Here’s my August 20 newsletter. To receive my latest articles, favorite religion reads and other updates in your inbox every Saturday, sign-up here. 

My counterpart on the Wellness beat, Jennifer Graham, released an amazing article this week about Alzheimer’s and the soul. In it, she explores how traces of an older person’s spiritual life live on as dementia progresses.

“The soul is bigger than just cognition,” one expert notes.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the soul lately as I enter the home stretch of a hectic summer. In the midst of moving, wrapping up article projects and preparing for an international trip, how do I keep in touch with the part of me that makes me, well, me? How do I make this frenzied season of my life more soulful?

The answer, it turns out, is pretty simple. Small things, like hot coffee and a good book, help me recover from long days. Small things, such as a favorite hymn or Bible verse, bring big miracles to Alzheimer’s patients, too, allowing them to return to the person they always were.

FRESH OFF THE PRESS FROM ME

College students say they care about interfaith cooperation — are school leaders listening?

What counts as a hate crime?

USA Men’s Basketball assistant coach focused on faith and forgiveness after his wife’s death

TOP RELIGION READS

Make the most of your brief time on Earth, Garrison Keillor, The Washington Post

Anniversary, Kate Bowler

Meet Church Curmudgeon: the grumpiest, funniest guy on Twitter, Catholic News Agency

Now streaming on Facebook Live: Christianity, Ozy

JUST FOR FUN

Here’s a cool sentiment shared by Elizabeth Gilbert in her book about writing and creativity, “Big Magic.”

“We all need something that takes us so far out of ourselves that we forget to eat, forget to pee, forget to mow the lawn, forget to resent our enemies, forget to brood over our insecurities.”