Pursuing Call

This week I got the homie to interview me! Makeda Pennycooke and I explore my story of call so that it is all here in one place. A couple of disclaimers, it's me so I do drop the f bomb a couple of times. Also, I am telling my story. While I talk about the institution I work for, know that I am speaking for Tamara Plummer and Tamara Plummer alone. My thoughts and opinions may not reflect that of the organization I work for.

Homework: spend less time with the terrible people and more time with the people who participate in your health and well being.

This week we speak with Chris Sikkema, who works in the communications office of the Episcopal Church. We explore his spiritual life, including being a proud alumnus of Hope College, our vision for the church, and predestination theology - as one does. 

For homework this week, we want you to think about not only who you are, but where you are. Perhaps there is something about your location that is an invitation to participate with God in building a loving world. What might that be for you today?

Share your thoughts by emailing me, your host, Tamara Plummer @pursuingcall on instagram or [email protected]. Visit the website, pursuingcall.com to learn more about what I got going on in the world of theological thinking. And if you feel so bold - I would love to hear your voice so leave a message: https://anchor.fm/tamara-plummer4/message

Thank you all for listening to this podcast! We close 2021 with part 3 of my conversation with the Rev. Winnie. Follow here on twitter: @wsvarghese. Visit her church: https://www.stlukesatlanta.org 

Some cuss words leave our mouths as we reached to the end of hour two of our conversation so... sorry.

See yall in 2022. Your homework: find space to do nothing!

If you insists on more, read Dorothy Day's The Long Loneliness or the New York Time's Best Seller: A Rhythm of Prayer

Now Winnie said something about Ignatian Spirituality and Discernment. It is a bit more hardcore than I originally thought so do it at your own risk. I would advise therapist or spiritual director for such an adventure.

Share your thoughts by emailing me, your host, Tamara Plummer @pursuingcall on instagram or [email protected]. Visit the website, pursuingcall.com to learn more about what I got going on in the world of theological thinking. And if you feel so bold - I would love to hear your voice so leave a message: https://anchor.fm/tamara-plummer4/message

This week we continue the conversation with the Rev. Winnie about how we tend to over-function and how the pandemic has invited us to examine where our ambition is merely suffering. So I invite you to reflect with us this week. 

Share your thoughts by emailing me, your host, Tamara Plummer @pursuingcall on instagram or [email protected]. Visit the website, pursuingcall.com to learn more about what I got going on in the world of theological thinking. And if you feel so bold - I would love to hear your voice so leave a message: https://anchor.fm/tamara-plummer4/message

Everyone has their own approach, but as I prepare to take a much needed sabbatical from my paycheck job, I realized that my spiritual practice will be a process of leaning into what is happening and not always trying to create what is next. 

Lean in to what is happening and stop trying to create what is next even if it is for only 30 mins. in a day.

This week I get to speak with Rev. Winnie Varghese, a powerhouse on so many levels. Most importantly, she is in my tribe of aunties of the Church that will support me when asked and even when not. We got to talk about the child of immigrant syndrome (a term I made up I think), what we mean by discernment and how we create a culture of listening to God's voice, and then we finish this segment off with some reflection on how a pandemic and social isolation has changed our perception of life. All this to say - we had a lot to talk about and it went all over the place. 

Homework:

Share your thoughts by emailing me, your host, Tamara Plummer @pursuingcall on instagram or [email protected]. Visit the website, pursuingcall.com to learn more about what I got going on in the world of theological thinking. And if you feel so bold - I would love to hear your voice so leave a message: https://anchor.fm/tamara-plummer4/message

Nope - I am not pregnant and I have no plans, but I did want to talk to folks that do have kids and learn more about why. For me, parenting is a calling to support others in living into their true selves. And while that can be a universal experience, there is a particularity about being a mom that hits different in our society. So I talk with three. Each woman's family dynamic is different and they all had child who were under the age of 5. Even if you aren't a parent, I think there are some good questions to ask ourselves about why we choose to be a parent or not. And what we can do as aunties, uncles, godparents or whatever to create a world where the next generation can thrive and grow into the full beloved versions of themselves. It also invites us to ask, in what ways does parenting represent God's love and where might the metaphor fall apart. 

Share your thoughts by emailing me, your host, Tamara Plummer @pursuingcall on instagram or [email protected]. Visit the website, pursuingcall.com to learn more about what I got going on in the world of theological thinking. And if you feel so bold - I would love to hear your voice so leave a message: https://anchor.fm/tamara-plummer4/message

What can we do to make a world where children can thrive? In the wake of challenges to Roe v. Wade, I am wondering more about what happens when children are born into this world than what happens in the womb. What happens to those who carry a fetus to birth? Do we care for their bodies? Do we care for their babies? What might our preparation for the baby Jesus have to teach us about the world we are leaving for those who have not yet joined us. Perhaps this is a better place for us to put our energies as people of faith? perhaps?

For the month of December/Tamara's Birthday month, we are doing these quick episodes to offer time for a bit of reflection. This week, we pick up the scripture from Luke 21:34 - "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down..."

What is weighing you down physically, spiritually, or emotionally? Is there something in the spaces you inhabit that is weighing you down? How might you release these things?

Feel like sharing your reflection or asking a question? Send an email: [email protected] or leave a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tamara-plummer4/message