There are times in the Open Table when a reflection does not come close to capturing the essence of the evening much less offer something that is close to the depth of the live experience. This reflection will be one that falls into that category. Alex Kimball Williams joined the Open Table to explore aspects of First Nation or Native…
The Gospel of John tells the story of Jesus sitting in the temple courts when a woman was brought to him by strict followers of the law. They accused her of adultery and demanded that she be stoned in accordance with the law of the time. Jesus wrote something on the ground and then said, “You who are sinless cast…
For the opening of The Open Table KC’s series on the Sacred Feminine, Eve and Mary, and the mythos around them became the focus. We discussed the harmful ways Eve is portrayed as a vixen and Mary as a virgin. To help folks unpack these archetypes, various images and icons of both women were distributed on each table, and people…
“Maybe stories are just data with a soul.” Brene Brown’s statement came alive in our gathering this week as we shared our stories of what it feels like not to belong and what it means to belong to ourselves. This week Core Group member Garrett Brown and resident Tony Beyer shared with The Open Table some of the work of…
Flannery O’Connor wrote, “There is something in us, as storytellers and as listeners to stories, that demands the redemptive act, that demands that what falls at least be offered the chance to be restored.” There is something in the act of listening and telling stories that have the power to transform us. To tell our story requires vulnerability and courage…
Peacemaking is a skill that requires practice and repetition. Without it, it is difficult to know how to respond when encountering racism in Kansas City, in our families, and wherever we find it. At our last gathering, Nick Pickrell and Iman Al-Hassan led an interactive workshop aimed at equipping people with practical tools to disrupt, distract and diffuse tense situations, especially…