Books about migration, the ecology of faith, and wild-crafting
Somewhere We Are Human: Authentic Voices on Migration, Survival, and New Beginnings edited by Reyna Grande and Sonia Guiñansaca
I grabbed this book off the library shelf at random, and am so glad I did. It's a collection of essays and poetry written by a wide range of people with one common thread: they have all been (or currently are) undocumented immigrants in the United States.
The essays and poetry range widely in topic, from dealing with class mobility to experiencing racism, from longing for a home country to learning that no country feels like home. Some of the essays are straightforward narratives of people's immigration stories, while others are more artistic and open to interpretation.
This book feels especially relevant given the recent news of undocumented people being used as political pawns. The poetry and stories are a call to action, a demand from the writers to be seen not as an issue but as fellow humans. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth by Debra Rienstra
How can the ecological concept of refugia— pockets of habitat where life can survive a massive upheaval— help Christians approach our role during the ongoing climate crisis? Professor, creative writer, and theologian Debra Rienstra makes a compelling case for approaching faith and environmentalism through this lens, with each lengthy chapter focusing on a fundamental shift in attitude that can take place: "From Despair to Preparation," "From Alienation to Belonging," "From Passivity to Citizenship" and so on. Interspersed with her reflections are stories from her own experience, as well as interludes describing the beauty and wonder of the coast of Lake Michigan, where she lives.
Rich in both description and theology, this book is probably my favorite one I've read about the Christian faith and the climate crisis, in part because it directly challenges many of the "buzzwords" and out-of-context Bible verses that Christians have used to promote environmentalism, asking us to dig deeper than the watered down "earth stewardship" and even "creation care," and consider not only how past theology can be helpful in creating an ethic of finding our place in the world, but also how we can create new theology for the new situation we find ourselves in.
I recommend this for any Christian, even if environmentalism isn't your "thing"— it's beautifully written and full of insight, both theological and ecological.
The Wild Craft: Mindful, Nature-Inspired Projects for You and Your Home by Catarina Seixas
Cat runs a gorgeous blog and Instagram feed called The Olive Trees and the Moon, highlighting her life as a gardener, herbalist, and textile artist on her homestead in rural Portugal. This is her first book, a guide for crafting your way through the four seasons, giving instructions for making herbal pesto, knitting a potholder, creating foraged bitters, carving a clothing hook, dyeing cloth with natural materials, making your own soap, and many more. The book's aesthetic is gorgeous, and I'm planning to try out several of the projects. If you enjoy crafting, definitely check this out!
Previously on What I've Been Reading:
All What I've Been Reading posts
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