At the end of 2019, I was standing on the edge of an abyss; I'd become the subject of an "engineered resignation" at my job, with less than a year to go before I could have retired safely. Now everything I'd worked for was in danger. It couldn't get any worse, could it? And then came the pandemic. I basically hid in my house for the next four years as agoraphobia really sank its claws into me.
But, in December of 2022, a Facebook friend shared your post, "Praising Like a Holstein," and I clicked on it and...cried. I cried because it felt like someone came alongside me and said, "I can hear the bells of your heart even with all of the noise of fear and sadness, and they ring in my heart, too. You are not alone."
That post, for me, was a resounding "YES" so loud I felt its vibration in my very center.
THANK YOU for continuing to share your heart with us.
Nadia dear, I'm a really old woman [88 next month] and often not really elegant with words. None the less, before I drop out of this world I want to tell you how blessed I am to follow you.
A while back, maybe it was on youtube????, you were giving a talk, sermon or what ever it was; you were talking about our access to forgiveness that is free of charge. We don't have to do something to earn it; that we don't have to go see some guy in a booth and confess. You clearly stated, and I heard, your HOLY WORDS followed by "you are forgiven." I heard what you said and I got it. I bawled my eyes out as I heard you say that and it transformed something so deep in me. I thank you, Nadia.
Now I just boldly say "I forgive me," even for little mistakes every day.
And now please excuse me while I disappear for the next 3 weeks or so in order to unpack the ton of thoughts / feelings / insights and other stuff that wants to tumble out of the jam-packed closet of my head after reading this. For me, it's not just looking back over 5 years at the end of this year's roller-coaster ride. It's not just a reminder of how disdainful and naive I was about COVID. It's not even about how much I've changed for the better.
It's about connection: to God, to others, to memories, to hopes, to honesty, to my own soul still wandering in the desert these 65 years on.
Thank you. And I thank God for you and your journey.
Ring the bells that still can ring; forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in. (Leonard Cohen)
first, congratulations on five years! i'm a newcomer here, introduced to your writing by a dear friend. this is a place that, in a dark time, feels like a small circle of warmth and light. a safe space in a threatening world. may all of us gathered here find the strength and courage to keep on believing, praying and hoping. thank you, nadia, for helping us do that.
It takes courage to be real. Thank you for being courageous and real. You have given me so much hope. Keep sharing your heart and mind with love and shit. The love of Jesus shines through the cracks.
I am so grateful that you stayed the course through whatever shit was thrown your way when you first started The Corners. I am a late-comer to your work - just a couple of years. And I am ever grateful to Suzanne Stabile for introducing you to me and to Richard Rohr for leading me to Suzanne and to whoever led me to Richard so many years ago. You all have enriched my soul and shown me paths I had not previously stumbled onto. So glad to be able to accompany you all in 2025 finding joy and peace in the face of whatever manure we have to endure (rhyme intended! ☺️). With deep appreciation ♥️💜
I feel the same gratitude for what I call the ‘bread-crumb trail’ that has led me from one beautiful wisdom-teacher to the next, Glenny. And continual amazement at the grace of it all.
I am grateful beyond measure to inhabit a tiny bit of your corner. As a member of a stubbornly patriarchal church, I am ever more thankful for your vision and wisdom. Happy anniversary!❤️
I recently flew back to NYC after visiting my sister in Boulder. On the plane I was reading your book, Accidental Saints. A woman sitting next to me asked me about it and we got to talking about church and our experiences. I think so many of us are searchers and discoverers. So I thank you for your insights and prayers. With best wishes for the new year. --Nancy
You are safe to share with my gay daughter and for that, I thank you. I can only stomach going to church on occasion right now but I haven't walked away from God (not that I haven't really, really tried). Your writing is a breath of fresh air. It reminds me that I don't have to be perfect to be loved and shit comes for us all and sometimes there are no answers to the why but there is always, always love to help us walk through it.
If you’re having trouble stomaching church, you’re probably going to the wrong church. I encourage you to check out a different congregation, one that is loving and accepting.
You and Suleika have fed my emotional and spiritual heart so richly over these times. Your posts come in and tap me in the wee dark hours on Sunday morning and bless me.
Happy Birthday, Corners! Thank you, Nadia! The Corners is a beautiful gift to me and all of us who read and connect with you and each other. I am glad to be a tiny part of it, as yours is a gift that gives all the time. You are so right, as always, in that there are so many temptations to look away from the marginalized, to keep quiet as gossips wag tongues in haughty and arrogant voice, casting side-eyes at those they consider undesirables. Thank God and our Corners community that I no longer keep silent when folks speak uglies around me. Rather than argue or insist I am right or say that my Jesus embraces others, I speak softly to say I am sorry they feel so conflicted about the love Jesus brought, and that I see Him in everyone. While my voice may not change anyone, of course, it does shut mouths sometimes and gives folks something to think about. The best path we all can take is by our own examples, which are obvious, warm, and loving. I hope 2025 gives more opportunities for kindness to grow, for Jesus to show us our paths, and for His love to triumph over the evils that are so prevalent. And I believe all will be well. Love to you, Nadia, in it with you.
Thank you for your spiritual integrity, Pastor Nadia, and your dedicated effort to maintaining the space between your gift/message and our very commercialized world. We, your faith community, recognize and appreciate this!
