Rev. Jacqui Lewis, PhD: What Would Love Have Me Do?
Mar 4, 2025
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Rev. Jacqui Lewis, PhD, a public theologian and the first Black senior minister at Middle Collegiate Church, discusses her book, Fierce Love. She explores how to navigate grief and find joy through community resilience. The conversation dives into loving your neighbor authentically, facing personal grief with vulnerability, and the transformative power of love in overcoming adversity. Lewis offers insights on fostering deep connections, making room for honesty, and the importance of self-acceptance in extending love to others.
Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis emphasizes that true leadership lies in embracing one's grief to create a safe space for communal healing.
The concept of fierce love is framed as an active commitment to recognizing individual worth and addressing societal injustices.
Deep dives
The Impact of Fire on Community Resilience
A significant event discussed was the fire that destroyed the sanctuary of Middle Church in Manhattan, which served as a pivotal moment for the community. This incident occurred shortly after COVID-19 began impacting the world, illustrating the intersection of personal grief and collective trauma. Despite the devastation, the community demonstrated resilience, adapting to their circumstances while holding onto hope for recovery and transformation. The experience resonated with broader themes of seeking joy and healing amidst hardship, reflecting a shared struggle that connects many people's experiences today.
Authenticity in Leadership and Grief
Emphasizing authenticity, the speaker illustrated how leaders can navigate their own grief while uplifting others. Personal losses, including the deaths of her parents, shaped her approach as she practiced honesty about her emotional state. By allowing herself to grieve openly, she fostered an environment where community members felt safe to express their vulnerabilities too. This approach underscores the idea that true leadership is found in embracing one’s reality rather than maintaining a facade of strength.
The Evolution of Faith and Understanding of God
Throughout her life, faith has shifted, often influenced by personal and communal experiences. She discussed how childhood beliefs about God evolved, illustrating a transition from viewing God as a strict figure to understanding God as a partner in navigating life's complexities. This evolution highlights the importance of reinterpreting theological beliefs to foster personal growth and resilience rather than maintaining punitive notions of faith. The speaker advocates for a relationship with the divine that encourages exploration and supports love rather than fear, emphasizing that love and justice are central to faith.
Fierce Love as a Practical Approach
Fierce love is framed as an active practice grounded in the recognition of each individual's unique worth. The discussion underscores the importance of non-possessive delight in others, urging individuals to approach relationships with curiosity and openness. This perspective extends beyond personal relationships to encompass societal issues, emphasizing that love requires action and responsibility for one's community. Ultimately, the call is to transform love from a passive feeling into an active commitment that addresses injustice and fosters healing in the world.
Provocative questions and life-changing answers. That’s what the Insights at the Edge podcast is all about, and this episode is no different. Here, Tami Simon speaks with celebrated minister Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis about her new book, Fierce Love, and our shared calling to follow the compass of our hearts as we navigate these times of uncertainty. Tune in as Tami and Dr. Lewis explore how to find joy and inspiration amid grief and despair, gaining a deeper understanding of what it means to love your neighbor, and more.
They explore recovery and resilience through community; the honesty that love demands; the “holy other” that is both of and outside of us; how a familial sense of the divine boosts faith amid uncertainty; the aquifer of joy; the sustaining grace of God’s steadfast presence; entering a transformative, not transactional, relationship with God; embodying fierce love when tragedy strikes; holding up a mirror to the best parts of ourselves; the qualities of fierce love, and the writings of Saint Paul; the shift from fear and overwhelm to wise action; loving your neighbor and the essence of Christianity; the extraordinary kindness and generosity often offered by complete strangers; nonpossessive delight; hand-to-hand reckoning and accompanying; interrogating our self-limiting identities; discovering “the sweetness in the sorrow”; making amends; a special blessing to support us in responding with love; and more.
Note: This episode originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.
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