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Michael T. McRay is a Nashville-based writer, facilitator, and story-practitioner, and the award-winning author of I Am Not Your Enemy. In the pages of this book, visits divided regions of the world and interviews activists, peacebuilders, former combatants about their personal stories of conflict, justice, and reconciliation. In Israel and Palestine, Northern Ireland, and South Africa, he hears from grieving parents who partner together across enemy lines, a woman who meets her father's killer, and a man who uses theater to counter the oppression of his people, and many more. In a time of heightened alienation and fear, McRay offers true, sacred stories of reconciliation and justice, asking what they can teach us about our own divided states. Must violence be met with violence? Is my belonging complete only when I take away yours? Will more guns, more walls, more weapons keep us safe? Michael works with organizations around the world as a story consultant and produces and hosts Tenx9 Nashville Storytelling. Michael writes and speaks on issues of story, conflict, and reconciliation. He lives in Nashville with his family. You can follow him at http://www.michaelmcray.com and @michaeltmcray on Facebook and Instagram. If you find this helpful, please consider supporting this podcast with your Patronage for just a few dollars a month.
Sponsors: Fuller Seminary & The Center for Congregational Health. Music by Nicolai Heidlas from HookSounds.com
Author and story practitioner travels to some of the globe’s most contentious socio-political locales. He’s convinced you cannot argue people into a new way of seeing the world, you can only story them into new ways of thinking. In this compelling episode, we hear some of the troubling and violent, yet nonetheless hopeful, stories he’s learned. And we reflect upon personal practices of peace-making, with others and with ourselves. LINKS: Link to Michael’s book Master Course with Miroslav Volf See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Michael McRay knows the power of stories. In his book, I Am Not your Enemy, he draws on his travels to some of the most violent areas of the world to offer stories of hope and transformation in the pursuit of justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Continuing our conversation on grace, please enjoy this interview with Michael McRay and Rev. Jeannie Alexander, as we discuss the prison system. Michael T. McRay is a writer, facilitator, and story-practitioner living in Nashville, Tennessee. He’s the author of multiple books, including I Am Not Your Enemy: Stories to Transform a Divided World (Herald Press, 2020). Rev. Jeannie Alexander is the director of No Exceptions Prison Collective. She is also a co-founding resident of Harriet Tubman House, an interfaith community dedicated to restorative practices in earth stewardship and human rights.
Romans 15:4-13; "Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's ABC," by Frederick Buechner; "Keep Watch with Me: An Advent Reader for Peacemakers," by Claire Brown and Michael T. McRay;
Jesus of the vigil, you told us to keep watch, to stay alert for what is coming. Bless us with the strength to watch, to wait, and to work this Advent season, so that your Kingdom which is here and is still to come may be realized in its fullness. Because if we do not keep watch, we may miss it. Amen (Prayer by Michael T. McRay)