By Caroline Triscik and Catherine McNiel

Catherine McNiel: Hope in This Messy, Abundant World

“I think that true hope, that thing inside our spirits that we are clinging to and growing towards, with God’s help, is what we cling to in the deepest darkest times. It’s what keeps us going until the dawn, until spring.” — Catherine McNiel

Listen in as WAP associate Caroline Triscik interviews author Catherine McNiel. In this conversation, we discuss personal spiritual disciplines, the challenge to stay attentive in the midst of a busy life, the importance of community, and other gems found in her most recent book.

In late spring, I interviewed Luci Shaw for our podcast here (entitled, as you know, All Shall Be Well: Conversations with Women in the Academy and Beyond). As I somewhat mindlessly scrolled through Twitter that day, I stumbled on a post from author Catherine McNiel in which she wrote, “Can I get really excited with you for a minute? Luci Shaw, the Poet, has written the forward for my second book, All Shall Be Well."

Through a timely social media connection over our shared admiration of Luci Shaw’s work as well as the quote from St. Julian of Norwich, this interview with Catherine came to be. Listen in as Catherine shares her hope for new life and restoration that is found in Jesus — a hope that is not idyllic, but recognizes the depth of suffering and injustice in the world.

— Caroline Triscik

 

You can listen on iTunes or at All Shall Be Well: Conversations with Women in the Academy and Beyond. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

Links mentioned in this interview:

The rainbow Caroline describes at Niagara Falls. (Photo credit: Ephraim Triscik)

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About the Author

Caroline served with InterVarsity since 2002 as a campus staff member in northwest Indiana and most recently in central Pennsylvania. She received her bachelor’s degree in English with a focus on creative writing from Purdue University in 2002 and holds a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from Messiah College. Caroline, her husband, and their three children live in “the sweetest place on earth,” otherwise known as Hershey, Pennsylvania. In her spare time, she likes to read, discover new music, and attempt to train her exuberant Labrador retriever, Pax. Caroline is a clinical mental health counselor and a former associate with Women in the Academy and Professions.

Catherine McNiel writes about the creative and redemptive work of God in our real, ordinary lives. She is the author of Fearing Bravely: Risking Love for Our Neighbors, Strangers, and Enemies, Long Days of Small Things: Motherhood as a Spiritual Discipline, and All Shall Be Well: Awakening to God’s Presence in His Messy, Abundant World. Catherine studies theology while caring for three kids, two jobs, and one enormous garden.

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