Monday Manna
Releasing small stories...(and an offer for you from Garrett Theological Seminary!)
I wrote this post before the latest unconscionable violence in Minnesota last Saturday (more on this below). As hard to trust as it is amid this darkness, I keep coming back to this mantra…
Good morning, friends, and deep warmth and peace to you at the start of this new week…
I wrote last week about “star words” — this tradition of receiving a guiding word for the year on Epiphany Sunday (akin to the Magi following the guidance of the star to find Jesus). Last week, I shared a bit about my 2025 word of “lightly,” with promises that today, I’d share what I received as my 2026 word.
The kids in our church walked around the pews carrying small woven baskets of star words. And I will say, I felt a little nervous picking my word! It reminded me of how too often, I turn what is supposed to be a “gift” into some kind of project. As a wise friend later reminded me, star words are not “homework.” If you get the word, “patience,” for example, it doesn’t mean, “God must really think I need to work on this!” Rather, these words are meant to be gifts — invitations and blessings from the Spirit with what you might need the most this year (that was so very true for me last year with “lightly”).
So I was a bit surprised, and felt very intrigued, when I drew my word for 2026…STORY.
Now that I’ve held this word in my heart and spirit for a couple of weeks, I’ve already found a number of layers and gifts embedded in it. I was reminded right away of an Alan Watts talk I recently listened to (I highly recommend — you can listen here). In this particular talk, Watts shares about the things we must release in order to raise our vibration. If this sounds very “woo” to you, it’s actually very tangible. Your vibration is basically the energy you embody and put out into the world. We all know this is the most palpable thing we experience, right? You could be in someone’s presence who isn’t saying anything bad, or doing anything harmful, but you just find yourself drained or taxed or uneasy. You feel their energy. And of course, the flip of this is true.
But back to Watts, one of the primary things he says we must release is that of “small stories.” Our lives themselves are stories, but we are telling ourselves stories all the time. Stories about ourselves. Stories about others. Stories about our lives. And what Watts’ reflection made me realize is that a lot of times, these stories are confining — in some cases, down right mean.
I am a disappointment.
Things just don’t work out for me.
I can’t change.
I’m on my own.
It took me a little bit of time before I recognized how many “small stories” I tell myself — and how sneaky they can even be, because I’ve told myself them for so long. These stories hold us back, they press us down, they lower our vibration, and they limit the possibilities our minds are open to.
Because as Watts says, our stories are not facts — they’re choices. And our stories can change instantly when we allow them to. We can live a different story! Your story is not over. And stories are what transform the world (I think about how when Jesus wanted to teach, he told a story).
There is so much more to unpack and reflect upon, here, and I hope to do more of that this year with my gift-word of “story,” but for now, I want to invite you to listen for the small stories you are telling yourself. What are they? What would it look like to release them?
And then, I wonder if we, as a community, can think about the stories we are telling about our nation right now. The stories we are telling about each other. What if, in the midst of all that is happening, we make our home in the story that everything is going somewhere good? And that we are intrinsic to making that happen?
The Spirit has an expansive, beautiful story She is writing in and through your life. And you are part of a much bigger story. Hold on this week to these these words from Brian Doyle…
“We’re here for a little window. And to use that time to catch and share shards of light and laughter and grace sums up the great story.”
A Prayer
I am thinking especially of the landscape in Minnesota and our friends and colleagues who gathered, witnessed, and marched this past weekend (amid unbelievable temps). I first wrote this prayer after the attack at the White House on January 6, 2021, and have shared it here before. I now offer it again as our calling today. From my book, Ash and Starlight: Prayers for the Chaos and Grace of Daily Life, Second Edition.
When I must take a stand
Refugee King,
You linked your only life’s arms
with those who were fleeing
and those who were forgotten,
with those who were abused
and those laid bare to brutality.
From the manger to the cross,
and all the broken places in between,
you bore a truth
the world tried to bury.
You made your home in vulnerable spaces
and I need you to free me from this
prison of privilege so I can
make my home there too.
What I saw and heard and know…
make it burrow into my bones,
becoming the very frame
of a convicted, confessional life.
I sometimes think I must be careful
about taking a stand,
but that never benefits
your suffering ones…
Silence is its own form of speaking….
You say people sharing
what they believe
from a place of humble love
is where things really start turning.
“Be nice,” wasn’t one of your commandments.
Love was.
Is.
Repentance plus courage has
always been the only way forward.
It is what I do now that reveals my
heart’s true treasure.
Will I be an extremist for love,
an agitator for justice,
a holy troublemaker?**
Will I lean in toward those
I don’t even desire to understand,
setting aside evaluation so my
hands can freely embrace curiosity?
