As part of this year’s “Beauty for Ballast” offerings, we’re delighted to host Dr. Curt Thompson for our July Soundings Seminar to discuss themes from his forthcoming book, The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty, and Community.
Over the years, Curt and I have really enjoyed offering things together, and we’re glad to have another chance. Earlier this year we were talking about something else completely, and I mentioned I’d been thinking a lot about the importance of beauty (resulting in this essay). Curt mentioned he’d soon be releasing a book about beauty, so we said, “We should have a conversation about that!” And so we are.
As we in North America are slowly emerging from a pandemic, many of us find ourselves dropped back into a pre-pandemic pace of life, without getting the chance to fully recover from the challenges of the last year and a half. How might beauty play a role not only in our recovery, but also as an essential element in the ongoing, healthy rhythms of our lives? And what role does my desire play, now and always? And how do those things relate?
We’re looking forward to exploring these things and likely more with Curt, and I hope you’ll join us on Thursday, July 29th at 12:30 PM (ET)!
And a Special Shout-Out to our Event Partners for this Soundings Seminar:
- Designed2Connect: A ministry working to make professional counseling more affordable in DC/MD/VA. If you’re in Northern Virginia, you might especially enjoy their upcoming Benefit Concert at Jammin’ Java on July 22nd!
- Rock Recovery: An organization bridging gaps in eating disorder treatment and support by removing barriers of cost, stigma, and accessibility nationwide. Learn More about what they offer Here.
- Theological Horizons: A ministry at the University of Virginia offering holistic support to Christians and seekers in academia. Karen Wright Marsh, their Executive Director, has a wonderful podcast we’d recommend, “Vintage Saints & Sinners.”