RD contributor Cindy Wallace has a new book out about Simone Weil, who was raised as an agnostic by Jewish parents, had mystical encounters with Christ in her late 20s and died in England at 34, after contracting tuberculosis and refusing to eat more than those who were resisting Hitler’s regime in France. This is an excerpt from a little interview Cindy did with Canadian Mennonite. Check out Cindy’s book here.

Over and over again, in moments where there’s no room to talk about religion in public life or what it looks like to choose self-sacrifice over comfort, to choose to take up our crosses and follow Jesus in a literal way—different generations of writers find a conversation partner in Weil.

She doesn’t give all the answers, but she is provocative and countercultural enough to makes us think, ‘Oh maybe business as usual isn’t the best way to live a full and fruitful life.’ She’s a conversation partner for questions about what it looks like to live a countercultural life that’s still open to beauty, goodness and joy.