Holy Everything: Reflections on the Spirituality of Daily Life

Over the weekend, I experienced a sacred tomato moment. As I cut one into pieces, I was overcome with memories of my grandma, Verona. A plate of tomatoes often sat on her kitchen table in the late summer, a jar of sugar nearby to sprinkle on top.
Returning to the reality of my own kitchen, I felt tears streaming down my cheeks. They were the kind of happy, sad tears I think of as a special sort of holy water.
One slice of tomato. One sacred glimpse of the nearness of God.
It’s funny. I teach and preach about God’s nearness every day, but in my own life, I often forget. I suppose we all fail to notice life’s tomato moments from time to time.
But maybe you don’t like tomatoes or soup or gardening. No problem. None of those elements are required. God is all around, all the time.
Savor the details of your life. Take note of those precious moments when something ordinary transforms into a holy reminder that every day is a gift from God.
For over eight years, Emily Carson has delighted readers of the Rochester Post-Bulletin with her weekly column. In this, her first collection of essays, journey with Emily as she uncovers the sacred in community, love, joy, grief, frustration, justice, peace, and… just about everything.

Whether Emily uses tomatoes or bee colonies - she teaches us about faith by pointing out the simple, lovely experiences of life. She has an approachable and guiding voice to her writing and this collection of essays is testament to that. A pastor, writer and bold woman, Emily's words will be an inspiration to all who read them.

- Elizabeth McBride, editor of Café Magazine and director of Intergenerational Programs for Women of the ELCA

Every day of our life is precious. How we live matters. Pastor Emily reminds us with her stories to seek joy, experience wonder and feel gratitude. She invites us to fill up our lifetime with kindness, love and faith.

- Loren Else, Columnist for the Rochester Post-Bulletin

Pastor Emily takes the normal mundane daily tasks and occurrences by giving them a twist of fun and nostalgia. But more importantly she causes the reader to pause and reflect on their place in this world to appreciate life's precious moments.

- Kevin Torgerson, Sheriff of Olmsted County

For the past several years, Pastor Emily Carson has been writing a weekly column in the Rochester Post-Bulletin in which she shares how she sees the presence of God in a variety of life's experiences.

I am thrilled that Emily has now brought these columns together in her new book, "Holy Everything." Under headings such as joy, gratitude, Jesus, nature, pause, church, peace, justice, and change, Emily's stories invite us to see the holy in our own life experiences.

I recommend using "Holy Everything" as a daily meditational resource, reading one story each day, letting that day's story invite you into reflection on where you see the holy in your own life experiences. That's what I plan to do.

- Steven H Delzer, Bishop of Southeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA

Emily reminds us-even in the smallest ways- there is a bit of holy in much of our everyday lives if we remember to look for it.

-Tracy McCray, host of Mayo Clinic Radio