This summer the Luther Seminary ABIDE Summer Book Club read “I Never Thought of It That Way” by Mónica Guzmán. The book club planning committee—Lauren Mildahl, Samuel Zalanga, Linda Davies, Rory Rohloff, Cody Sanders, and Maria May—selected the book and helped lead the community in conversations around the book’s ideas. Lauren Mildahl and Cody Sanders shared about the project and how it went.
How was “I Never Thought of It That Way” chosen for the summer book read?
Lauren. The committee chose “I Never Thought of It That Way” because we wanted to read something in community to emphasize empathy and solidarity and that could be used as a jumping off point to discuss the many ways we practice and experience the ABIDE values. We wanted to pick something with popular appeal, something a bit shorter and easier to read than the more academic works we focus on in class. And we thought a focus on courageous conversation during times of division would be especially helpful in this election season.
What were some things you thought about as you read the book, especially in relation to your work and studies here at Luther Seminary?
Lauren. I often found myself wishing that I had read this book before I did my CPE experience. So much of what Mónica Guzmán wrote was helpful with practical strategies for deepening conversation, not only in politically divided conversations but in any conversation one might have. In thinking about future pastoral conversations, I am excited to use some of this framework to lean into curiosity in different and enriching ways.
Cody. Many of the skills Guzman teaches in the book reflect the skills students learn in the opening weeks of my Congregational Care and Formation course. They’re the skills of deep listening, leaning into another’s story with curiosity rather than judgment, and seeking a better understanding of the story being told. They are the kinds of skills we all need in order to form communities of care and belonging, yet they are the very skills that much of our social engagement in the wider world (and sometimes in our congregations) seem to lack.
How did this activity bring the community together? What did we learn?
Lauren. The summer book club is a wonderful way to welcome new students into the community before classes begin. I remember being a new student in the summer of 2021, nervous about how I would meet and form relationships in this new place, and feeling so welcomed in my small group. We were able to cultivate deep and vulnerable conversations about delicate topics. And it was nice to then show up on campus in the fall and already have a group of friends and colleagues. We had many new students participating this summer, and it was a joy to provide this opportunity to welcome them, hear their stories, and journey together toward fuller welcome and inclusion.
Cody. It’s always a pleasure getting together with folks in the Luther Seminary community that I might not normally see on a day-to-day basis to discuss the summer read. This particular summer, it was especially helpful to have a space to hold some of the anxiety that is rising around the coming election and its aftermath. This experience will make us better equipped as a community to accompany one another through the coming season of our life in this country.
In your mind, what was the most exciting aspect of watching the book read process unfold during the summer?
Lauren. Most exciting for me was hearing members tell me that they were enjoying the book and recommending it to others. A few were even excited to run their own book clubs with their churches and communities. Seeing the ways this practice of book clubs can be a blessing for our community and also ripple out to even more spaces is really wonderful.