Reflection, Women and Suffering

Stauros is grateful to Joni Woelfel and to Stephen Schmidt for allowing us to use these two compelling articles. While each is a story unto its own, yet the three women may be seen to stand in juxtaposition to one other. The heroines walk into their respective suffering, take hold of their suffering, and for each, there appears to be healing occurring through the suffering. However, each woman is unique and each approaches suffering in a particular way.

Suffering Woman, Gypsy Woman and Ruth present us with alternatives for living with our suffering, and working through our suffering.

These two articles are thought-provoking and unusual, and each relates in its own way to the ongoing mission of Stauros. Joni's "Gypsy Woman" is, of course, an allegory and leaves us free to draw our own conclusions about the two women depicted, whereas Stephen is sharing a true and awesome account of two significant events in the life of his daughter, Ruth. May I suggest that you read this issue of the Notebook aloud? Narratives such as these belong to our oral tradition. They can be told and retold, and become more meaningful with each telling.

Because these two stories are somewhat analogous, we are including some "study questions" which we hope will guide you as you make your own connections between Suffering Woman, Gypsy Woman and Ruth.

We welcome any comments you might have about these two articles as well as your own reflections on them.

1. What does Gypsy Woman mean by saying, "I spit at suffering."?
2. Is there a hint that suffering might be fruitful in Gypsy Woman's life? In Ruth's life? In Suffering Woman's life?
3. Can you reconcile the attitudes of Suffering Woman, Gypsy Woman and Ruth with the Christian perspective on suffering?
4. Is it easier to identify with the way Suffering Woman approaches suffering, or with Gypsy Woman's way?
5. How did Noah's birth and the involvement of Ruth's parents help in her healing?
6. Is there a "rainbow of promise" in the life of Gypsy Woman as there is in Ruth's life, in Noah's life, in her parents lives? How about Suffering Woman?