Help me transcend my outrage,
instilling in my soul’s eye
the kin-dom whose basic foundation
seems swallowed by those
lost to even themselves.
“What is truth?” a fearful man
with a trembling, hiding heart
asked you.
As your answer, you gave your life.
Please, God of mercy, take mine.
Amen.
Proverbs 31:8–9 * John 18:37–38 * 1 John 3:16
“Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all
the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights
of the poor and needy.” — Proverbs 31:8–9
Something that nourished me recently…
*The solidarity and witness of so many friends and colleagues in MN last weekend is something I am really holding on to right now. With the horrific images we have taken in, here is a tender one of light my clergy friends sent me…
*I am so blessed to know many incredible writers who are putting beautiful STORIES out in the world, two of whom are launching lovely children’s books in the coming weeks. Both Jennifer Grant’s newest children’s book, Consider the Lilies and Kathleen Bostrom’s, See What God Made: A Creation Story come out February 10th (P.S. These would be lovely Valentine’s Day presents for a child in your life, along with Glenys Nellist Author ‘s sweet Snuggle Time Love book).
Ash and Starlight, plus other good things…
*A SPECIAL OFFER FROM GARRETT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FOR YOU ~ I had the privilege and joy of writing some for the Garrett Collective, which just launched last week. In celebration of the launch of the Garrett Collective, subscribers of Monday Manna can enroll in Made Flesh : Returning to the Wisdom of Our Own Incarnation for $100. (A big thanks to abby mohaupt for this generous offer)
More about the course:
Are you struggling to find grounding amidst the pressures and demands of life? We find ourselves in unprecedented times facing rapidly changing climate on our earth, deeply divisive political climate, and an onslaught of media cycles. All on top of our day-to-day lives, work commitments, and relationships. It can lead to waves of overwhelm and numbing.
Christianity is at its core an embodied story. Tragically, many expressions of Christianity have (for many people) demanded that we become dis-embodied. in the same way, the conditions of the world in which we live separate us from our bodies; trauma, colonialism, and white-supremacy all separate us from our own body and the collective “body.” We miss out on the wisdom that lives in our own flesh.
To be incarnate is to more fully inhabit that wisdom.
This 6-part self-paced series invites participants into embodied practice (somatics) that support returning to the wisdom of our body for the sake of our own healing and the healing of the world.
What does the body have to say? Come and see.
Led by Rev. Lucy A. Waechter Webb (she/her) is a somatics coach, politicized spiritual leader, mom, land-tender, ritualist, writer and organizer.
enroll here: https://enroll.garrettcollective.org/courses/made-flesh-returning-to-the-wisdom-of-our-own-incarnation
use Promo Code: MANNA100
offer good through Feb 21, 2026.
* VALENTINE’S DAY PRODUCTS IN MY ETSY SHOP ~ Packs of Valentine Cards, pillows, and a sweet kids’ shirt that are perfect for the holiday! Order now to get in time for Valentine’s Day. I send a portion of each sale to World Central Kitchen which provides hunger relief. You can view the shop here.
*SECOND EDITION OF ASH AND STARLIGHT ~ Find the updated edition of my book here at Chalice or at the Bookshop link.
*MONDAY MANNA ARCHIVES ~ Monday Manna each week is free! Paid supporters of Monday Manna can view previous Monday Manna reflections here, or for the really old stuff, go to my website.
*WHAT DOES MANNA MEAN? ~ Check out an earlier post to learn how this little bit of “daily bread” got its name…
In these horrifying days of violence, friends, know that I am holding you in light and love, and carrying prayers of solidarity, lament, and hope. Let’s continue to do the healing work that is ours to do, including releasing the stories that imprison and hold us back.
Love and Light,
Arianne
I love hearing from you! You are manna. Reply to this note to send a message directly to my inbox.
Arianne,
Honestly, I think this post has potential to be life-changing for me. Your star word, "Story", really spoke to me, as well as your reference to Alan Watts's link about the 5 patterns we can release to raise our vibration.
There are certain moments, readings, etc. that have been transformational for me throughout my life. As I read this, I teared up. I knew immediately I was reading another one of these gifts. During these very, very difficult times where we are walking around knowing so many are hurting and are so afraid. Thank you for helping me to take a step closer to holding my authentic vibration.
Peace,
Jenni
Thank you for including the picture of us in Minneapolis. Felt your presence with us. The religious leaders of Minnesota told their stories to the thousands assembled there. Life-giving to all. Keep telling stories, Arianne.