Cynthia and Susan are joined by Jeralee Renshaw to revisit the life and wisdom of a beloved former leader whose teachings seem more relevant than ever before.
“Healing from Sexual Abuse”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs4XJURtSug
“There is Always a Struggle:” An Interview with Chieko Okazaki
https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V45N01_311a.pdf
Find the books pictured above (and others) on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=chieko+okazaki&crid=1OJO1ZO2W0VVQ&sprefix=chieko%2Caps%2C192&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_6
Jeralee Renshaw
This was really fun, I could talk about Chieko Okazaki all day long! Love our Patron Saint! <3
Nathan
Thank you for talking about Chieko and for encouraging us to spread more messages like hers. Thanks for the guilt discussion too. Guilt has dominated my church experience too much.
Susan Hinckley
Thanks for listening, Nathan, and taking time to share your thoughts here! Guilt is something so many of us have struggled with, and continue to carry. Thank goodness we still have Chieko’s words around to help us clarify what’s useful in our spiritual lives and what’s just taking up space. Wish she were still speaking in person. — Susan
Faith
Thank you for this episode. It’s amazing to know that someone so powerful and open-minded can inspire change in the Church. I did not know of her at all until I started listening to this podcast. Her words bring tears to my eyes and the Spirit to my mind and heart.
Brooke
Would you mind providing the source for the following quote?
“On one occasion I attended a meeting where someone was telling us about the importance of teaching women to strengthen the family. I had a little trouble with that presentation in three ways. First, the approach seemed to assume that women are weakening the family. Of the hundreds of women I know I don’t know anybody who isn’t doing the best she can to make her family strong. Second, I want to know if men are getting the same message. Men as a group certainly have far more control than women over many of the social and economic factors that make strong families possible. And third I want a few reports from the real world about the specifics of family life, I don’t think generalities are very helpful. Until those three conditions are met the major product of sermons about strengthening the family is likely to be guilt, and I’m against guilt.”
Ziff
Thanks for this episode! I particularly appreciated the quote where Sister Okazaki reminded teachers that whatever struggle they could think of, probably someone in their class was going through it.
Linda de Azevedo
I very much appreciated Brooke’s thoughtful questions, thank you for stating them.
Jennifer West
In 1960 when I was 5 and my brother was 8, our Mother died. Ms. Okazaki was my brother’s 2nd grade teacher. She enveloped that sad little boy with so much love and tenderness, I think it made a huge difference. My Dad appreciated it so much. As a teen I became aware of her and always loved hearing her speak. And, now her words seem even more relevant.
Susan Hinckley
What a beautiful story! Thank you!