"With One Eye Squinted" - Flannery O'Connor and the Call to Suffering - Jessica Hooten Wilson

During her years as a graduate student at the Iowa Workshop, Flannery O’Connor kept a prayer journal in which she shared with God her concerns over her mediocre faith and her ambition to write. Through these prayers, scripture reading, and theological study, O'Connor began to fear that the only way to become both a saint and a great author would be a path of suffering. She prays, “It is hard to want to suffer; I presume Grace is necessary for the want.” For many Christians, the idea of wanting suffering sounds masochistic. Yet, O’Connor shows through her fiction and her own life story that suffering may be a call by Grace.
Jessica Hooten Wilson is an associate professor of literature at John Brown University. She is the author of three books and is currently preparing Flannery O’Connor’s unfinished novel for publication.

[@elizabethd.838]

Imagine how much Our Blessed Mother suffered, witnessing the crucifixion of Christ. Pray for us, Queen of Heaven. ❤️

[@arw75lcc]

This is my very favorite lecture on O'Connor. It literally tugs at my soul every time I listen to it. Wilson explains O'Connor's desire for suffering in a way that that has never been done before. Wilson's knack for entwining research and Biblical scripture is most certainly a gift.

[@RCardone82]

Exactly what I needed to see, and hear. Christians describing my sturggle. I am so, so thankful for Grace.

[@coranimmo4634]

This was great. Thank you for illuminating. I love O'Connor and her beautiful heart for the love of God, in Christ, and therefore her heart for seeing with that blessed, squinting eye.

[@dirkdanko2153]

Thank you for this presentation and the honest look at our lives as followers of Jesus .

[@TheFrankFriar]

Most excellent!

[@deogratias273]

Oh thank you! I am currently reading The Violent Bear It Away. While I briefly studied some of O'Connor's work years ago at uni, I didn't 'get' her. What a gift she is to us. Like a hairshirt.

[@maxalberts2003]

What a wonderful lecture! And belated congratulations on your baby! Hope all is well. Today is Monday, March 14, 2022. May God shower you with blessings.

[@PokeSaladGigi]

Flannery was especially perturbed by smug people.

[@lph-fk2mi]

Fabulous

[@martinhanley9524]

Can't believe Loyola took her name down !
How woke is that - what's next Mark Twain ?

[@cinnamondan4984]

What happened and why?

[@NoNameNoFace-rr7li]

there is a difference between a southern accent and a hillbilly accent... Ms. OConnor was a southerner