Hannah: Weeping as Prayer
Hannah weeps not at home but at the doorstep of the temple, adamant that God will hear her cry and see her pain. Sure enough, Eli sees her. He blesses her, and she returns home smiling, for she feels seen in her grief. She is on her way to being remembered. (1 Samuel 1:4-20)
The Images of God We Keep
As we see in Frances’ Step Two, Frances’ faith offered solace and strength to survive a difficult childhood. Although she may have given up Catholic doctrine, she retained an image of God who cares deeply for her and knows her pain.
Howard Thurman’s “Deception as Coping Mechanism, Sincerity as Liberation”
Howard Thurman’s classic, Jesus and the Disinherited, casts Jesus as one whose ministry is for all whose backs are against the wall. Published in 1949, Thurman’s book addressed Jesus’ ministry in light of African Americans’ suffering under racial oppression and became a favorite of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Ruth: Building a Home for One Another
Ruth and Naomi have moved forward together, creating a home for one another and making life, stability, and rest possible for generations to come—something that seemed impossible as the story unfolded in chapter one (Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17
Public Faithfulness and Secret-Keeping
Frances’ family treated faith in public as the highest good. What others thought of the family was akin to God’s approval of the family’s faithfulness. Reflect on how family perception impacted the beliefs you received.
John O’Donohue’s Blessing “For Someone Awakening to the Trauma of His or Her Past”
Frances’ background shows us the resilience of the human spirit as she has spent decades bravely facing the trauma of sexual abuse at home. John O’Donohue’s blessing is so beautiful, offering sacred words for the terrible and liberating healing journey.
Growing Up with Parents’ Complicated Faith
Frances’ background shows us how much our parents’ mistakes can impact our faith journey. Reflect on your childhood to wonder about the intersection between the beliefs you received and the faith you saw lived out in your parents.
Ruth: Moving Forward in the Mother-Daughter Relationship
Ruth believes that the mother-daughter relationship is not just a safety net for trouble or a tool for stability. This unique relationship is about care-taking and accompaniment born from love and covenant, whether through biology, marriage, or friendship (Ruth 1:1-18)
Calling and dreams when you were a teenager
Reflecting on your sense of calling as a teenager
Brené Brown on Heartbreak
Turning to Brené Brown to expand our understanding of heartbreak so that we can have compassion for ourselves as life changes.
People Over Policies
As the authorities and disciples try to get Jesus to name what's right and wrong, Jesus play with the children who climb into his lap (Mark 10:2-16)