Episode 18: Loneliness and Hospitality with Leslie Verner

Hope for the Lonely with Charlotte Donlon

Charlotte talks to Leslie Verner about loneliness and hospitality.Leslie Verner has her masters in intercultural studies and bachelors in elementary education, both from Wheaton College. She has taught in both public and private schools, for students ranging from fourth to eighth grade, though most of her teaching career has been for seventh and eighth graders. She lived in China for five years, teaching English as a second language for three years and studying Mandarin full-time for two years before returning to the states to get married and be a teacher in Chicago’s Chinatown. She is currently staying home with her three small children, but is a freelance writer and editor at SheLoves Magazine and volunteers with international students in her area. Though Chicago was home for about 15 years, she and her family currently live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where they enjoy “hiking” as a family (their oldest child is four). They also love exploring used books stores, craft coffee shops and hole-in-the-wall restaurants, though most of her days are spent chasing children at the library or park. Leslie blogs regularly about faith, family, social justice and cross-cultural issues at www.scrapingraisins.com.Show NotesLeslie Verner believes many people today feel lonely, isolated, and disconnected from God and others. We crave authentic community, but have no idea where to start. Real hospitality isn’t clean, comfortable, or controlled, but an invitation to enter a sacred space together with friends and strangers.Learn More about Leslie's Bookhttp://www.scrapingraisins.com/book/Learn More about Lesliehttp://www.scrapingraisins.com/Follow Leslie on Social Mediahttps://www.instagram.com/scrapingraisins/https://twitter.com/leslievernerCharlotte Donlon is a writer, a spiritual director for writers, and the founder and host of the Our Faith in Writing podcast and website (https://www.ourfaithinwriting.com/). Charlotte’s writing and work are rooted in noticing how art helps us belong to ourselves, others, God, and the world. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Curator, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. Her first book is The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other (https://charlottedonlon.com/the-great-belonging-book). You can subscribe to her newsletter (https://charlottedonlon.substack.com/) and connect with her onTwitter (https://twitter.com/charlottedonlon) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/charlottedonlon/).