We traveled from Las Vegas to be there at that last WC. We just wanted to be in that grand Cathedral and to see you both. I will never forget that time. I will never forget her. It’s not that we don’t know where she is. It is that we always want more. So sad today.
This article, and the books by these women have touched me deeply. I have two eshet chayil that I share half of my genome with; they bravely fought against the elders of a well known Protestant church that (up until the late 1990s) had swept a sexual abuse scandal under the rug involving one of these two women dear to me. About the survivor of this abuse, my mother just said "she is a woman of fierce faith". May we all have that holy fire in doing God's will.
We truly do not know from where the wind blows or where it is going, do we? Rachel's life and work so transformed the perspectives of so many of us back-sliders. Thief, you may come when we least expect it. But you could not rob us of the grace that governed Rachel's life or the love that she gave so fully. God, help us to live in such a rhythm.
I was just getting to know her and had finished her book; INSPIRED when I saw you post her funeral. I cried through the entire service, as if I really knew her and yet I loved her for bringing doubts into the open and have them validated. I have read several more of her books with sadness that her journey on earth is over. Holding space for you, Nadia, her children, Dan, family, and all who love her.
This weekend last May, I was in Vancouver BC to run the marathon after losing my Dad to Alzheimer’s on April 22nd. As I sat in my hotel room after the race, spent with exhaustion and full-on grief, I followed the posts and tributes to Rachel through others I follow. Your collective grief led me to discover all of Rachel’s books, but also Sarah Bessey’s work and your work, Nadia. What a year of grief mixed with discovery and grace it’s been for all of us. Blessings and thanks to and for you 🙏
This is beautiful, Nadia. I love the way Rachel is looking at you in the photo where you're speaking at Why Christian. Such love and delight on her face. Her face always seemed to be glowing. That light is still in the world. My heart goes out to you, Dan and her family and all of her friends and everyone she touched through her work. xo
You and Rachel helped me find my faith again. I will be forever grateful to both of you for that. Her words will continue to inspire us, even if she's not here physically, her spirit lives on. Her love lives on. May we all recognize that we are eshet chayil.
As I read your words, Nadia, Ron Heiftz’s words about balcony people and adaptive leaders from his book “Leadership on the Line” came to mind about RHE. She was a balcony person and an adaptive leader within the institution of the church. I believe this was her main “woman of valor” role that she accepted, and she also surrounded herself with other women who accepted this role so that she was supported in her ministry and work. She also encouraged and supported women who were also in the process of being women of valor. I never met her. Her written words always encouraged me as I attempted to do the ministry and work she did in small ways. I always admired her for what she was doing and the ways she did it. Your grief, the grief of her husband, and the ways the lives of her children changed with her death way heavy on my heart as I read your words. It’s shitty. It’s tragedy writ large. I hate it all. I am reminded that refiring/retiring last year was my response to my efforts of working towards being an adaptive leader within the institution of the church. I grew weary of it. I decided to find out if there are other ways to do this ministry without being within the institution. Perhaps time and the Divine One will reveal that to me as I continue to take baby steps in discerning it. I hear your grief. I continue to grieve her death, too. Thank you for these words. Thank you for continuing to be an adaptive leader. I know it’s hard as hell.
I loved Rachel Held Evans' books. I never got to hear her speak, but she was a favorite writer. When she died, I felt a such a strong sense of loss. As her friend, I can't even imagine how you must have felt.
Thank you for loving Rachel in person for the many who could only love her in spirit. Eshet chayil.
We traveled from Las Vegas to be there at that last WC. We just wanted to be in that grand Cathedral and to see you both. I will never forget that time. I will never forget her. It’s not that we don’t know where she is. It is that we always want more. So sad today.
A valiant tribute written not only for a woman of valor, but also by a woman of valor. Thank you.
This article, and the books by these women have touched me deeply. I have two eshet chayil that I share half of my genome with; they bravely fought against the elders of a well known Protestant church that (up until the late 1990s) had swept a sexual abuse scandal under the rug involving one of these two women dear to me. About the survivor of this abuse, my mother just said "she is a woman of fierce faith". May we all have that holy fire in doing God's will.
We truly do not know from where the wind blows or where it is going, do we? Rachel's life and work so transformed the perspectives of so many of us back-sliders. Thief, you may come when we least expect it. But you could not rob us of the grace that governed Rachel's life or the love that she gave so fully. God, help us to live in such a rhythm.
I was just getting to know her and had finished her book; INSPIRED when I saw you post her funeral. I cried through the entire service, as if I really knew her and yet I loved her for bringing doubts into the open and have them validated. I have read several more of her books with sadness that her journey on earth is over. Holding space for you, Nadia, her children, Dan, family, and all who love her.
Love this image of a “woman of valor”...
This weekend last May, I was in Vancouver BC to run the marathon after losing my Dad to Alzheimer’s on April 22nd. As I sat in my hotel room after the race, spent with exhaustion and full-on grief, I followed the posts and tributes to Rachel through others I follow. Your collective grief led me to discover all of Rachel’s books, but also Sarah Bessey’s work and your work, Nadia. What a year of grief mixed with discovery and grace it’s been for all of us. Blessings and thanks to and for you 🙏
Thank you. I keep crying and this helps. ❤️
Rachel's words helped me "save" my faith, and her death gutted me. Thank you for a tribute that captured so much of who she was.
This is beautiful, Nadia. I love the way Rachel is looking at you in the photo where you're speaking at Why Christian. Such love and delight on her face. Her face always seemed to be glowing. That light is still in the world. My heart goes out to you, Dan and her family and all of her friends and everyone she touched through her work. xo
You and Rachel helped me find my faith again. I will be forever grateful to both of you for that. Her words will continue to inspire us, even if she's not here physically, her spirit lives on. Her love lives on. May we all recognize that we are eshet chayil.
Beautiful tribute to your friend.
As I read your words, Nadia, Ron Heiftz’s words about balcony people and adaptive leaders from his book “Leadership on the Line” came to mind about RHE. She was a balcony person and an adaptive leader within the institution of the church. I believe this was her main “woman of valor” role that she accepted, and she also surrounded herself with other women who accepted this role so that she was supported in her ministry and work. She also encouraged and supported women who were also in the process of being women of valor. I never met her. Her written words always encouraged me as I attempted to do the ministry and work she did in small ways. I always admired her for what she was doing and the ways she did it. Your grief, the grief of her husband, and the ways the lives of her children changed with her death way heavy on my heart as I read your words. It’s shitty. It’s tragedy writ large. I hate it all. I am reminded that refiring/retiring last year was my response to my efforts of working towards being an adaptive leader within the institution of the church. I grew weary of it. I decided to find out if there are other ways to do this ministry without being within the institution. Perhaps time and the Divine One will reveal that to me as I continue to take baby steps in discerning it. I hear your grief. I continue to grieve her death, too. Thank you for these words. Thank you for continuing to be an adaptive leader. I know it’s hard as hell.
I loved Rachel Held Evans' books. I never got to hear her speak, but she was a favorite writer. When she died, I felt a such a strong sense of loss. As her friend, I can't even imagine how you must have felt.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Your tribute makes me wish I'd known her.
Agreed. So sorry Nadia.