IN THIS EPISODE In Faith, as in Art, There are No Deadends

Guest Jessica Mesman reads Graham Greene and discusses how she experiences God through her writing. She also shares an excerpt of a recent article in America Magazine.  “[Writing] is how I come to any small scrap of understanding, compassion, love,” she says. 

WRITING PROMPT    Mesman’s reaction to the crisis in the Church caused by priest abuse and cover-up is to find alternative voices, to expand her imagination and rebuild her perspective as a witness of faith. Are there aspects of your life or part of your voice and experience that do not “fit” with traditional definitions of belief and faith? Describe them and why you feel this way. Might these “dead-ends” actually lead to deeper faith? Describe how your experience, your doubts might actually be a  just a different form of faith.

About the Guest

Jessica Mesman is a widely published writer whose work has been noted in Best American Essays. She is currently the blog and podcast editor for Image Journal. She’s a cultural columnist for US Catholic Magazine, where she has written about David Bowie, Green Nuns and Stranger Things. She often writes about the intersections of faith and psychology and creativity. She founded the award-winning blog Sick Pilgrim.