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When Fragments Make a Whole: A Personal Journey through Healing Stories in the Bible

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In this candid and courageous book, Lory Widmer Hess describes her experience of inner transformation through her exploration of the healing stories in the gospels. In a unique blend of poetry, commentary and autobiography, she describes how she engaged with and drew inspiration from these stories. Her approach will inspire readers on their own journey of spiritual growth.

During a difficult time in her life, Lory turned to the accounts of Jesus's work on earth for comfort and inspiration. She wrote poems about the lives of the people who had been touched by Christ and, over several years, added personal reflections that explored the difficulties she was facing in her marriage, the challenges of raising a family, and setbacks in her career. Gradually she learned forgiveness and self-acceptance.

This powerful book shows how we can connect our experiences to the gospel stories in a creative way that allows us to draw strength from them. At the end of each chapter, the essential meaning of the story is distilled into a simple, contemplative phrase. Readers interested in Christian spirituality will turn to this unique and remarkable book again and again for inspiration and contemplation.

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2024

7 people want to read

About the author

Lory Widmer Hess

3 books29 followers
For regular book reviews and other posts, visit my blog, Entering the Enchanted Castle at https://enterenchanted.com.

I live with my family in the beautiful Bernese Jura region of Switzerland, where I work part-time in a residential home for adults with developmental disabilities. I’m interested in prayer and contemplative practice, and have completed a training spiritual direction. Besides reading and writing, I enjoy fiber crafts (spinning and knitting); music, especially choral singing; and hiking in the mountains.

As of 2024, I will be reviewing select books here, especially those relevant to the themes of my book, When Fragments Make a Whole. I also record my reading at The StoryGraph, where you can connect to me as lory_enterenchanted.

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for Joelle Tamraz.
Author 1 book20 followers
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March 7, 2024
This book is organized in three alternating sections: a poetic reimagining of Christ’s healings in the gospels, interpretation of those healings according to anthroposophy, and the author's sharing of her own painful life experiences and turning points.

There is deep vulnerability and questioning at the heart of the author's own story, and I found myself wanting to skip ahead of the poems and interpretations to read the personal sections. Although it was interesting to read about Christ's healings one after the other in one place, these analytical sections slowed down the narrative and felt only tangentially related to the author's own life. For someone who is not versed in or drawn to the principles of anthroposophy, these sections were less relevant and resonant.

This book is beautifully written and deeply felt, however, when I reached the end, I sensed there was still a source of trauma to be uncovered. We learn very little about the author's childhood, and how those early experiences may have contributed to her young adult and adult angst.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Andrew.
Author 8 books142 followers
June 5, 2024
Since I approached Christianity’s contemplative tradition from a pretty conventional angle, I was fascinated by Hess's journey into lectio from an anthroposophical direction. This memoir avoids the usual Christian tropes to illustrate Christ’s healing presence in the author's life, body, and relationships--a rare phenomenon in Christian memoir. Faith becomes a verb, an action, accessible to readers. Hess's imaginative engagement with scripture gives the reader a book-length experience of lectio divina. Writing, then, becomes a profound form of contemplation. Her term “imaginative devotion” is perfect, as is her description of Bible stories as “patterns of energy and living forces that can still touch us today.” She shows this beautifully.

Profile Image for Jenna (Falling Letters).
763 reviews76 followers
February 12, 2025
Review originally published 12 February 2025 at Falling Letters.

You may be familiar with Lory as the blogger behind Entering the Enchanted Castle. (If you’re not, drop her a follow!) Lory blogs about assorted fiction and non-fiction as well as writing, language, health and spirituality with a reflective eye. So when she released When Fragments Make a Whole last February, I knew I had to check it out even if the main subject fell outside of what I usually read.

I have a wee interest in religious and spiritual practices and traditions. (I actually minored in religion and culture during my undergrad.) Historical folk practices and Zen Buddhism in particular attract both my personal and intellectual interest. Christian spirituality? Not so much, either personally or academically. I grew up in a Christian Protestant tradition so I have a solid understanding of the basics there. I surprised myself a bit by how I recalled most of the gospel stories that Lory draws from.

However, I have no familiarity with anthroposophy. I think one of the Inklings was into it – that’s about the extent of my knowledge on the subject. Lory provides enough background and context (particularly in the preface, which sets out the aim and structure of the book) that I could understand and appreciate her perspective, though I sense there are nuances here which would be greater appreciated by a practicing Christian or anthroposophist.

On the whole, When Fragments Make a Whole is a thoughtful mix of memoir, art, and exegesis. The main challenge I encountered while trying to read the Bible when younger was that everything felt so distant. Lory’s poems bring liveliness and relatability to the stories and people in the Bible. The structure of original poem followed by reflections on the Biblical story and then personal connections with a closing meditation makes for smooth reading.

It can be difficult to review a work that includes life writing, especially one that touches on sensitive matters such as intimate family relationships. I appreciate the candidness shared and respect the boundaries set. Some memoirs can be discomforting to read when we feel the writer has shared too much. Others can be puzzling when we feel the writer has shared too little. Lory strikes a fair balance, so readers can understand and appreciate her healing journey without feeling like we’ve pried too deep.

The Bottom Line 💭 Offering much to digest and reflect on, When Fragments Make a Whole can be enjoyed and appreciated by readers on any spiritual path, though Christians may find even more to take away from this book, with its Gospel focus.
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