Our “pre-conversation” to this podcast was about books we love to read. An author we both recommend is Frederick Backman, specifically Beartown and its sequel Us Against You (which I mistakenly kept calling Us Against Them). They are the kind of books that leave you wanting more. In Bill’s search for his next book, I recommended The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates. It is excellent. Perhaps one day we will do a talk about how reading opens worlds and gives us courage. Many educators talk about literature as “windows, mirrors, and sliding doors.” Sometimes you are looking through a window into someone else’s world, others into a mirror where you see yourself, and then there are others that invite you in and leave you significantly changed.
If you have good book recommendations, send them over!
One of the things the books we’ve been reading about The Prodigal Son and The Gospel of John - including scripture itself - have lead us to be is more creative and imaginative about the Jesus tradition. We hope we will be able to take known texts to new places, to more inclusive spaces where belonging is a truth rather than an ideal. This starts with reexamining the stories and histories we’ve been taught and looking for new ways to understand them. In some cases, much of what we’ve been taught about religion and religious stories has done harm, and we are seeking to liberate not just the stories themselves but ourselves in the process. Thanks for being with us and we’ll “see” you Sunday in whatever capacity you join!
Prodigals All, by Chinese artist He Qi