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Scandalon: Running From Shame and Finding God's Scandalous Love
Running from scandal -- in her family, church and community life -- Susan moves from California to China. At first, the adventure of experiencing an exotic culture brings the escape she craves. Gradually, as the layers of mystery and reserve fall away, she gets to know her new Chinese friends on deeper levels. At the same time the self-protective layers around her own heart peel back painfully, exposing her inner brokenness. In this vivid and transparent memoir, Susan takes us on a fascinating journey into the streets and homes of modern China. The travel memoir is interspersed with Susan's personal story of emotional and spiritual sabotage, shame, and shattered dreams. It all comes together as she opens her heart anew to God's love -- the most scandalous love of all.
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 18, 2009
Have you thought what it would like to get to know, work with the people in China, and live with them? Have you wondered what it would be like to grow up in a minister’s family? Susan Elaine Jenkins paints an insightful and sobering picture that answers these questions in her masterful memoir, “Scandalon: Running From Shame and Finding God's Scandalous Love.“
As I read the book her narrative format had me feeling like I was sitting in a recliner with a cup of coffee and she was sitting across the room telling me her story of how not just one, but a series of scandals hit her life. Some of events were self-inflicted. Other events were of someone else’s making. I found a bit of myself and my struggles as I read her story. Her writing and story were so interesting I didn’t want to put the book down! Yet, I feared I would read it too fast. I love the way her personality permeates the book.
In 1980, after three years of teaching in the USA in a private school (and saving her money) Susan made a trip to China. It was part of a gift she gave herself - a trip around the world. It was a prelude. In 1997 Susan accepted a two year teaching position in Tianjin, China. She would remain in China.
Susan employs a wonderful method of telling of her adventures in China with reflections on what took place in her earlier life in the USA. The transition between the USA story and the China story is via a short statement of spiritual truth or insight. It is these earlier events in the USA that lead to her seeking refuge half way around the world. We see God’s handiwork in her life. We see her improving her language skills, her understanding of the Chinese culture, and how her American culture sometimes exasperated her Chinese friends, especially Ouyang. We reflect back on her life adventure that includes how she was used and mistreated by those in positions of authority over her and learned he had previously mistreated others. We also see how she survived!
Susan stories range from hilarious to tear inducing. I have two favorites. First, the story about her being invited back stage in Hawaii to meet Don Ho. Her parents encourage her to go. Don Ho wanted to do more than meet her. I could feel the confusion she felt from her parents encouraging her into such a situation. I wanted to take her dad aside and say you are supposed to protect your daughter! Second is the story at the Friendship Store of the two broken vases and how Susan came to the rescue of the Chinese couple. She demanded they not have to pay for the broken vase since she didn’t have to pay for one she broke a week earlier. We learn how the Chinese have two sets of rules – one for foreigners and one for other Chinese. I could feel the compassion and empathy Susan has for others.
The book is a good read and would be a valuable addition to all community and church libraries. It would also be a good study book for women’s group and even for counseling. It gives a realistic insight into the struggles we all face. The book gives answers about Chinese culture, running and finding God and finding one’s self.
As I read the book her narrative format had me feeling like I was sitting in a recliner with a cup of coffee and she was sitting across the room telling me her story of how not just one, but a series of scandals hit her life. Some of events were self-inflicted. Other events were of someone else’s making. I found a bit of myself and my struggles as I read her story. Her writing and story were so interesting I didn’t want to put the book down! Yet, I feared I would read it too fast. I love the way her personality permeates the book.
In 1980, after three years of teaching in the USA in a private school (and saving her money) Susan made a trip to China. It was part of a gift she gave herself - a trip around the world. It was a prelude. In 1997 Susan accepted a two year teaching position in Tianjin, China. She would remain in China.
Susan employs a wonderful method of telling of her adventures in China with reflections on what took place in her earlier life in the USA. The transition between the USA story and the China story is via a short statement of spiritual truth or insight. It is these earlier events in the USA that lead to her seeking refuge half way around the world. We see God’s handiwork in her life. We see her improving her language skills, her understanding of the Chinese culture, and how her American culture sometimes exasperated her Chinese friends, especially Ouyang. We reflect back on her life adventure that includes how she was used and mistreated by those in positions of authority over her and learned he had previously mistreated others. We also see how she survived!
