2.25 A Book Club Episode—Dana Robb, Shelli Spotts, and Monica Anderson Discuss Christy

Currents: the Big Ocean Women Podcast

Christy by Catherine Marshall is a historical fiction book that follows the fictional character of Christy who decides to serve as a teacher in the Appalachian Mountains. It was based partially on reality and the experiences of Catherine Marshall’s mother. She goes thinking she has so much to give and ends up finding there is so much more for her to learn.

“I love how she goes in with the intent of, ‘I’m going to help these people,’ and ultimately, it’s them helping her.” - Dana Robb

“It’s one of the reasons I love this book because it’s a really good look, and a really honest look at what richness and abundance people have within themselves and within their communities that people from the outside maybe don’t recognize because it doesn’t look like the richness and abundance that they have in their lives, and so because it’s different and it’s dissimilar, they assume that somehow these people are lacking, and that’s not always the case, and it’s not always true.” - Shelli Spotts

“Our journey is not always going to look like everyone else’s.” - Shelli Spotts

“I love that it kind of tells you a little bit of the kind of feelings you might have with that internal compass, and that once she decides to go with it, she never wavers in that decision.” - Monica Anderson

“I really see this book as a journey that she goes on to connect with her inner compass, to connect with God.” - Dana Robb

“We have to allow love to guide our reactions to people, and then we don’t see them as problems, and we don’t see them as projects, and we don’t see them as obstacles to be overcome, but we see them as they are: human!” - Shelli Spotts

“I love thinking about the multiplying power of love.” - Dana Robb

“And that’s going to happen when you’re inviting God into your life more, you’re listening to your inner compass more, your love is growing, when you’ve got Him on your side, that power is immense.” - Monica Anderson

“I just love this idea that something very simple can make a huge difference.” - Shelli Spotts

“Frequently, what a community needs is not someone coming in from without to change them, but help to change themselves.” - Shelli Spotts

“This assumption that you’re the one that has something to teach and that you don’t have anything to learn, I think devalues great stores of wisdom and knowledge that other people have. We do have to go into situations where we’re open to reciprocation, and we’re open to learning just as much as we’re hoping to teach others.” - Shelli Spotts

“Every interaction we have can be a type of ministry, and especially this theme of love. We can minister with love, we can minister love.” - Shelli Spotts

“By the end of the book, it just changed me. I felt like I walked there … seeing those delightful moments … I couldn’t help but be affected by it.” - Monica Anderson

“I realized, by reading this book, that my imperfect effort is enough. What I have to offer, it’s going to be enough, and that it’s better to fumble on my way through, then to not offer anything at all.” - Dana Robb

Christy by Catherine Marshall

Multipliers by Liz Wiseman

Monica Anderson married her high school sweetheart. They have 3 children together, girl, boy, girl. She loves to spend time with her family and friends. She also loves working with animals, especially dogs and cats. She is continuing her education to gain more wisdom and knowledge so she can share that with others through teaching, mentoring, or discussions. This last passion is actually a new found love when she decided to invest in herself and took a Mission Driven Mom class. Monica is naturally happy, positive, courteous, and helpful. That being said, she also suffered greatly from victim mentality. She learned about many great tools to help her to be a better person for herself and those around her. Ironically enough one of the books required for the course was Christy. She fell in love with this book!

Whenever Dana Robb is presented with the opportunity for adventure, she is all in. Currently, this includes riding the local mountain biking trails with her husband, canyoneering, and climbing the hills of southern Utah. She loves to learn and explore with her six kids. She is drawn to the opportunities being involved with Big Ocean Women provides. Dana loves connecting to a global sisterhood where women’s issues are being addressed through reframing and an abundance mindset.

Shelli Spotts is an advocacy writer and creative writing teacher. She loves to spend time with her husband (usually in the garden) and their four almost adult children. She also loves to sew, to read, to write, and to drag her family outside to look at the sky. Shelli is passionate about poetry, Broadway show tunes, and telling stories—of ourselves, our families, and our communities.