At the end of 2019, I was standing on the edge of an abyss; I'd become the subject of an "engineered resignation" at my job, with less than a year to go before I could have retired safely. Now everything I'd worked for was in danger. It couldn't get any worse, could it? And then came the pandemic. I basically hid in my house for the next four years as agoraphobia really sank its claws into me.
But, in December of 2022, a Facebook friend shared your post, "Praising Like a Holstein," and I clicked on it and...cried. I cried because it felt like someone came alongside me and said, "I can hear the bells of your heart even with all of the noise of fear and sadness, and they ring in my heart, too. You are not alone."
That post, for me, was a resounding "YES" so loud I felt its vibration in my very center.
THANK YOU for continuing to share your heart with us.
U had me at:
“all are welcome . . . just don’t be an asshole”
Nadia dear, I'm a really old woman [88 next month] and often not really elegant with words. None the less, before I drop out of this world I want to tell you how blessed I am to follow you.
A while back, maybe it was on youtube????, you were giving a talk, sermon or what ever it was; you were talking about our access to forgiveness that is free of charge. We don't have to do something to earn it; that we don't have to go see some guy in a booth and confess. You clearly stated, and I heard, your HOLY WORDS followed by "you are forgiven." I heard what you said and I got it. I bawled my eyes out as I heard you say that and it transformed something so deep in me. I thank you, Nadia.
Now I just boldly say "I forgive me," even for little mistakes every day.
Glad you're here, Emily!
Thank you.
And now please excuse me while I disappear for the next 3 weeks or so in order to unpack the ton of thoughts / feelings / insights and other stuff that wants to tumble out of the jam-packed closet of my head after reading this. For me, it's not just looking back over 5 years at the end of this year's roller-coaster ride. It's not just a reminder of how disdainful and naive I was about COVID. It's not even about how much I've changed for the better.
It's about connection: to God, to others, to memories, to hopes, to honesty, to my own soul still wandering in the desert these 65 years on.
Thank you. And I thank God for you and your journey.
Ring the bells that still can ring; forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in. (Leonard Cohen)
Hallujah!!
first, congratulations on five years! i'm a newcomer here, introduced to your writing by a dear friend. this is a place that, in a dark time, feels like a small circle of warmth and light. a safe space in a threatening world. may all of us gathered here find the strength and courage to keep on believing, praying and hoping. thank you, nadia, for helping us do that.
It takes courage to be real. Thank you for being courageous and real. You have given me so much hope. Keep sharing your heart and mind with love and shit. The love of Jesus shines through the cracks.
I am so grateful that you stayed the course through whatever shit was thrown your way when you first started The Corners. I am a late-comer to your work - just a couple of years. And I am ever grateful to Suzanne Stabile for introducing you to me and to Richard Rohr for leading me to Suzanne and to whoever led me to Richard so many years ago. You all have enriched my soul and shown me paths I had not previously stumbled onto. So glad to be able to accompany you all in 2025 finding joy and peace in the face of whatever manure we have to endure (rhyme intended! ☺️). With deep appreciation ♥️💜
Love Suz and RR!!
I feel the same gratitude for what I call the ‘bread-crumb trail’ that has led me from one beautiful wisdom-teacher to the next, Glenny. And continual amazement at the grace of it all.
I am grateful beyond measure to inhabit a tiny bit of your corner. As a member of a stubbornly patriarchal church, I am ever more thankful for your vision and wisdom. Happy anniversary!❤️
I recently flew back to NYC after visiting my sister in Boulder. On the plane I was reading your book, Accidental Saints. A woman sitting next to me asked me about it and we got to talking about church and our experiences. I think so many of us are searchers and discoverers. So I thank you for your insights and prayers. With best wishes for the new year. --Nancy
You are safe to share with my gay daughter and for that, I thank you. I can only stomach going to church on occasion right now but I haven't walked away from God (not that I haven't really, really tried). Your writing is a breath of fresh air. It reminds me that I don't have to be perfect to be loved and shit comes for us all and sometimes there are no answers to the why but there is always, always love to help us walk through it.
If you’re having trouble stomaching church, you’re probably going to the wrong church. I encourage you to check out a different congregation, one that is loving and accepting.
Thank you for being here, Pastor Nadia.
This is your "call", Nadia. We are blessed to hear your interpretation of His word and to be moved into action. Thank you!
You and Suleika have fed my emotional and spiritual heart so richly over these times. Your posts come in and tap me in the wee dark hours on Sunday morning and bless me.
Happy Birthday, Corners! Thank you, Nadia! The Corners is a beautiful gift to me and all of us who read and connect with you and each other. I am glad to be a tiny part of it, as yours is a gift that gives all the time. You are so right, as always, in that there are so many temptations to look away from the marginalized, to keep quiet as gossips wag tongues in haughty and arrogant voice, casting side-eyes at those they consider undesirables. Thank God and our Corners community that I no longer keep silent when folks speak uglies around me. Rather than argue or insist I am right or say that my Jesus embraces others, I speak softly to say I am sorry they feel so conflicted about the love Jesus brought, and that I see Him in everyone. While my voice may not change anyone, of course, it does shut mouths sometimes and gives folks something to think about. The best path we all can take is by our own examples, which are obvious, warm, and loving. I hope 2025 gives more opportunities for kindness to grow, for Jesus to show us our paths, and for His love to triumph over the evils that are so prevalent. And I believe all will be well. Love to you, Nadia, in it with you.
Thank you for your spiritual integrity, Pastor Nadia, and your dedicated effort to maintaining the space between your gift/message and our very commercialized world. We, your faith community, recognize and appreciate this!