Date: November 23, 2021
The gift of an autobiography is that it is an invitation into a life. It is holy ground, for a good biography really lets you in. One encounters the fears, hopes, aspirations of another person. It is an honor to be present.
Our alumnus Kathleen Weaver Kurtz has written a holy biography. And as we approach this Thanksgiving season, I found myself reading and being grateful. It is touching, compelling, moving, and beautiful. Naturally, the journey through Seminary is described; the Rev. Dr. Tony Lewis was her initial teacher and the agony of finding her preacher’s voice is captured in detail.
Kathleen comes from Mennonite roots; her life touches Botswana, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. But perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of the book is less the geographical journey and more the journey from timidity to presence. As we all think about potential gifts for Christmas to ourselves or others, I recommend strongly The Blistering Morning Mist: A Memoir by Kathleen Weaver Kurtz.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham Ph.D.
Dean and President