What We Read This Week

Each week, we bring you interesting stories from around the web. Here’s what caught our eye this week!

COMMENTARY

Observations: The rewards of letting go

Editor Jocelyn Bell reflects on the upcoming changes for The United Church of Canada, the magazine and in her own life. Also, in terms of the United Church check out Wood Lake author Ralph Miltons This United Church of Ours IV. Ralph will also have a new release, The Gift of Story coming out towards the end of August 2018 …Read Full Article

From ucobserver

CHURCH

Pope Francis teaches discernment for coping with spiritual battles

Spirituality, whether Christian or Muslim, frequently uses the language of battle, so it is not surprising that Pope Francis promotes the Christian equivalent of a spiritual jihad. Many in the West think jihad only means warfare, whereas it can also mean the spiritual struggle within oneself against sin. In the final chapter of “Gaudete et Exsultate” (“Rejoice and Be Glad”), Francis uses similar language when he writes that “the Christian life is a constant battle.” For him, this battle is not just against the world and our human weakness but also against the devil himself.…Read Full Article

From RNS

TRANSPORTATION

Is public transportation a human right?

Up in Canada’s western provinces, the towns and cities are small and far apart. Many people depended on the Greyhound bus to get anywhere. Greyhound says they regret this, “But simply put, the issue that we have seen is the routes in rural parts of Canada — specifically Western Canada — are just not sustainable anymore.”…Read Full Article

From treehugger

SPIRITUALITY

How to Be a Blessing in an Overwhelming World

Sometimes, when I feel overwhelmed by the problems of the world, a question floats into my mind. It’s a question asked by the wonderful singer Brandi Carlile on “That Wasn’t Me,” a gem of a tune about trying to get on a better path. The question is this: “Do I make myself a blessing to everyone I meet?”…Read Full Article

From busted halo

SOCIETY

Babies behind bars

Mothers incarcerated in federal prisons are allowed to keep their children with them for up to five years, but few mothers do. We investigate why…Read Full Article

From ucobserver