cover image Spiritual Lemons: Biblical Women, Irreverent Laughter, and Righteous Rage

Spiritual Lemons: Biblical Women, Irreverent Laughter, and Righteous Rage

Lyn Brakeman, Lynne Brakeman. Innisfree Press, $12.95 (128pp) ISBN 978-1-880913-22-2

Episcopalian pastor Brakeman describes her study as the ""underbelly"" of spirituality. She focuses on the scandals of scripture, those stories about women and the dark side of human nature (anger, envy, shame, possessiveness, powerlessness, beggary, death). Brakeman writes to women, especially, to encourage them to love as God loves this dark side of themselves. She probes eight selected biblical texts, including the stories of Sarah, Jephthah's daughter and Susannah, connecting the tales to the lives of contemporary women. Each section opens with a biblical text, followed by a question derived from that text. The question is answered by a retelling of the biblical story and by Brakeman's commentary on the story. The book closes with personal prayer and meditation guidelines, as well as suggested group rituals for each section of the book. Brakeman's book is full of creative insights that will deeply reward all those who traverse its pages. (Jan.)