S9E5: Revolutionary Love

The Collective Table

In this powerful episode, Jenell and Claire dive into The Collective Table archives to revisit the “See No Stranger” book club conversation featuring Valarie Kaur. Valarie, a renowned civil rights activist, author, and speaker, has dedicated her life to promoting revolutionary love—a concept she describes as "the choice to enter into labor for others who do not look like us, for our opponents who hurt us, and for ourselves."

Guided by Valarie's words from the 2022 book club discussion and her 2017 TED Talk, today’s conversation explores Valarie’s approach to love as a labor that is "fierce, bloody, imperfect, life-giving." Jenell and Claire choose three transformative themes from Kaur's work, offering reflections on listening with wonder, laboring within privileged spaces, and learning to care for ourselves in the process.

Reflective Questions for Listeners:

• Has anyone with differing views listened to your story with empathy and wonder?
• This episode discusses roles in the labor of revolutionary love. Do you have a sense of your role in this work?
• What practices help you to stay grounded and ready to engage with others’ stories compassionately?

To hear the full original interview with Valarie Kaur, visit our archive here: https://the-collective-table.castos.com/episodes/valarie-kaur-see-no-stranger

We'd love to hear from you! Reach out at [e-mail], or leave us a voicemail at [phone]. You may even be featured in a future episode.

The Collective Table is a production of The Oceanside Sanctuary Church, a progressive Christian community rooted in inclusivity, inspiration, and the peace and justice of Christ. Learn more at https://www.oceansidesanctuary.org/.