Bless the Weary

A powerful and restorative collection of poetry and prose for religious leaders.

This book was born out of both heartbreak and hope. Being a religious leader is challenging even in ordinary times: being on call all the time, losses and grief, natural disasters, budget shortfalls, and staffing challenges. And in extraordinary times, leaders are called to carry even more to care for their congregants and communities. Our religious leaders are struggling with exhaustion and burnout. But rest and solidarity can help lighten the load.

Bless the Weary is a balm for the exhaustion and overwhelm of being a religious leader. Edited by Connie Goodbread, this anthology of poetry and prose is an invitation to rest, reflect, and remember that you are not alone. It is also a call to action: to strengthen our bonds and nurture communities rooted in justice and compassion-together.

This collection seeks to offer you comfort without complacency and courage without despair. May it remind you of your own capacity for love, your own power to heal, and the joy that comes when we do the work of transforming the world.