A Journey to Moriah

Rating:
Summary: The remarkable story of a mother's journey to her own truth.
Review: "A Journey to Moriah" 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. The book's title refers to the biblical story of Abraham who was tested by God with the command that he sacrifice his son Isaac. 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.

Rating:
Summary: The remarkable story of a mother's journey to her own truth.
Review: "A Journey to Moriah" 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. The book's title refers to the biblical story of Abraham who was tested by God with the command that he sacrifice his son Isaac. 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.

Rating:
Summary: Pure - Unconditional Love
Review: Here is a pure spirit who knew no bounds as she grew mentally & physically and at the same time continued reaching out to those who turned their backs on her & her family. Her devoted love for her son makes a mother feel proud yet she keeps within the framework of a True Christian. She battles family, church, townspeople, school & government. She soars above hate & bigotry to stand tall yet finds enough love and strength within her to reach out to love and aid others. She has most certainly inspired me. Hats off!

Rating:
Summary: Pure - Unconditional Love
Review: Here is a pure spirit who knew no bounds as she grew mentally & physically and at the same time continued reaching out to those who turned their backs on her & her family. Her devoted love for her son makes a mother feel proud yet she keeps within the framework of a True Christian. She battles family, church, townspeople, school & government. She soars above hate & bigotry to stand tall yet finds enough love and strength within her to reach out to love and aid others. She has most certainly inspired me. Hats off!

Rating:
Summary: Thank You Rhea, this is GREAT!
Review: Rhea Murray's heartfelt, honest, and utterly compelling story of her family's journey is one of the best books I have read in quite some time. As others who have read the book claim, it isn't something one can put down after a chapter or two. Life in Sunnyside, Indiana seems quiet, steady, and predictable, until Murray's son is identified as "gay" by a narrow-minded cleric. After this, life in the idyllic small-town metamorphoses into something more akin to south Georgia in the 1960's. And while the reader is sure to share the feelings of anger and betrayal of the Murray family, this is no diatribe written from bitterness or revenge. Murray looks within her own heart, exposes her own doubts and biases, which makes the journey all the more poignant and believable. "Journey to Moriah" has a different feel to it than most narrative and biographical works that cover such rough emotional terrain. The fair, even voice evokes real compassion in the reader without the use of sentiment, and Murray's charm and humor shine through in several chapters, most noteably as she chases a pickup truck down the small town street. In the light of the political backlash against gay and lesbian rights and the recent violent death of Matthew Shepard, Murray's book seems all the more moving and motivating. Murray's transformation reminds us that there are mothers, fathers, friends, and organizations out there that are working each day to make a place for the safety and acceptance of anyone who bears the mark of "difference" in this culture of conformance. I recommend this book highly for anyone who has loved a gay or lesbian, who has questioned their faith against the traditional christian backdrop of exclusionism, or who has ever weathered a journey that opened their whole heart to the world.

Rating:
Summary: Required Reading for all Parents
Review: Rhea's book best describes the struggles of a gay teen in rural America. Coming from a town like Sunnyside, Indiana, only 100 miles north, I too have been through the struggles that Bruce had experienced.

Rhea is a priceless asset to the gay community, not only in rural Indiana, but also to gays and lesbians all over the country. Her dedication and stamina, sometimes seeing the events first hand, has often left me with a sense of pride and a restored faith in humanity. It is very uplifting to read of the positive live that she had provided to her gay son, and I truly believe that this book is a requirement for ANY parent who's son or daughter recently came out of the closet!

Here's a standing ovation for Rhea - Thank you for the memories, and thanks for the help over the past years. You are truly loved by all of God's lesbigay children

Rating:
Summary: Especially Recommended for Newly `Outed' Parents
Review: This was recommended to me by P-FLAG and it was a great read. I bought it for my parents. Ms. Murray summarizes her message beautifully in chapter 12 of the book... "I'm certain, many in the audience that day were seeing gay people as genuine human beings for the very first time. Presenting gays and lesbians as the real people they truly are is the key to dispelling stereotype-based images of lewd, immoral, subhuman sexual predators so important to the success of the antigay propaganda being churned out by religious and political extremists." I hope she enjoys a long prolific life!

Rating:
Summary: Especially Recommended for Newly `Outed' Parents
Review: This was recommended to me by P-FLAG and it was a great read. I bought it for my parents. Ms. Murray summarizes her message beautifully in chapter 12 of the book... "I'm certain, many in the audience that day were seeing gay people as genuine human beings for the very first time. Presenting gays and lesbians as the real people they truly are is the key to dispelling stereotype-based images of lewd, immoral, subhuman sexual predators so important to the success of the antigay propaganda being churned out by religious and political extremists." I hope she enjoys a long prolific life!