cantata by Rob Gardner (Mormon composer) * "No Greater Love" - Gospel song ("They hung him high, stretched him wide") * "Worth" - Contemporary Christian song * "How Great the Father's Love for Us" - Hymn mentioned * Stations of the Cross - Catholic contemplative practice * Franciscan Monastery, Washington DC - Mentioned as a place for stations of the cross Biblical & Theological Terms * Katalasso (Greek) - Reconciliation * Kippur (Hebrew) - Purification/decontamination (as in Yom Kippur) * Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA) - The dominant Protestant theory of atonement * William Tyndale - English Bible translator who coined "atonement" Recommended Further Reading * Explore liberation theology and Jon Sobrino's work on "crucified peoples" * Study the various biblical metaphors for atonement (not just substitution) * Research Herbert McCabe's writings on forgiveness and God's character * Look into contemplative practices like Stations of the Cross Connect with LOAM * Podcast Instagram: @loam.fm * Tonetta's Instagram: @tonetta.landis * Anthony Online: Find him at @pastorparrott on most platforms * Feedback & Questions: podcast@loam.fm Submit your questions and feedback - they'll respond in future episodes! What's Next? This is Part 1 of a multi-part series on atonement. The hosts promise to move beyond critique toward constructive alternatives - exploring how we can understand the cross as good news without the problematic baggage of punishment-focused theology. "We are not just gonna tear it down and leave people in that... I think we can do better." - Tonetta Discussion Questions * What were you taught about the cross growing up? How has that shaped your understanding of God? * How might the difference between "reconciliation" and "purification" change how we read atonement passages? * Where do you see "crucified peoples" in today's world? * How can we hold onto the love revealed in the cross while rejecting harmful theology? * What art, music, or practices help you contemplate the mystery of the cross? LOAM Podcast: A conversation on a more beautiful gospel.

007: Exploring Confession and the Spiritual Practice of Lent

"I'm a Bear, I'm Meant to Be Hibernating" Subtitle: Episode Overview In this episode, Anthony Parrott and Tonetta Landis-Aina discuss the spiritual practices of Lent, with a particular focus on the often overlooked practice of confession. They explore their personal histories with liturgical traditions, why Lent remains meaningful to them today, and how confession serves as an important spiritual practice for both personal growth and collective liberation. Key Points * Personal histories with Lent: Anthony and Tonetta share their journeys from non-liturgical upbringings to embracing Lenten practices * The importance of alternative liturgies: How the liturgical calendar offers a counter-cultural way of measuring time apart from the dominant calendar of empire * Lent as wilderness: Understanding the desert experiences of faith as normal and necessary spiritual cycles * The value of darkness: How Lent reclaims darkness as a space where God moves and works * Confession as practice: The tension between unhealthy guilt and the necessary practice of taking responsibility * Collective confession: The importance of public confession paired with assurance for communal healing * The dangers of avoiding confession: How avoiding self-reflection can lead to calcified hearts and unjust systems Notable Quotes * "We are formed by calendars in time, whether we like it or not." - Anthony * "The question is not if we are being spiritually formed, it's what is forming us." - Anthony * "Wilderness is a really healthy part of the life of faith." - Tonetta * "If you do not create... alternative routines and practices, you will be formed by the values of the empire." - Tonetta * "Confession as willingness to take responsibility to name what is wrong... is really important for the health of the soul." - Tonetta * "If you cannot be vulnerable in confession... it endangers your heart." - Tonetta * "Confession should drive us towards renewal and recreation and collective liberation." - Anthony What They're Watching * Tonetta: "Loot" with Maya Rudolph on Apple TV+ * Anthony: "Severance" on Apple TV+ Resources Mentioned * Barbara Brown Taylor's book "Learning to Walk in the Dark" [https://www.harpercollins.com/products/learning-to-walk-in-the-dark-barbara-brown-taylor] * The liturgical year wheel [https://visiolectio.com/seasonal-resources/] * The Ignatian Examen practice [https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/] * Willie James Jennings' "The Christian Imagination" [https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300171365/the-christian-imagination/] Connect With Us * Instagram: @loam.fm * Tonetta Landis on Instagram: @TonettaLandis * Anthony Parrott online: @PastorParrott * Submit feedback and questions: podcast@loam.fm