In the past year, a movement started by stopping. Women from all
walks of life, women of all colors and creeds halted in their tracks. In
moments of silent surrender these women removed their shrouds of
shame and refused the narratives of their pasts. These women embraced the smoldering embers of dreams deferred and allowed that
heat to rise up. They harnessed the power from their anger to seek
healing instead of retribution. They pushed aside their disappointments from their guilt studded memories and began walking a path
toward redemption. These women gathered broken pieces, no longer
fearing their jagged edges and started shaking their heads one by
one saying, “No more. Time’s up.”
I have always loved The Beatitudes, and while these verses are probably not associated with Lent, I cannot help hearing them in the background. When I think about the women who have allowed their stories to take center stage I think how they were the poor in spirit, they were mourning losses of opportunity or integrity, they were meek, they were hungering and thirsting for righteousness. And now after having wrestled their rejection they have resolved to reclaim what is rightfully theirs; respect, the new R.
To me, Lent is a time to take ownership of one’s life, its highs and its lows. It is a time to commune with the here and now. It is a time to make a promise to ourselves and to God to live fully with humility and deep, abiding love. I am grateful for these women. Their strength will lead to the writing of many new chapters. I look forward not in the shadow of these women but in their light. May we rise from the ashes this Lenten season and walk united. #metoo
Dawn Kiousis
I have always loved The Beatitudes, and while these verses are probably not associated with Lent, I cannot help hearing them in the background. When I think about the women who have allowed their stories to take center stage I think how they were the poor in spirit, they were mourning losses of opportunity or integrity, they were meek, they were hungering and thirsting for righteousness. And now after having wrestled their rejection they have resolved to reclaim what is rightfully theirs; respect, the new R.
To me, Lent is a time to take ownership of one’s life, its highs and its lows. It is a time to commune with the here and now. It is a time to make a promise to ourselves and to God to live fully with humility and deep, abiding love. I am grateful for these women. Their strength will lead to the writing of many new chapters. I look forward not in the shadow of these women but in their light. May we rise from the ashes this Lenten season and walk united. #metoo
Dawn Kiousis
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