Be The Brave One : Living Your Spiritual Values Out Loud And Nine Other Life Lessons

On September 11, 2001, Ann Kansfield, a successful Wall Street broker who had spent years laying a path of achievements, stood on the doorstep of profound change. The city she loved was in turmoil, and a calling to help others was emerging from deep within her. Part memoir and part spiritual formation guide, Kansfield's Be the Brave One relays her stunning transformation from a "run-of-the-mill capitalist jerk" into a wife, mother, and pastor committed to feeding the poor at her church in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The first female and openly gay chaplain at the New York Fire Department, and voted the inaugural New York Times New Yorker of the Year, Kansfield uses her characteristic wit and knack for accessible storytelling to reveal how an adventurous faith rooted in living out your convictions can bring about radical change in the world. From authenticity and courage, to perseverance and gratitude, in Kansfield's journey you will find the insight and tools to name and claim your own core spiritual values. Ultimately, Kansfield's story will leave readers both comforted and challenged to discover and live out their own faith rooted in open-hearted conviction.

Part personal narrative, part spiritual formation guide, Bethe Brave One is the story of Rev. Ann Kansfield leaving thegrind of Wall Street and finding her calling at a church inGreenpoint, Brooklyn; becoming the first female and openly gaychaplain at the New York Fire Department; and getting voted theinaugural New York Times New Yorker of the Year.

Guiding her story are the values that anchor her life in anadventurous faith and have allowed her to transform from a"run-of-the-mill capitalist jerk" into a pastor, chaplain, wife,mother, and spiritual leader. Be the Brave One weavesgritty, real-life stories with witty commentary and practical faithto explore what it looks like to live out our convictions in ourdaily lives--and how that can radically change us and those aroundus. Ultimately, Kansfield's story will leave readers both comfortedand challenged to discover and live out their own spiritualvalues.