It was by following her on Twitter that I was opened up to the progressive Christian world. The first words I ever read from her was the foreword of Sarah Bessey's Jesus Feminist, which was absolutely life-changing for me and so healing at the beginning of my faith deconstruction. Rachel empowered so many people, including many of the LGBTQ+ Christians whose work led me to accepting myself. She was truly an ally and I wish she was still here and could speak/tweet against all the conservative bullshit like "drag queens are groomers." But my hope is that we carry on her legacy of making church/spiritual space a place for "outcasts and oddballs gathered at a table, not because they are rich or worthy or good, but because they are hungry, because they said yes. And there's always room for more.” (Searching for Sunday)
Beautiful words, Marla. Thank you for remembering her and reminding me today. I have not really identified as a Christian for a few years now, but all I have to do is read a bit of “wholehearted” and I start to reconsider. Her words and wisdom have shaped me so much. She left such an indelible mark on the world. I miss her, too.
I started unbelieve yesterday, and this poem hit so hard then and again today. I knew about RHE for years and would secretly read her blog even though I felt I wasn't supposed to. Just a few days before she died, I finally had started reading A Year of Biblical Womanhood without fear...and adored it. I've gone on to read every book of hers and miss her perspective so very much. Thank you for writing a poem to puts a voice to that experience. RHE, we miss you. <3
I was thinking of her this morning and the date didn't register. I hate to say that I dutifully ignored her and her work in my 20's, only learning about her work and impact through the testimony of her friends and readers in the days after she died. She changed my life and faith anyway. I'm so sad I missed the chance to read her work while she was living. We may miss her voice, but her impact certainly lives on.
Oof, 4 years?! I miss her words and voice and wisdom every day. She was the first example I saw of a faithful Christian that embraced doubt and spoke so openly and vulnerably about the cognitive dissonance I experienced when others simply replied, “the Bible is clear.” Um, are we reading the same Bible?!
It was by following her on Twitter that I was opened up to the progressive Christian world. The first words I ever read from her was the foreword of Sarah Bessey's Jesus Feminist, which was absolutely life-changing for me and so healing at the beginning of my faith deconstruction. Rachel empowered so many people, including many of the LGBTQ+ Christians whose work led me to accepting myself. She was truly an ally and I wish she was still here and could speak/tweet against all the conservative bullshit like "drag queens are groomers." But my hope is that we carry on her legacy of making church/spiritual space a place for "outcasts and oddballs gathered at a table, not because they are rich or worthy or good, but because they are hungry, because they said yes. And there's always room for more.” (Searching for Sunday)
Beautiful words, Marla. Thank you for remembering her and reminding me today. I have not really identified as a Christian for a few years now, but all I have to do is read a bit of “wholehearted” and I start to reconsider. Her words and wisdom have shaped me so much. She left such an indelible mark on the world. I miss her, too.
I started unbelieve yesterday, and this poem hit so hard then and again today. I knew about RHE for years and would secretly read her blog even though I felt I wasn't supposed to. Just a few days before she died, I finally had started reading A Year of Biblical Womanhood without fear...and adored it. I've gone on to read every book of hers and miss her perspective so very much. Thank you for writing a poem to puts a voice to that experience. RHE, we miss you. <3
I was thinking of her this morning and the date didn't register. I hate to say that I dutifully ignored her and her work in my 20's, only learning about her work and impact through the testimony of her friends and readers in the days after she died. She changed my life and faith anyway. I'm so sad I missed the chance to read her work while she was living. We may miss her voice, but her impact certainly lives on.
I miss her, too.
Oof, 4 years?! I miss her words and voice and wisdom every day. She was the first example I saw of a faithful Christian that embraced doubt and spoke so openly and vulnerably about the cognitive dissonance I experienced when others simply replied, “the Bible is clear.” Um, are we reading the same Bible?!