Nick Welsh, Shop Manager of The Iona Community Welcome Centre on the Isle of Iona, shares her monthly book recommendations. This month Nick is hearing from powerful voices.
Amazing women
This past month in the shop we have had the privilege of hearing from some amazing women with very powerful voices.
At the end of April, we had a visit from Nada Shawa, talking about her book Indigenous Souls: Gaza and me. Nada moved to Edinburgh at the age of 8 to receive treatment and care for cerebral palsy. Although Nada calls Edinburgh home, she has travelled back to her family in Gaza whenever possible, and remains deeply rooted in Palestinian heritage and culture. She is a poet, wheelchair dancer and strong advocate for Palestinian rights. In her soft but determined voice she shared stories and poems about her journeys back to Gaza, her family and the tragic losses she has suffered in her family in recent months. She spoke so simply, yet so vividly and movingly, about the harsh treatment she received when travelling back to see her unwell mother. Separated from her wheelchair by border guards, she had to get through security with very little support. Nada’s dignity and positive outlook on life, despite all she has been through, was an inspiration to us all at the talk. I am so grateful to her and her companions for making the effort to journey to Iona.
Women who speak out
Early in May we had a visit from Liz Crumlish, a priest in the Scottish Episcopal Church. Liz shared from her book Miriam’s Sisters, Deborah’s Daughters: when women lead the way. Like Nada, soft-spoken and speaking simply, Liz shared stories of forgotten women from the Bible who often had a pivotal role to play in unfolding events in Israel of biblical times. Women like Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah, five sisters who challenged Moses about inheritance laws. These sisters with the courage to be visible and speak out against injustice led the laws to be changed. Liz’s stories led us to a discussion on women’s leadership roles within the church: how there is such a need at present for a mingling of men and women’s energy and enthusiasm to progress us towards a more just and open church.
Our third women to speak in the shop was local Iona poet Sarah Akehurst. Sarah shared her poems written through the illness, treatment and subsequent death of her young son Jonny. She was not afraid to share her sorrow and faith journey and spotlights of joy in her son’s life. She encouraged us all to find the space to give our grief and loss room to be expressed and accepted as part of life.
Inspired to speak
These three women inspired me and visitors to the shop, to not be afraid to speak out: to express sorrow, joy or anger, to share and support each other. I plan to keep these lessons in my heart when confronted by visitors to the shop who tell me that our display of LGBTQIA+ books is an affront to God. Or that our range of books does not give a balanced view of the Palestinian/Israel relationship. Thank you to all women with powerful voices.
Powerful book recommendations
My book recommendations this month are powerful. They are all available from the Iona Community shop.
- Indigenous Souls: Gaza and me by Nada Shawa is published by Main Point Books.
- Miriam’s Sisters, Deborah’s Daughters: when women lead the way, Liz Crumlish is published by Canterbury Press.
- Vigils by Sarah Akehurst is available online from Sanctus Media
Photo credit: B Forsyth
USA North East