September 15, 2026
I'm a big fan of the New York Times’ Believing newsletter. The weekly email is written by Lauren Jackson, who explains, “It’s based on a series in which I wrote about my experience growing up Mormon (Latter-day Saint) in Arkansas, and what both living and leaving religion has taught me.” Each week she explores questions or ideas about faith, broadly defined.
In a recent piece she wrote about joining a summer Easter celebration on top of a mountain on a small Greek island. She explained that the experience taught her “something new about community, and how to navigate sacred spaces that aren’t mine.” Jackson wrote these ceremonies aren't on tourist agendas or widely promoted. They are something devout communities do with each other to practice their faith and be together. As she put it, “For summer Easter, people fan out across the country’s islands…to mark the Dormition of the Virgin Mary — the day she fell asleep and was taken up, body and soul, to heaven. The celebration is called a “panigiri,” which comes from an ancient Greek word meaning “a gathering of everyone.””
Jackson was curious about the celebration and wanted to join without being disrespectful. She wasn't sure how to dress, what to bring (if anything), or how to act. She prepared for a few contingencies and went to the celebration “ready to be evaluated, to have my participation questioned.” Instead, she was welcomed with open arms. In spite of her knowing no Greek, not being a member of their church, and not being familiar with the rituals, she was fed, she danced, and she celebrated with the devout.
Reading the piece reminded me of the “spotlight effect” and other theories from social science and psychology that find most of us overestimate how much people are paying attention to us, and how harshly we may be judged by others. According to social science research, if you enter a new space respectfully you will usually be welcomed. Think of all of the stories of visitors to the U.S. being amazed at how kind and generous Americans were during the World Cup last summer, or all the times you were kind and generous to someone you didn't know who wanted to join something you were doing.
SMPA can be a foreign and intimidating place. It can be easy to think that if you’re not an expert in TV or radio that won't be welcomed at GWTV or WRGW (you will be), or if you don't know about politics or someone's culture that you won't be welcome in those spaces (you will be). I have many of those same anxieties going into new situations. When I take a breath and dive in, I'm usually rewarded with interesting conversations and new friends.
Jackson's experience on a Greek island in August is a good reminder to us in SMPA both to be brave and to be welcoming this fall.