Page 1 - 08-09-2017 full page paper

AUGUST 9, 2017 XIX NO.51

Village News

Naming the nameless

from Scripture

BY LINDA FAUSZ
collection of letters from deadly dull. No so. The unnamed Bible
a woman of the 21st women all have fascinating stories. I
century to 34 nameless took great pleasure in putting a new
A women of Bible times is twist on some of them.”
being released this week. “Dear Mrs. Damon’s acknowledgments include
Noah: Letters to Unnamed Women of gratitude to Sandra Bollinger, who
the Bible” by Chester resident Roberta laughed when she was forced to listen to
M. Damon, gives appropriate names the chapter about Mrs. Noah. Deborah
and new identities to women familiar Edgar was teary-eyed over the letter to
to readers of Scripture in her latest the woman at the well. Jim Williams’
published work. Bible study class listened to each one
Some women whose stories are upon completion, and Damon reports
familiar, but were previously not known they laughed in all the right places.
by name: Samson’s mother is named Damon toyed with the idea of the
Salome (from the Hebrew “shalom,” book for more than a year. She said the
meaning “peace”). Noah’s wife is actual writing did not take long. “My
named April (possibly from the Latin process was simple. I started with the
“Aprilis,” suggesting “open to the sun”). biblical material and then imagined
Job’s wife is named Dolores (from the what a woman might have been thinking
Latin “delorem,” meaning pain and and feeling in that particular setting.”
sorrow”). She thought about; in one case how
The premise of the book is that being known as the “woman having
without a name, a person has no identity. an issue of blood twelve years” might
Unnamed Bible women are known by have felt. “I have long been interested
some event (“the woman at the well,” in women’s concerns,” said Damon.
“the widow’s “Even theological
mite”) by their students and
relationship to professors rarely
a man (Peter’s question the mores
mother-in-law, which dictated
Job’s wife), or by how women
some physical were overlooked,
condition (“the demeaned, or even
woman bent over abused in all those issues relevant in today’s world. These Damon hopes readers will be
double,” “the cultures we lump questions can be used for small group informed and entertained by this
woman with the together as ‘Bible discussion or personal pondering. book. “I hope the book will engender
issue of blood”). times.’” “A person with no name has no discussion and an exchange of opinions
“I wrote this for Damon’s identity--no voice,” she stated. “The and ideas. I hope readers will come
the joy of writing,” reflections at the illustrations by my beautiful and talented away understanding that there is more
Damon said in an end of each letter granddaughter, Melissa, show each than one way to see a biblical episode. I
e-mail. “So often were designed woman robed and without a face. The believe our spirituality may be enhanced
we think of all ROBERTA DAMON’S GRANDDAUGHTER, MELISSA to prompt the sketches enhance the text, bringing each
things biblical as DAMON, DREW ALL THE ILLUSTRATIONS IN HER reader to reflect on Read more on page 3
BOOK. THIS ONE IS OF JOB’S WIFE. story to life.”

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