Church Life

Participant First

L. L. Barkat creates in the context of online community.

Brad Guice

Stop by L. L. Barkat's website and you'll learn that she is or has been an author, editor, poet, blogger, speaker, consultant, designer, and artist. Try to pin her down by asking, "Okay, what are you?" and Barkat—whose writing Scot McKnight compares to Eugene Peterson's—is momentarily stumped. Finally, she answers, "Participant."

"At various times I have taken on different titles depending on how I'm currently participating in life in a meaningful way," says the New York native. "There was a time when I took on the title of artist. Now you could call me an author, a managing editor, a poet. But none of those things singly define me, because as soon as I reach a plateau in my growth, I tend to turn and participate in life in a new way."

Lately Barkat is participating as an author (with her new book, God in the Yard); a managing editor (of the High Callings Blogs, an online "retreat center" for Christian writers to discuss faith, work, and culture); and a poet (her book of poems, InsideOut, has received warm reviews; she also hangs out online with other poets, composing "improv poetry" on Twitter). But usually Barkat goes back to participant, saying that she likes to connect people to one another—mostly in the online world—and to "help them embrace their gifts and call them to personal growth."

Question & Answer

What is God in the Yard about?

The power of solitude in nature. I sat outdoors in my backyard every day for an entire year for at least 15 minutes, rain or shine. It was an extraordinarily powerful experience.

What did you learn from it?

The book's subtitle is "Spiritual Practice for the Rest of Us." The word practice implies a reaching toward some kind of perfection; oddly, I feel it's ultimately self-focused: What can I do to make myself worthier? This book says there might be other ways to live spiritually—less about practice and more about participation, meaning that it's okay to simply "take part" in the Christian story, moment by moment with God and others. The focus is outward, even in solitude, because it depends on grace.

How did you get into poetry?

When I was asked to write a sonnet in college, it was such a dismal failure that I decided that poetry was best left to other people. I didn't start writing poetry in earnest until I got online—and that is key to understanding me as a writer. I write in community. Somebody asked me, "Tell me why you love to write," and I said, "I don't. I write to love." I started meeting poets online, and they encouraged me to try writing some poetry myself, and it went from there.

And now you write improv poetry on Twitter?

Yes. It's like a party where we write poetry. The first time we met, someone wrote something, and then I started modeling—I'd pick up words of people who would enter in, and use those words in my next poem, a whole poem of 140 characters or less. It's a very community-driven experience.

Is poetry a dying art?

I think it was, but the online world is changing that, mostly because of the ability to share one another's work.

Hometown: Eastern New York

Church: Community Bible Church

Family: Husband and two girls ages 10 and 13

Reading now: Why Translation Matters; Barbies at Communion: and Other Poems; 100 Best Business Books; Mirror of the World: A New History of Art

On your iPod: Frenchpod.com, Madeleine Peyroux, Natalie Merchant

Favorite movie: Hero

Favorite Bible verse: Isaiah 11:9

Your hero: Mary Shelley, Benjamin Franklin

Hobbies: piano, hiking, online improv poetry

More: llbarkat.com, HighCallingBlogs.com, Twitter.com/tspoetry

Copyright © 2010 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

God in the Yard is available from Amazon.com and other book retailers.

Previous "Who's Next" sections featured Robert Gelinas, Nicole Baker Fulgham, Gideon Strauss, W. David O. Taylor, Crystal Renaud, Eve Nunez, Adam Taylor, Matthew Lee Anderson, Margaret Feinberg, and Jonathan Merritt.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Our Latest

News

Argentina Moves to Officially Celebrate Its Evangelicals

Leaders are grateful for the government recognition but hope for further progress.

All Saints Die

Our yearly reminder for Christians neither to run from nor to leap toward death, but to learn the art of dying well.

 

 

 

 

The Antidote to Election Anxiety

My community is the kind you see in articles hyping the threat of political violence. Reality is more mundane—and hopeful.

News

Steven Curtis Chapman Joins Country Music Royalty

The Christian music star is the first in the industry to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Exorcism Movies’ Terrifying Truth

These films are far from theological treatises. But at their best, they depict the reality of evil—and the power of Jesus’ name.

Where Ya From?

Courage Through Crisis with Brady Boyd

Hear Pastor Brady Boyd share his experience building bridges that bring the gospel to the tipping points of our culture.

Digital Sloth in the Online Arena

How our internet use is prone to the ancient vice of akrasia.

The Russell Moore Show

How Great Is the Political Divide?

George Packer speaks on the desire for a better republic.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube