Wells of Wisdom

Book excerpt: The essays in this book stress the importance of grandparents as bearers of the history, the values, and the traditions of each of the tribal units . . . The essays in this book take us into different tribal gatherings with their stories of family struggles and growth. They invite us to explore our memories of what we have experienced with our own grandparents and what we might yet find time to do with succeeding generations. We are shaped by our past and we have the capacity to shape those that come after us. What an opportunity; what a challenge. --from the Foreword by James M. Wall, former editor and president of The Christian Century Foundation A distinguished group of Catholic and Protestant writers draw from their wealth of experiences as grandparents and those who have been grandparented. They offer encouragement, insight, solace, and reminders to others who desire the spiritual and emotional wisdom of grandparents. These creative voices in the Christian community reflect on their experiences as and/or with their grandparents as a part of their faith journeys. Those contributors who are grandparents share their personal experiences and those who have been grandparented explore how their grandparents shaped their lives and faith journeys. Contributors ¥ Paschal Baumstein ¥ Gilbert H. Caldwell ¥ Muriel Duncan ¥ Cliff and Ulrike Guthrie ¥ George McGovern ¥ Donald E. Messer ¥ Trish Muco-Tobin ¥ M. Basil Pennington ¥ Cora Crow Poteet ¥ Bill Ritter ¥ Donna Schaper ¥ Robert C. Schnase ¥ Donald B. Strobe ¥ Stephen Swecker ¥ Maren C. Tirabassi ¥ Halbert Weidner