The Prayer of a Broken Heart: an Orthodox Christian Reflection on African American Spirituality
Ancient Faith Description:
What do African American spirituality and Orthodox Christianity have in common? More than you might think. Drawing on both his own background as a biracial convert to Orthodoxy and historical resources that span St. Athanasius to Frederick Douglass, Fr. Paul Abernathy details the many intersections between these two traditions, including a redemptive understanding of the Cross and a faith shaped by suffering and persecution. In so doing, he points to a new path whereby Orthodox Christianity can uniquely answer the spiritual needs of African Americans.
Dear Reader,
I owe you a book review on The Prayer of a Broken Heart: An Orthodox Christian Reflection on African American Spirituality by Rev. Paul Abernathy published by Ancient Faith Publishing. While reflecting on this book and the many other book reviews I have written, I wonder what a book review means to you. If it is simply an answer on whether it is worth your time to read a book that can generally be answered simply. If it is to give you a synopsis of what the book is about, then you can usually find that on the back of said book or in the online description. But if a book review is to be something more, something inspiring, well, then today I have that for you, with a disclaimer.
The disclaimer to which I speak is that after four weeks of owning this book I have not finished it. I want to be honest and clear that while I have not finished this book, it has become clear that the time allotted will not do it justice. This has been true for other books in the past and for that reason that I will no longer be doing reviews with a deadline. Now, that may seem harsh seeing that I am on a team of reviewers for Ancient Faith Publishing but I assure you that instead it is in honor of their publications and you.
I will also be completely honest that I am very ignorant as an American white female on the subject of African American slavery in my nation. And as I am not a black woman in this country, I cannot claim to know, understand, or even feel to the same depths the torment of which these people must feel of how their ancestors and they themselves are still treated in this country. I will pledge to you this: I will never stop learning how I can improve this world for all people not only through my thoughts and actions but also my children’s.
As I sit typing this review, I have about a dozen tabs of research open, ebooks and reference materials bookmarked, and a stack of books on hold at my library. Why? This book has made it abundantly clear how little I know on the background of slavery and African American history in America. I believe that puts me in an awkward position. I am sitting here, questioning why I even signed up for this review. I believe my motivation was to understand more. In the first three chapters, I understand that I know even less than I thought I did and owe it to society to learn more.
So, should you read this? Yes. It’s humbling, compelling, and will open your heart and mind to another culture’s inherited spirituality. It initiates the coming together of our religious traditions. There’s a love in this book that mimics the saints and a sense of hope that we can come together in all circumstances, without all the trappings of this sinful world.
What is it about? Most likely, it’s about a history that you know less about than you thought and should know more about than you want to. There are harsh realities, tender moments of loss that are redeemed by overwhelming moments of faith, inspiration, hard facts, and best of all hope.
At the end of the Star Wars movie Rogue One, Captain Raymus Antilles hands over the Death Star plans that have come to Leia. Then he asks her, “What is it they’ve sent us?” Leia replies, “Hope.” We have that hope, too. A hope for a new chapter in the history of faith, races, and Christians. This book is a bridge to that new chapter and reading it is the first step.
I will be publishing a study on this book. If there is interest, I will create a Facebook group. I’m going to be reading Rev. Abernathy’s reference materials as well as asking and researching my own questions. I would adore your input. Look for another post on the blog in April.
I thank Ancient Faith for these opportunities and Melinda Johnson as the guiding hand. Without these opportunities, I would not have the knowledge of my faith that I have today. Thank you!
