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.
Post-Election Moving Faith Forward
As I wrestle through my feelings after the 2024 election, I find myself moving through the three-step process I share here because much of my sadness comes from a sense of grief over beliefs that I can no longer confidently hold, at least for this season. Should the process also be helpful to you, then I share it gladly.
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)
Paula D’Arcy on Grief & Our Images of God
Paula D'Arcy explores how our beliefs impact our grieving
Faith When Feeling Desperate
When totally stuck, faith doesn't care about the right answers. Faith just wants to get up and move (Mark 10:46-52)
Life After Disbelief
Elijah Hurwitz's article in ARC: Religion, Politics, Et Cetera explores the challenges people face as they seek to change without knowing where to turn when they’ve only ever known one way of living out their faith.
When the Journey Has Mattered Most
Reflecting on times the journey has been more significant than the destination
Ted Loder’s “I do not know myself yet”
Ted Loder's poetic prayer reflects on the seasons when we don't yet know who are now that life has changed.
Faith At The Bottom
Wanting to be the hero (or at least the hero's friend), while totally clueless of what that means (Mark 10:35-45)
Connecting points to put each story in the context of our current day (resources), scripture (lectionary), wise thinkers (worth reading), and your personal story (reflection questions).