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In today’s episode of The Turquoise Table, host Kristin Schell interviews Ruth Chou Simons, who is an artist, author, speaker, and founder of GraceLaced. Her most recent book, Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship, takes us on a journey of redirecting our eyes and hearts for worship, right where we are.
Show Notes
Ruth and Kristin discuss the role social media plays in our ability to be present. We are distracted by millions of images that fly by, we don’t even realize our short-sightedness and hurry can lead to shallow faith.
Ruth asks herself what message she wants to share on social media that might reach across all seasons of life to positively impact others. She approaches social media by understanding that many people, herself included, may use it to reach out from a place or loneliness or out of wondering what else is out there. Instead of building her community around a person or thing, she has built it around something unchanging: God’s truth.
In the age of everyone showing their best on social media, you don’t need to be on stage or at a conference, you simply need to say: “Lord, I see You, I know You by Your word and I’m going to look for You in my everyday life”. Ruth has also created a guided companion for her book so that it can be used in community to foster discussion around both the beautiful words and the hand-painted art.
In-Person Community
Ruth shares how important in-person community is in her everyday life. She is part of a group that gathers every Monday night. These friends show up and ask who needs meat in their freezer, who needs a ride to the airport, and who needs prayer while nervous for a book tour.
Ruth and Kristin discuss how hard it is to be the new family in a community and the assumptions that are made which prevent people from inviting a family over. They also describe the difference between entertaining and hospitality, and just how easy it can be to invite someone over and open up lines of communication.
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Links
Ruth’s book: Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship
Ruth and Troy Simons’ book: Foundations: 12 Biblical Truths to Shape a Family
Connect with Ruth:
- Website: ruthchousimons.com
- Ruth’s company: GraceLaced
- Instagram: @ruthchousimons
- Twitter: @gracelaced
Connect with Kristin:
- Instagram: @kristinkschell
- Facebook: The Turquoise Table – Kristin Schell
- Twitter: @kristinkschell
Podcast Discussion Guide
Episode Extras
Kristin and Ruth reminisce about meeting at the Allume Conference. Kristin still has the conversation card Ruth designed tucked in her desk drawer.
Ruth’s favorite comfort food right now is fried rice. It’s such a staple in their home, she doesn’t even have a recipe written down. Since she whet our appetite for fried rice, here are a couple of Kristin’s favorites for you to try:
Now it’s your turn!
What is your favorite way to gather at the table?