Susan stories range from hilarious to tear inducing. I have two favorites. First, the story about her being invited back stage in Hawaii to meet Don Ho. Her parents encourage her to go. Don Ho wanted to do more than meet her. I could feel the confusion she felt from her parents encouraging her into such a situation. I wanted to take her dad aside and say you are supposed to protect your daughter! Second is the story at the Friendship Store of the two broken vases and how Susan came to the rescue of the Chinese couple. She demanded they not have to pay for the broken vase since she didn’t have to pay for one she broke a week earlier. We learn how the Chinese have two sets of rules – one for foreigners and one for other Chinese. I could feel the compassion and empathy Susan has for others.
The book is a good read and would be a valuable addition to all community and church libraries. It would also be a good study book for women’s group and even for counseling. It gives a realistic insight into the struggles we all face. The book gives answers about Chinese culture, running and finding God and finding one’s self.
September 8, 2009
An excellent memoir that pulls you along like a novel. Instead of chapters, the author inserts small italicized comments that I call whispers from God.
April 25, 2012
One cannot judge another to be good either.. What a hard lesson to learn.
Never judge another.. lest you find out the hard way.. sometimes.. that means to not to judge them GOOD, either. Only God knows a person's heart.. their soul.. and whether or not.. they're soul is dark.
The author has written a book that is SO needed these days.
Folks always watch the public confession and begging of forgiveness... of the high and mighty who's sins finally catch up with them.. as it always seems to be on some late-night television news channel. But, does anyone think about the lives of the victims that these men of the cloth have harmed? Does anyone know the REAL torment that happens when you have a person of faith, a church leader.. who will use their standing in their church for sexual perversions?
We have been taught to not speak of sex. And, oh lordy, lordy if you dare speak of sex and God in the same sentence. It's taboo. It's forbidden. It's happening every single day.. and no one is talking about the REAL victims of the church.
Where does one escape.. when they are being judged by others?? Where does one find their relationship with God again? Where does one learn to forgive themselves? Where does one go.. when your whole world is collapsing? Where does one escape when their congregation turns on them.. for "allowing" the perversion. Where does one go.. when your long-time friends and acquaintances ask you to come to dinner.. and then tell you why.. they don't EVER want you to grace their home again.. because YOU are the sinner. Where does one go?
'Scandalon: Running from Shame and Finding God's Scandalous Love' by Susan Jenkins.
Is a must read book. May you read of her journey of happiness, pain, anguish, and LOVE.. and learn to NOT judge.. Do not judge any person good.. nor bad. The only one who has that chore of judging us.. is God.
Susan escaped to a China.. a place that was also coming out of it's own cocoon. Together.. with all of the beautiful people that she shares her life with.. you will accompany her upon this strange journey.. that ends.. with finding God's love!
Never judge another.. lest you find out the hard way.. sometimes.. that means to not to judge them GOOD, either. Only God knows a person's heart.. their soul.. and whether or not.. they're soul is dark.
The author has written a book that is SO needed these days.
Folks always watch the public confession and begging of forgiveness... of the high and mighty who's sins finally catch up with them.. as it always seems to be on some late-night television news channel. But, does anyone think about the lives of the victims that these men of the cloth have harmed? Does anyone know the REAL torment that happens when you have a person of faith, a church leader.. who will use their standing in their church for sexual perversions?
We have been taught to not speak of sex. And, oh lordy, lordy if you dare speak of sex and God in the same sentence. It's taboo. It's forbidden. It's happening every single day.. and no one is talking about the REAL victims of the church.
Where does one escape.. when they are being judged by others?? Where does one find their relationship with God again? Where does one learn to forgive themselves? Where does one go.. when your whole world is collapsing? Where does one escape when their congregation turns on them.. for "allowing" the perversion. Where does one go.. when your long-time friends and acquaintances ask you to come to dinner.. and then tell you why.. they don't EVER want you to grace their home again.. because YOU are the sinner. Where does one go?
'Scandalon: Running from Shame and Finding God's Scandalous Love' by Susan Jenkins.
Is a must read book. May you read of her journey of happiness, pain, anguish, and LOVE.. and learn to NOT judge.. Do not judge any person good.. nor bad. The only one who has that chore of judging us.. is God.
