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In this episode of Speaking of Faith, Bishop DeDe invites listeners into a powerful reflection on fear, grief, justice, and courage—and what it means to speak truth to power when the stakes feel high. Drawing on the image of “shouting down the bear,” Bishop DeDe names the reality that fear is often loud, intimidating, and paralyzing—but faith calls us not to retreat, but to speak, pray, and act anyway.

The conversation explores how faith shows up in moments of grief and uncertainty, particularly when injustice feels overwhelming. Bishop DeDe reflects on the necessity of grounding ourselves in prayer first, allowing grief to teach us rather than harden us, and then finding the courage to speak honestly and act faithfully in the world.

Central to this episode is the call to rehumanize one another, especially those we disagree with. Language matters. When we dehumanize others, we cut ourselves off from empathy, compassion, and the ability to see Christ in every person. True repentance, Bishop DeDe reminds us, is not about shame or self-flagellation—it is about changing our minds and hearts so we can live differently going forward.

This episode challenges listeners to consider how faith shapes not only what we believe, but how we respond to fear, injustice, and one another. Shouting down the bear is not about winning an argument or being right—it’s about becoming holy, faithful people who trust that God’s strength meets us when we act with courage and compassion.

Key Themes & Takeaways

• We are called to pray first, then speak, then act
• Grief can open us to deeper understanding rather than closing us off
• Speaking honestly about faith can foster mutual understanding
• Repentance means changing our minds and choosing a new way forward
• Our Baptismal Covenant calls us to seek and serve Christ in all persons
• Dehumanizing language prevents empathy and healing
• Compassion is essential when addressing injustice
• Justice and dignity must always go hand in hand
• Faith gives us strength to face fear and speak truth
• It’s not about being right—it’s about becoming holy

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time,  many of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.