Kathleen McQuillan

It started out the same as any other Saturday morning. Take a big stretch before getting out from under those cozy blankets. Pull back the curtains. Say good morning to Duffy. Fluff the top of his head with the usual question, “Did you sleep good, little guy? Ready to start a brand-new day?” His wagging tail equals a resounding “Yes!” It seems like dogs always sleep well. Anyway, Duffy’s all ready to rumble!
Next, it’s light the lamps, put the coffee water on to boil, check the wood stove, give the coals a gentle stir and a good stoking. Now I’m ready to call forth a round of “toss and chase,” Duffy’s favorite game. Little Lambie goes flying, lands behind, or on, or under something. Duff’s on the hunt! Within seconds, he’s sniffed out his “prey,” bringing it back for loving praises and another round. I tire before he does.
Today, I’ve broken my rule to abstain from internet scrolling until after ten. I usually use early mornings to read, write, and be inspired, knit a couple more rows on my Afghan, or tidy up the joint — activities that ground me while waiting for the coffee water to boil.
But today I’m gripped by curiosity. First, I check my weather app and then fall into the trap of YouTube videos. The first one I open had been forwarded by my outrageously funny cousin in Pennsylvania. Here’s this guy, seated in the back seat of his SUV, calling out extreme right white supremacists with his 20-minute take on how a “moronic pedophile and convicted felon got elected to the White House.” By his appearance, the man seems a passionate down-home, working-class hero, speaking in his hometown dialect with intelligence and clarity. He details the current state of the union, calling it an “‘effen’ hot mess for the U.S.” not to mention the rest of the world. Whew! His words fly out in a flurry. Despite my appreciating where he’s coming from, I have to break away for a breather and pour myself another cup of coffee. I decided to skip the second half.
Next, a pop-up video of Bernie Sanders in dialogue with the infamous AI bot, Claude. Yes, this too blew my mind. Here’s Bernie seated in front of a microphone in a pleasantly detailed conference room. Directly across the table is a stand equipped with a large monitor. The caption informs the viewer that the senator will discuss the future of artificial intelligence with Claude. I’d heard of Claude, but I’d never met the guy. It turned out that Claude was female. This would be my first experience with an AI bot.
Bernie posed a series of in-depth questions, and Claude was shockingly thorough in her articulate responses. I listened intently as together they laid out the political, economic, and existential dangers of unregulated AI. I couldn’t quite believe what I was hearing. Claude confirmed that our future is one of “great unknowns” … many of which warrant “serious human concerns and vigilance.” She warned of letting development of this new technological advancement get too far ahead of human understanding, management, and control. Another “Whew!” moment. Her statement left me with an even bigger question. Was what I am watching real?! Or was it an extremely well-produced AI creation? Honestly, I couldn’t tell. By the conclusion, it all seemed so creepy.
With the little time I had left on this morning of modern-day enlightenment, I happened upon an interview between Canadian podcast host Kate Bowler and her guest, prize-winning author Anne Lamott. Now this one I could tell was real.
Lamott is an accomplished novelist, autobiographer, and writer of non-fiction, who wittily tackles a wide range of topics. She’s known for her unique narrative style, spiritual perspectives, and quirky sense of humor. She’s also a progressive political activist.
Bowler, with her background as an associate professor at Duke Divinity School and historian of Christianity in North America, opened the conversation with questions for Lamott about the origin and development of her spirituality. Anne then went on to describe the way she weaves her personal experiences with addiction, depression, and single motherhood into her writing as a means of exploring personal growth. She turns often to her Christian faith as a mainstay source of strength in the face of adversity and hope for the future. Her latest book, “Somehow,” explores the transformative power of love.
Kate sought to go deeper by asking provocative questions and giving Anne a platform to expound on the ways we can open ourselves to Love’s healing potential. Here are some Lamott quotes I jotted down to help tap the resources that dwell beneath the surface.
When facing extreme adversity: “Wave it away and say, ‘God’s got it now!’”
When feeling stymied: “Take action, no matter how small. The insight will follow.”
When faced with conflict: “Don your necklace of beads of love.”
When feeling self-pity: “Look and be thankful for scraps of beautiful things.”
If directionless: “Find someone who’s doing good and help them.”
When your world looks ugly: “Say to yourself, ‘I can make this place beautiful.’”
When restless: “That’s when we’re hungry for what we’re not getting. Seek it out.”
When overwhelmed, whisper: “One does what one can. That’s all I’ve got.”
When feeling despair, remind yourself: “Hope is a decision.”
When life looks bleak: “Giving is like putting on a new pair of glasses.”
When all else fails: “Turn to small stubborn acts of Love. They usually work.”
Last but not least: “Forget about finding joy out there. It’s an inside job.”
Welcome to the words of Anne Lamott, a writer for all of us ordinary folk. She’s refreshingly able to own her own mistakes, her foibles, and blind spots. And she’s amazingly willing to dive into that roiling vat of introspection, seeking answers for our unanswered questions. She’s a writer that speaks in our voice, familiar with the stressors that sometimes threaten to crush us. And she always comes up with a twist that will bring up your laughter or bring you to tears. She’s that good.
Check out Lamott’s bibliography, and you can find more of Kate Bowlers video podcasts at katebowler.com. Both provide welcomed wayside rests along this crazy road called life.