Susan escaped to a China.. a place that was also coming out of it's own cocoon. Together.. with all of the beautiful people that she shares her life with.. you will accompany her upon this strange journey.. that ends.. with finding God's love!
December 6, 2011
Words like stimulating; culturally diverse, spiritually intuitive, enlightening, illuminating-- all describe the work of a gifted author-- Susan Jenkins. She states “When the splendid becomes splintered and the glorious becomes gauntleted, there will still be a garden filled with astonishing brilliance hidden somewhere.”
Scandalon is rich in its account of pain and triumph, confusion and clarity. This truthful and honest depiction of humanness is beautifully illustrated in an enthralling story, that touches the very depth of the heart .
Scandalon unfolds the tapestry of life in scriptural principals, illustrating the multifaceted complexities of the human experience and weaves a portrait of cultural diversity and international history which is only manifest to an insider.
May God use Ms. Jenkins personal journey of character, heart and soul to reach and restore, revive and rescue, resolve and repair, replenish and release, renew and revitalize its readers into the next phase of their life’s journey.
As I read Scandalon, a scripture kept coming to mind “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” I thank God for allowing Susan to share her way of escape.
Scandalon is rich in its account of pain and triumph, confusion and clarity. This truthful and honest depiction of humanness is beautifully illustrated in an enthralling story, that touches the very depth of the heart .
Scandalon unfolds the tapestry of life in scriptural principals, illustrating the multifaceted complexities of the human experience and weaves a portrait of cultural diversity and international history which is only manifest to an insider.
May God use Ms. Jenkins personal journey of character, heart and soul to reach and restore, revive and rescue, resolve and repair, replenish and release, renew and revitalize its readers into the next phase of their life’s journey.
As I read Scandalon, a scripture kept coming to mind “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” I thank God for allowing Susan to share her way of escape.
May 16, 2010
Susan Jenkins' juxtaposition of her present-day life in China with her childhood as a minister's daughter in the Bay Area is refreshing and candid. She creates a sense of her reverie about past events as she emotionally processes a clergy-abuse situation that affected her deeply. Although our religious beliefs may differ, I found Jenkins' invitation into her world inclusive and compelling.
October 28, 2018
A vulnerable telling of a story that took the author across the world to heal. The interweaving of story and culture was a delight to read despite the sad story of betrayal. A brave telling, long before the #MeToo movement!
September 23, 2020
Some may find the switching back and forth between locations and even eras a little disorienting, but in time, it becomes clear that this process mirrors the healing process that the author undergoes to move forward from the trauma she experiences. There were time when I thought chapter divisions might have been helpful, but overall, the story did unfold logically.
Most striking about Ms. Jenkins' work, though, is her absolute mastery of detail. She gilds her times and places and thoughts with lush, vivid, exquisite detail. You can taste the food in China, intensely feel the awkwardness of culture clash and the joy of spiritual awakening. You are there.
Join Ms. Jenkins on her spiritual journey. Your reading time will be richly rewarded.
Melissa Leedom
Author, To Forive, Divine
Most striking about Ms. Jenkins' work, though, is her absolute mastery of detail. She gilds her times and places and thoughts with lush, vivid, exquisite detail. You can taste the food in China, intensely feel the awkwardness of culture clash and the joy of spiritual awakening. You are there.
Join Ms. Jenkins on her spiritual journey. Your reading time will be richly rewarded.
Melissa Leedom
Author, To Forive, Divine
November 19, 2020
Some may find the switching back and forth between locations and even eras a little disorienting, but in time, it becomes clear that this process mirrors the healing process that the author undergoes to move forward from the trauma she experiences. There were times when I thought chapter divisions might have been helpful, but overall, the story did unfold logically.
Most striking about Ms. Jenkins' work, though, is her absolute mastery of detail. She gilds her times and places and thoughts with lush, vivid, exquisite detail. You can taste the food in China, intensely feel the awkwardness of culture clash and the joy of spiritual awakening. You are there.
Join Ms. Jenkins on her spiritual journey. Your reading time will be richly rewarded.
Most striking about Ms. Jenkins' work, though, is her absolute mastery of detail. She gilds her times and places and thoughts with lush, vivid, exquisite detail. You can taste the food in China, intensely feel the awkwardness of culture clash and the joy of spiritual awakening. You are there.
