In this week’s podcast, we’re honored to learn from Amanda Held Opelt about her latest book: “A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing.” It’s a beautifully written book that explores ways to find faith and hope amid seasons of grief and suffering. It’s one of those books that I’ll be re-reading during difficult times to remind me of the hope we have in Christ (even when I’m feeling faithless).
You can get this episode on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or YouTube. You can also download or listen to the full podcast episode here.
In this episode, Amanda talks with us about:
• On becoming a social worker and chaplain
• Helping others overcome grief, trauma and loss
• How to support a grieving friend (and what not to say)
• Listening more, saying less (and creating safe spaces)
• How faith can help you through seasons of suffering
• What the Bible tells us about grief and suffering
• Engaging with God in the midst of trauma or crisis of faith
• Spiritual rituals to connect with God
• What to do when a grieving friends doesn’t want to open up to you
• Helping grieving people who don’t ask for help
• On writing “A Hole in the World” about grief rituals around the world
• Helpful books for dealing with grief and bereavement
• The Christian concept of hope and the afterlife
• Finding meaning and hope in Ecclesiastes
Amanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, worship and shared stories to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda has spent the last 15 years as a social worker and humanitarian aid worker. She lives in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina with her husband and young two daughters.
