Christopher Closeup<\/em>, \u201cWhen I was choosing the authors, I wanted to find women who were unafraid \u2013 who were able to be humorous, but also not intimidated by showing the good, bad and ugly of their lives\u2026I think a lot of times we want to show people the beautiful side of Catholicism \u2013 which is an incredible goal \u2013 but it can look a little too perfect. I wanted this book to say that this vocation is beautiful, but it\u2019s very human and real.\u201d <\/p>\nAlong those lines, Hallie\u2019s chapter deals with a topic that\u2019s important to most women: style. In some Christian circles, a focus on style or fashion may seem like vanity, but Hallie would disagree. She says, \u201cI\u2019ve wrestled with the vanity questions as I know many women do\u2026But what I point out is the way that we present ourselves to the world is actually part of our Christian witness. That\u2019s why I\u2019m definitely not telling women they have to be up with all the trends. I\u2019m more saying to make it a priority to take care of yourself, to put your best foot forward both for your benefit and the benefit of the world-at-large\u2026It sends a message to our culture that we are thriving as Catholic women. I think it goes beyond some silly \u2018I love fashion\u2019 kind of thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The importance of a busy woman occasionally taking time for herself is another area of concern for Hallie: \u201cOne of the most beautiful things about Catholic women is how much they want to give of themselves. Their number one priority is serving their family and serving their world. But you can mistakenly get into this mindset of, \u2018If I\u2019m doing something for myself, that is a moment in time that I am not serving the world.\u2019 But that\u2019s actually not true because when you are taking care of yourself \u2013 whether it\u2019s taking a nap, taking a bath, reading a book, going for a run \u2013 you\u2019re actually fueling yourself. You\u2019re fueling your body, spirit and mind. It sounds a little trite but it\u2019s true that you have got to put your own oxygen mask on first. If we don\u2019t, we\u2019re going to have nothing to give back to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hallie\u2019s Catholic faith isn\u2019t something she was born into; she was raised with neo-pagan beliefs. Her parents, however, always told her that her spiritual journey was her own, and she had to find God herself. In an example of God meeting people where they are, Hallie\u2019s conversion originally started because of fashion. She was watching TV when she noticed a \u201crockabilly chick\u201d wearing a cute dress she admired. <\/p>\n
When Hallie started listening to what the young woman was saying, she heard her talking about Christianity, sin, redemption, suffering and joy. Those ideas resonated with Hallie, and planted a seed in her mind that took years to develop \u2013 but develop it did with the help of her boyfriend and eventual husband, Dan.<\/p>\n
The fact that Hallie was led to faith by seeing someone on TV was part of the reason she included Barbara Nicolosi\u2019s chapter in \u201cStyle, Sex, and Substance\u201d about using Hollywood entertainment as a means of \u201cplugging in and embracing discipleship in the 21st century.\u201d Other chapter titles include Anna Mitchell\u2019s \u201cSingle and Seeking God\u2019s Plan\u201d and Elizabeth Duffy\u2019s \u201cSex, Passion, and Purity.\u201d Regardless of the author or topic, many of the essays in the book reflect Hallie\u2019s own experiences.<\/p>\n
For instance, Rebecca Teti writes about the need to trust God more. Early in Hallie\u2019s conversion, that was a lesson she had to learn because she was a perfectionist who liked to be in control. She recalls, \u201cIt was my wanting to prove that I was serious about this and I\u2019m going to do everything perfectly for God. My motivation was pure, but what ended up happening is that I burned out because I couldn\u2019t maintain that. I was relying on my own strength rather than God\u2019s strength\u2026I think that was a special lesson God was teaching me. He was saying, \u2018You can throw yourself into anything, but if you don\u2019t have Me to guide you, strengthen you and lift you up, you are going to hit a wall.\u2019 I needed to be humble enough to realize that it\u2019s all Him all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Going back to my comment at the beginning of this article about me not being the prime audience for this book, Hallie suggests that men can get something out of reading it too. She says, \u201cI think it gives men great insight into the feminine genius. Women, I admit it, are a little bit of a mystery. We\u2019re a little complicated. It\u2019s nice for a husband or father to pick up the book, read it and get to understand a little bit more about how his daughter or his wife thinks. It may make some interactions a little less frustrating. It can make them a little more compassionate.\u201d<\/p>\n
To listen to Part 1 of my interview with Hallie Lord, along with Part 2 of my interview with \u201cMade In His Image\u201d founder Maura Byrne<\/a>, click Christopher Closeup Podcast \u2013 Guests: 1) Hallie Lord, Part 1, and 2) Maura Byrne, Part 2<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Christopher Closeup Podcast \u2013 Guests: 1) Hallie Lord, Part 1, and 2) Maura Byrne, Part 2 When Hallie Lord\u2019s new book, \u201cStyle, Sex, and Substance: 10 Catholic Women Consider the Things That Really Matter,\u201d began with the story of blogger Jennifer Fulwiler climbing out of her minivan\u2019s window like one of the Dukes of Hazzard […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":488,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/121\/2012\/04\/HLord2.jpg\" "\\"HLord2\\"")
<\/a>When Hallie Lord\u2019s new book, \u201cStyle, Sex, and Substance: 10 Catholic Women Consider the Things That Really Matter,\u201d<\/a> began with the story of blogger Jennifer Fulwiler climbing out of her minivan\u2019s window like one of the Dukes of Hazzard because the door was broken, I knew I\u2019d be in for an interesting, engaging and funny read \u2013 despite the fact that I\u2019m not exactly this book\u2019s prime audience. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/121\/2012\/04\/HLord1-234x300.jpg\" "\\"HLord1\\"")
<\/a>Hallie \u2013 a married mother of five who blogs about \u201cromance, beauty and style with a vintage twist\u201d<\/a> \u2013 is the book\u2019s editor as well as a contributor. She explained to me on Christopher Closeup<\/em>, \u201cWhen I was choosing the authors, I wanted to find women who were unafraid \u2013 who were able to be humorous, but also not intimidated by showing the good, bad and ugly of their lives\u2026I think a lot of times we want to show people the beautiful side of Catholicism \u2013 which is an incredible goal \u2013 but it can look a little too perfect. I wanted this book to say that this vocation is beautiful, but it\u2019s very human and real.\u201d <\/p>\n