At a Texas Hill Country ranch, Melody Escobar and her young son meet Bo, the retired racehorse that becomes his "go-to" sage in a remarkable equine program for children with disabilities. The weekly ritual in the riding arena ignites an inner transformation for Escobar and an ethnographic study of everyday caregiving. In Revelations of Divine Care, Escobar explores Julian of Norwich's vision of unconditional love and the innovative ways in which all people--with or without disability--can challenge dynamics of power and control to nurture communities in which love compels others to love. Escobar presents a fresh reading of Julian's revolutionary teachings and connects the fourteenth-century mystic with first-person narratives of mothers who are caregivers. She calls us to re-vision our understanding of kenosis and advocate for the mutual flourishing of every being, following the pattern of generative trinitarian relationship where each is in and for the other. Escobar invites us to bring our own stories into conversation with members of our communities, providing theological language for what it means to live a spirituality of solidarity guided by faith, one in which "active mercy," i.e., committed works of charity, is considered a universal practice instead of the experience of a select few.Relevant for ministers, theologians, activists, and caregivers alike, Revelations of Divine Care presents a model for community in which compassionate care becomes "life giving and making." Escobar offers new, practical applications for being "church," such as placing persons with disabilities at the "speaking center," countering ableist programming with creative liturgical practices, and prioritizing respite care for the blossoming life of the whole community. She draws from the wells of wisdom of the Christian mystical tradition to illuminate the interdependence of all people--which we ignore at our own peril--reminding us of the urgency and beauty of unconditional love and care, whether in the riding arena, the church, or the public sphere.
Melody V. Escobar, PhD, is a research associate at Baylor University, Collaborative on Faith and Disability. Her research and publications in Christian spirituality and practical theology focus on families who experience disability, innovative models of ministry, and curricula advancing inclusion and belonging in academic and spiritual life. She lectures in religion and disability, eco-justice, and mysticism.
Introduction: Revelations of Care in the Horse Ring 1 "To Love Like God Loves": Exploring the Lived Experiences of Caregivers 2 Revelations of Loving Care as Work 3 Widening the Circle of Loving Care 4 Julian's Revelation of "Our Motherhood in Christ" 5 Nurturing Divine Care in the Church: Revelations Rebirthed
