The task of deciding how to express our visit with Susanna Barlow has kept my mind occupied for many days. I am challenged to do Susanna justice with my words after the privilege of time spent with her words. Having met Susanna before she set out on the journey of writing her story, we were honored when she accepted my invitation to discuss her writing process with our group. To our amazement, she willingly spoke about so much more.
"What Peace There May Be" is the truth of her childhood and the abuse that ruled a home of one father and many mothers. Her story is part of our local community but somehow feels as if from another time. Susanna bravely exposed the emotional and physical abuse she and her forty-five siblings experienced. Forty-five siblings. I have a hard time believing my entire family tree consists of forty-five members. It is difficult to comprehend this lifestyle and the resilience it would require to find your identity within it, yet Susanna has emerged with her true self intact. She shared the struggles she and her husband faced upon leaving this community; deep doubts about her own skills as a mother and the potential to repeat learned behaviors; and her decision to speak her truth to the world...knowing the impact would ripple out towards the people she still loves. Susanna is brave, strong and uncensored.
The opportunity for our group to spend time with Susanna Barlow was truly a gift and a day in our years of reading together that we will never forget.
