Sue Monk Kidd's "When the Heart Waits" explores themes of faith, spirituality, and the journey of self-discovery. The book blends personal reflections with spiritual insights, offering a thoughtful exploration of the human experience. Kidd's writing is characterized by its lyrical prose and profound understanding of the complexities of faith. The book encourages readers to embrace the waiting periods in life and find meaning in the present moment. It's a comforting and inspiring read for anyone seeking spiritual guidance and personal growth.
The Book of Longings is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of Ana, a young woman from a wealthy family in Sepphoris, Galilee. Ana is rebellious, ambitious, and intellectually curious, engaging in secret scholarly pursuits and writing about neglected and silenced women. Her life changes when she meets the eighteen-year-old Jesus, and they marry despite societal expectations. The novel follows their marriage, filled with love, conflict, humor, and pathos, set against the backdrop of the Roman occupation of Israel. Ana's journey is marked by her struggles to express herself and realize her potential in a patriarchal society, supported by strong women like her aunt Yaltha and friend Tabitha. The book is grounded in meticulous historical research and offers a reverential yet humanizing portrayal of Jesus' life[1][4][5].
Set in South Carolina during 1964, 'The Secret Life of Bees' tells the story of fourteen-year-old Lily Owens, whose life is shaped by the blurred memory of her mother's death. After her nanny, Rosaleen, is arrested for insulting racists, Lily and Rosaleen escape to Tiburon, South Carolina, in search of a new life. They are taken in by three black beekeeping sisters—August, May, and June—who worship the Black Madonna. The novel explores themes of mothers, love, conviction, and forgiveness as Lily navigates her past, her prejudices, and her newfound sense of belonging. It is a powerful story about the healing power of love and the divinity of the female spirit[1][3][5].
Sue Monk Kidd was raised in the small town of Sylvester, Georgia, a place that deeply influenced the writing of her first novel, The Secret Life of Bees. Her 1990 book, When the Heart Waits, has become a touchstone on contemplative spirituality. Sue serves on the Writers Council for Poets & Writers, Inc and is well known for her work in feminist theology. Her new book is a novel called, The Book of Longings.
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In This Interview, Sue Monk Kidd and I discuss Longings of our Heart and…
- Her book, The Book of Longings
- That what you pay attention to will either devour you or save you because we become what we pay attention to
- The particular genius that dwells in every person
- How she first decided that she wanted to write fiction when she was in her 40s
- Asking the prayer that’s at the bottom of your heart
- How being visible and being audible in the world is a choice to express the largeness that’s inside each of us
- That we can nurture the largeness in another person, even if the largeness is inconvenient for us
- God as an essence that lives everywhere, the being-ness in our midst
- The many ways we conceptualize and thereby connect with God
- Why suffering results in increased kindness in some while it hardens others
- The role of vulnerability in our personal growth
- When her therapist told her that the pain won’t kill you but the running from it might.
- What it means to “let life be” when both beautiful and terrible things happen
- Radical acceptance
- How the path to healing is right through the wound
- Facing our pain so our soul can metabolize it and we can move through it and move on
- What it means to be a mother beyond having actual children
- The middle places in life where the waiting and the work happens
- Her writing process
- The silence beneath her words
- Her life as a prayer
- How letting go is not a one-time thing
- That life is like a spiral
Sue Monk Kidd Links:
SueMonkKidd.com
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If you enjoyed this conversation with Sue Monk Kidd on the Longings of our Heart, you might also enjoy these other episodes:
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