"A Journey to Moriah"
Book Review by Laura Siegel, PFLAG-San Francisco (Laursiegel@aol.com)
(from Jan/Feb 1999 Heartbeat)
"A Journey to Moriah" by PFLAG mom, Rhea Murray is unequivocally the finest book I've ever read by the mother of a gay child. This is a story of a mother who takes responsibility for her own feelings, faces her demons, and grows as a woman. Too often parents of gay children project their own fears onto their children. Rhea Murray is clear from the start that she loves her son unconditionally and any demons she faces are her own demons--not her son's. Her turmoil over facing the church, facing family, facing her son's school, facing her small suburban community in Indiana, is her "own" turmoil--not her son's. To watch Rhea unfold as a human being as she faces these demons, is to watch a woman with a capital "W" come into her own strength and wisdom.
At one point Rhea realizes that she can have the approval of her church and the parishioners she has called "friends," if she sacrifices her son--if she turns her back to him as they have.
"I will not sacrifice my son for the approval of a few people," she says. Rhea knows from the beginning that she will not sacrifice her son to church, school, family, or community--not to anyone. She honors her power and her ability to think for herself. Rhea faces her fears of public speaking, speaking out as the mother of a gay son, and facing authority. One of the most powerful moments in the book comes when she stands up to the school principal who is doing nothing to protect her son. At that moment she blossoms into a full and powerful woman.
"A Journey to Moriah" is the story of a mother's fierce love for her son. It is a woman's journey to finding her own truth, facing her fears, finding her own power and strength, and growing as a human being. Rhea's story is a lesson to us all that the love for our children should not be compromised by any external forces and that finding our truth will unleash our power as human beings.
"A Journey to Moriah" by Rhea Murray, Gary Pool (Editor) Paperback - 154 pages 1 edition (October 28, 1998) Banta & Pool Literary Properties, LLC; ISBN: 0966723708
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