Worthy Stuff for September

Cynthia edition

Cynthia at Mission Inn, Riverside, California August 2024

What I’m Reading

Last month in fast and testimony meeting I decided to share some thoughts I had been having as I comtemplated, yet again, what a model Jesus continues to be for me as I enter my 50s.

“I believe that God protects me from nothing but sustains me in everything.”

-Gregory Boyle

I said that I had been reading and listening to anything I could get my hands on by Father Gregory Boyle. (Gracious, will I ever quote an LDS peep from the pulpit again? :) I can’t stop quoting Catholics, Lutherans, and Episcopal folks!) After hearing the above quote I have now added him to my favorite spiritual thinkers. He’s written many books, but this is the one I’m devouring right now, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion.

In my testimony I said that Father Greg Boyle was the first to point out to me that Jesus didn’t seem to be too concerned with outcomes. His focus seemed to be solely about love and kinship. I said, just look at his interactions with Nicodemus, the rich young young man, etc. He was just with them in that moment. He never went to their houses later to follow up: ‘Hey have you changed yet? How are you doing on implementing that great lesson I taught you?’ Didn’t happen! I said that I’m trying to do that more. Just focusing on love and kinship, not outcomes.

After my testimony, a friend asked me to share more about Father Boyle. I told her to listen to this interview on the On Being podcast. It will fill your soul. A day after that, a bishopric member texted me and thanked me. He said he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about that idea—that “we need to serve without an expectation of an outcome.” Easier said than done, but I’m up for that challenge!