Join Ms. Jenkins on her spiritual journey. Your reading time will be richly rewarded.
August 12, 2013
I really didn't like this book at the beginning. I stuck with it, and liked it at the end, but I fear most readers wouldn't do that.
I didn't like it because
1) It felt like bait and switch. She had this scandal that wasn't even mentioned for a while. Then a character is introduced, and you have some kind of idea what's coming, but then nothing is mentioned about it until quite a bit later.
2) The tone didn't match. The part about her life in America, the build up and setting the stage, felt very personal, like I was sitting across the table from the author. Then it would switch over to China, which felt like a very factual unemotional retelling of that season. The tone changed later, and she was more emotionally involved in the China storytelling, but at first, it felt like she was repeating the story of a person she had never met. Unemotional.
3) The switching back and forth between these two periods of the author's life drove me crazy. I know in some stories it works, but here it didn't. I think it was because, especially at the beginning, there was seemingly no connection between these two chapters of her life, nor did she try to connect with parallels or an attempt at discovering meaning.
In the end, the things I wanted from the book came about. But I had to wait an awfully long time with no promise that it would happen.
I do admire the author for where she's been and where she's come. This book does paint a portrait of grace.
I didn't like it because
1) It felt like bait and switch. She had this scandal that wasn't even mentioned for a while. Then a character is introduced, and you have some kind of idea what's coming, but then nothing is mentioned about it until quite a bit later.
2) The tone didn't match. The part about her life in America, the build up and setting the stage, felt very personal, like I was sitting across the table from the author. Then it would switch over to China, which felt like a very factual unemotional retelling of that season. The tone changed later, and she was more emotionally involved in the China storytelling, but at first, it felt like she was repeating the story of a person she had never met. Unemotional.
3) The switching back and forth between these two periods of the author's life drove me crazy. I know in some stories it works, but here it didn't. I think it was because, especially at the beginning, there was seemingly no connection between these two chapters of her life, nor did she try to connect with parallels or an attempt at discovering meaning.
In the end, the things I wanted from the book came about. But I had to wait an awfully long time with no promise that it would happen.
I do admire the author for where she's been and where she's come. This book does paint a portrait of grace.
October 12, 2013
Susan Elaine Jenkins accepts a 2-year position teaching in China. Fourteen years later, she remains there. Having grown up in California, the daughter of a pastor turned gambling addict, surviving a marriage in which intimacy is rare, and violence is not, and then victimized by the pastor she respected, there were many scandalous scars packed up in the suitcase when she boarded that airplane. Fortunately for us, she kept many journals of her experiences. It is those journals that would become this book.
In Scandalon, Susan interweaves her stories of scandal with the culture of the Chinese people she encounters. During her time in China, she is able to peel back the layers of pain, guilt, shame, and anger to reveal a relationship with God that has sustained her all along, even when she didn't feel Him.
You will feel many emotions while reading this book. My own ranged from anger to sorrow to sadness and back to anger. And finally to joy. I shed tears. Real tears. Several times.
The author is candid in her descriptions of the happenings in her life, without being terribly graphic. The subject matter is very much adult in theme, however. It is for that reason, I would not recommend it for teenage girls.
This book will have great appeal to anyone who has suffered greatly at the hands of the world and found love and forgiveness in the arms of a God who never leaves us. And who of us doesn't fit that description?
In Scandalon, Susan interweaves her stories of scandal with the culture of the Chinese people she encounters. During her time in China, she is able to peel back the layers of pain, guilt, shame, and anger to reveal a relationship with God that has sustained her all along, even when she didn't feel Him.
You will feel many emotions while reading this book. My own ranged from anger to sorrow to sadness and back to anger. And finally to joy. I shed tears. Real tears. Several times.
The author is candid in her descriptions of the happenings in her life, without being terribly graphic. The subject matter is very much adult in theme, however. It is for that reason, I would not recommend it for teenage girls.
This book will have great appeal to anyone who has suffered greatly at the hands of the world and found love and forgiveness in the arms of a God who never leaves us. And who of us doesn't fit that description?
January 14, 2014
I loved this book. Read it!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews