Shhhhh! Can you hear it? See it? Feel it?

COVER STORY—Popular Day1 radio host Peter Wallace has an inspiring new book of daily readings in which he invites all of us to pause for a moment in the midst of our chaotic lives—because, if we do, we might feel some nudge from God. That’s why he calls his new book, A Generous Beckoning.

This week, ReadTheSpirit magazine Editor David Crumm talks with Peter about the way this book offers a warm and welcoming invitation to readers. Please, read this story and share it with friends on social media or email—or on Goodreads. If you do, you just might find a friend who will enjoy reading the book along with you.

And Speaking of Goodreads …

Why Goodreads may be the world’s slowest social media—and why that’s a good thing

IN OUR FRONT-EDGE PUBLISHING COLUMN, this week, David Crumm writes about how his adventures in Goodreads in recent months has led to discovering—seven surprises. If you’re already a member at Goodreads—or if you’ve wondered about joining this community—you’ll find David’s column is a helpful introduction to what you can expect.

From our authors—

Howard Brown

‘Shining Brightly’ podcast welcomes Jackie Bailey

Howard Brown’s Shining Brightly podcast continues this week with Jackie Bailey, talking about the need to speak out about our trauma as a resilient step toward wellness. (Howard’s podcasts are easy to find. Follow that link to his homepage, where all of the current episodes are listed.)

Also this week, Howard posted a podcast with Denise Belisle called Three Levels of Relationships. And, if you missed it, last week we wrote about the challenge of launching author podcasts, a challenge that Howard is welcoming this year.

These truly are stories you’ll want to share with friends.

ALSO THIS WEEK, Howard’s memoir Shining Brightly was chosen by Pretty Progressive online magazine for inclusion in a list of The Most Inspirational Books About Cancer.

Larry Buxton

Larry’s back …

… AND HE’S WONDERING HOW LEADERSHIP CHANGES AS WE AGE. That’s the theme of Larry’s newest video for early March, 2023, in his popular series Leading with Spirit.

AND BY THE WAY, if you’re looking for great inspirational reading for the balance of Lent (see our Lenten coverage, below), you may want a copy of Larry’s Thirty Days with King David: On Leadership.

Rodney Curtis

This week, he’s way down under.

THE DAZZLING DARK (AND LIGHT) of caving. This week, Rodney Curtis is back with another eye-popping array of photos. Last week, if you missed it, Rodney Curtis introduced us to his latest travels in New Zealand.

Want to learn more about this guy and his adventures? Check out Rodney’s Amazon Author Page.

Holidays & Festivals

It’s Purim!

AS HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS columnist Stephanie Fenton reports: “With the start of Purim at sundown March 6, fruit-filled cookies are served, outrageous costumes are donned, plenty of wine is consumed and comical skits entertain audiences.”

Oh, the colors you’ll see!

THIS WEEK also brings the colorful festival of Holi, which now is celebrated around the world in communities connected with Indian culture.

All Christians are in the midst of Lent

STEPHANIE FENTON has written about the start of Western Lent and about Clean Monday, when the Eastern Orthodox churches begin their Great Fast of Lent.

Looking for inspirational reading for Lent? If you have not already enjoyed Our Lent: Things We Carry by David Crumm, you can find that daily reader in paperback and Kindle editions on Amazon. Also, for Lent 2023, we also are recommending Rachel Srubas’ thoughtful new book, The Desert of Compassion, which we featured in a Read the Spirit Cover Story in early February this year.

WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS?—It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

REFLECTING ON THE OSCARS—All Quiet on the Western Front is the first of 14 films that Faith & Film critic Ed McNulty included in his new column for the Presbyterian Church USA website, headlined, “Ethical values abound in this year’s Oscar-nominated films.”

Faith & Film

ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with discussion guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.

Here are some of Ed’s most recent free reviews and columns:

IN VIAGGIO: THE TRAVELS OF POPE FRANCIS—(In theaters) “As former President Jimmy Carter leaves the public stage it is good to be reminded that another elderly peacemaker is still going strong, the Pope, who takes seriously his namesake’s mission to the poor.”
THE MAN IN THE BASEMENT—”Director Philippe Le Guay and writers Gilles Taurand and Marc Weitzman raise important issues of Antisemitism, and of free speech and its limitations, in this complex story of a comfortable French family.”
THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN—(In theaters and streaming on HBO) Ed writes, “Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are at the top of their form as villagers at loggerheads.“
DEVOTION—(Streaming on Paramount+) “Director J.D. Dillard along with screenwriters Jake Crane and Jonathan Stewart have given us a fact-based film that commemorates a friendship that transcended the racial barriers of the times.”
RRR—(Streaming on Netflix) “Set in British-ruled India in 1920 S.S. Rajamouli’s spectacular film is a patriotic reworking of history from which Mahatma Gandhi is totally absent.”
SAINT OMER—(In theaters and streaming) “This film will leave you pensive about motherhood and even more about how culture and prejudiced expectations can poison the life of an outsider.”
WOMEN TALKING—(In theaters) “Sarah Polley’s newest film, which she wrote as well as directed, was adapted by Polley from Miriam Toews’ 2018 novel of the same name.”