Review Detail

What worked: Insightful introspection on how to be brave during life's intense moments. Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde's words resonated with me. Her voice is calming as she shares her own personal experiences, like the one when she gave a sermon at the Service of Prayer for the Nation. Her words were just what our nation needed at this time.

She shares not only her own decisive moments but other numerous stories of bravery from a historical perspective.

There are side notes labeled ' learn about it' that dig deeper with examples on leaders like Martin Luther King Jr and others. There's a mention of Queen Esther from the Bible on the courage it took for her to stand up to save the Jewish people. There are also scripture quotes that don't come across as preachy.

One of my favorite quotes is how she responded to someone who wondered if they should leave the country during this divisive time. Her reply, "In crucible moments, everyone must make difficult decisions...
But this country needs leaders now, and citizens who can face things as they are, work to change what can be change, and not give up hope for the future..."

Hope. That is a key message that resonates throughout this insightful work. I also love Bishop Budde stand on racial and social equality.

Finally, there is the full text of her sermon, which she gave at the inauguration, where she spoke about praying for unity as a nation. Her words include mentions of humility, honesty, and having mercy toward those who fear for their lives.

Recommend for those who want a book that is thoughtful and has a message of how to rise to the challenge of being brave in troubling times.