On Journeying: Travel, Traditions, and Turning to the Psalms with Tsh Oxenreider

Sacred Ordinary Days with Jenn Giles Kemper

Writer and travel guide Tsh Oxenreider joins host Jenn to talk about journeying through shadow and light during Advent — and using the Psalms to map the way.

Tsh shares about navigating different faith traditions and forging a new path for herself — a path that, as it turns out, has been well-tread by centuries of Christians before her. Tsh and Jenn discuss spiritual pilgrimages, finding meaning from cultures outside their own, and sifting out gifts and graces in the Psalms. They also dive into book recommendations and their favorite seasonal songs, and Tsh reads an excerpt from her new book, Shadow & Light.

About the guest: Tsh Oxenreider is the bestselling author of several books, most recently Shadow & Light, a guide for the Advent season using Psalms as a prayer book, and At Home in the World, the story about her family’s year traveling around the world out of backpacks.

Why now: Popular culture would have us believe that the 12 Days of Christmas are simply a countdown calendar to December 25. But as Tsh points out, that’s not how the Christian calendar works. We celebrate Advent, and then Christmastide, with its 12 days of celebration stretching to January 5. Depending on your tradition or denomination, you may be wondering...if I’m holding back on Christmas traditions...what does that leave me with for Advent? Jenn and Tsh discuss.

Reflection point: How might more fully engaging in Advent as a season of preparation for Christmas allow us to lengthen your celebration of Christmas itself? As Jenn explores in this episode, perhaps in your answer, there’s a clue as to something you might do right now to go a bit deeper next Advent, too.

Links:

• Shadow & Light by Tsh Oxenreider
• 2021 Liturgical Year Daily Sacred Ordinary Days Planner
• Spotify Playlist: Advent with Sacred Ordinary Days
• Tsh Oxenreider

About Sacred Ordinary Days with Jenn Giles Kemper: Sacred Ordinary Days with Jenn Giles Kemper explores faith where it hits the pavement of work, relationships, creativity, and real life. Inspired by Jenn’s curiosity and faith (and her work as a minister and spiritual director) we’re crafting a show to help you meaningfully explore your own life with Christ — and ultimately lead you to become more wholly human and more fully faithful. On Tuesdays, join us for a conversation with folks whose words, work, and witness have shaped our team’s understanding of God and practice of faith. (Plus, we’re featuring lots of good music, prompts for your reflection and practice, and plenty of invitations into a community of kindred spirits!)

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