I’m back. I decided that I am not going to force a newsletter if I don’t have anything thoughtful to share. So your girl is going to be in and out as I please.
Also, I might change the name of this to A Mixed Bag—since that’s what it is—open to feedback!
🍝 Getting lost in the sauce
As the year-end approaches, I’ve started to reflect on how I’ve changed during this full sabbatical year. What has happened and how do I feel about it?
Honestly, I feel like I got a bit lost in the sauce this year. It has been the most spiritually intense year of my life. Like if I go any deeper I might fall in and never emerge. I’m not really sure how I feel about that.
I disconnected my identity from my career—something I never thought possible— largely shedding the need to impress and perform for external validation. I’ve felt like I peeled back so many layers that there was nothing left. Or the stuff that was left is primal and amorphous, which I am not what to make of.
Now, I am rebuilding. I am struggling to figure out how to participate in a world I feel disconnected from. I feel a bit like an alien in New York City; practicing the opposite of most who come here to “be somebody”—much of their ambition built on insecurity and lies, like I myself once was. Now I finally know that I matter intrinsically, beyond my achievements. I am finally trying to be honest with myself, above all else, and in a city filled with golden calves of all breeds, it feels alien to just “be” when the religion is “doing” and getting praise for it.
🌎 The Language of Creation
I’m reading this commentary right now and I had to share something that expanded my mind. 🤯
The reason to preserve biblical cosmology against scientific hegemony is that it describes reality at the meta-cognitive level. Hence, the story of the fall is really about the process of knowledge itself and the dangers of acquiring greater material knowledge at the expense of spiritual insight…
The story of the Garden of Eden describes a state of innocence where humans occupied a central place in a relatively natural environment. This naive perspective conveniently provided humans with a full understanding of their role in the universe and the spiritual purpose of existence. However, the garden was also a sheltered place; it was a tiny portion of a much greater world. Therefore, as soon as humans looked beyond the limits of the garden, their “eyes were opened” to a strange universe devoid of spiritual meaning. They “knew they were naked” and saw their previous worldview as something illusory. Once the bubble had been shattered, all attempts at “covering it up” were in vain, and humans really had no choice but to wander in a meaningless universe until they return to the ground.
At the meta-cognitive level, the narrative of the fall perfectly matches the plight of humanity since the scientific revolution. So, even though these technical discoveries have locally debunked traditional cosmology, they have ironically proven its significance at a higher level. In general, the narratives of the Bible are about humanity’s conflicted hopes of acquiring divine knowledge. For that reason, the ancient stories of the Bible will survive and eventually transcend any scientific discovery, as long as we recognize that level of interpretation.
Highly recommend this book to anyone who has struggled to make sense of the ancient Old Testament stories and their transcendent relevance in our modern world.
🎵 Wind and Sail
I’ve had all of their songs on repeat all week. SO GOOD.
🍫 Fine & Raw
If you know me, you know I am obsessed with sauces. I could just eat bowls of sauce. IMO, more sauce makes everything better.
One time my sister and I just sat around dipping everything we could find into all of Fine & Raw’s chocolate hazelnut sauces.
It’s the best refined/elevated version of Nutella I’ve had.
🚣🏼♂️ Rowing
In college, my BFF Layla walked onto a D1 rowing team (casually, I might add). I was naturally curious and so she taught me how to do it properly (thank God).
Since then, it’s been my workout of choice. Once you learn, you will notice that about 90% of people at the gym who use the rowing machine are doing it wrong. 🙃
But, if you are doing it right, it is absolutely the best and most efficient low-impact full-body strength and cardio exercise you can do. I recommend this guy’s YouTube tutorial or checking out your local Row House studio to perfect the technique.
Also, I’m super excited—they’re finally making a film based on The Boys in the Boat, a beautiful story about the 1936 University of Washington rowing team that competed for gold at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. The trailer gives me chills!