By Ashlee Eiland | Amazon.com | 224 pages
Published in April of 2020
SUMMARY: Mars Hill Bible pastor Ashlee Eiland (Grandville, MI) recalls stories from her childhood, her college years and some of her adult years as she unpacks what it means to extend kindness to other people in all situations – most of the time that just means listening – and that simple act is oftentimes messy.
KEY QUOTE: “I wonder how different our conversations would be if we were more sensitive to context. If we asked questions about how a person might be experiencing us versus how we experience them. It’s so easy to jump to conclusions or get defensive, not allowing the work of context to enrich and shape what we already know. We must acknowledge that both fear and the hope exist. That both the guilt and the humanity are present. That both the history and the future are important. If we don’t recognize context, we create room for shame and guilt, for hurt and misunderstanding. Embracing context helps pave the way for growth.”
BONUS: Ashlee Eiland’s interview with Religion News Service in July of 2020.
Skip to 42:36 for the interview with Ashlee.
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