The Image of God in the Elderly, Perfection (Not Perfectionism), & What Not to Do with Your Grieving Friend

Wisdom for Your Weekend is your regular installment of what we’ve been reading (and watching) around the web. Presented to you by Chris Pappalardo, with guidance from Pastor J.D., this is our attempt to reflect Proverbs 9:9: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”  

While we do not always agree with everything these authors post, we share these resources because we find them challenging and enriching. As we often say around the Summit, “Eat the fish and spit out the bones.”

Articles of the Week

The Gospel Calls Us to Perfection, Not Perfectionism, Colleen Carroll Campbell. “Spiritual perfectionism is an obsession with control and flawlessness transposed into our relationship with God. It’s rooted in the lie that we can earn God’s love and work our way to heaven. Most of us know better than to think that out loud, and yet we often live like we believe it.”

What McDonald’s Does Right, Adam Chandler. Can fast food unite America? If so, how can the church learn from the McDonald’s experience?

Pro-life for All: The Image of God in the Elderly, Sheila Dougal. This series answers the question, “What would it look like to have a comprehensive pro-life ethic that can cross political lines?” In this piece, Dougal exalts the value and dignity of the elderly, a group who are increasingly sidelined and ignored.

The Slackification of the American Home, Taylor Lorenz and Joe Pinsker. More and more American families are trying out productivity apps (like Slack or Trello) to keep up with their home life. And for a while, it works. Sorta. But it’s not good for what family needs most—an environment in which deep relationships can flourish.

The Mistake I Made with My Grieving Friend, Celeste Headlee. When talking with friends who are hurting, many of our attempts to empathize only make the situation worse. Beware of meeting the sad stories of your friends with sad stories of your own. Instead, ask questions, wait, ask more questions, and listen.

On the Lighter Side

The Furby Organ, Look Mum No Computer. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Which means you probably already know if you want a part of this action.