MEDS for Biblical Scholars

podcastOPTalks2023 Highlights
Written By Open Plaza

Rev. Joanne Rodríguez talks to Dr. Ahida (Calderón) Pilarski about Meditation, Exercise, Diet, and Sleep—the four foundational pillars for wellness and personal development

HTI Open Plaza logo element (background) superimposed with icons representing the concept of MEDS (Meditation, Exercise, Diet, and Sleep) coined by personal-development coach Brendon Burchard. Image: HTI Open Plaza

 
 

In this episode of OP Talks, Rev. Joanne Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI), speaks to Dr. Ahida (Calderón) Pilarski, Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew Bible at Saint Anselm College, discuss MEDS–Meditation, Exercise, Diet, & Sleep. The acronym was coined by personal-development coach and New York Times bestselling author Brendon Burchard.

Dr. Pilarski’s research focuses on the intersection of culture and gender in biblical interpretation, especially in Latina and Mujerista Biblical Hermeneutics. MEDS became a helpful tool for Dr. Pilarski as she began prioritizing her health amidst all her commitments and scholarly service to empower Latine (and Latina) communities. Creating a work-life balance has been essential to upholding her mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. Implementing habits that fall under each of the categories for MEDS has improved Dr. Pilarski’s quality of life tremendously, allowing her to have the energy and joy she needs in order to continue her vital work. 

This conversation illustrates a holistic approach to personal health and development through a Christian biblical lens: In order to love God and your neighbor, Dr. Pilarski asserts, “you need to love yourself first.”

 
Featured
Ahida (Calderón) Pilarski

Dr. Ahida (Calderón) Pilarski is Professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at Saint Anselm College (NH). Her research focuses on the intersection of culture and gender in biblical interpretation, especially in Latina and Mujerista Biblical Hermeneutics. Her scholarly service to empower Latine (and Latina) communities includes, among others, being a member of the Editorial Board of the Wisdom Commentary Series (WCS), a member of the Steering Committee of HTI (Hispanic Theological Initiative), a member of the Committee for Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the Profession at SBL (Society of Biblical Literature), a member of the Advisory Committee of Raíces Latinas at Boston University School of Theology, and the honor of having taught so far three courses at the HSP (Hispanic Summer Program). In June of 2022, she was elected Vice President of ACHTUS (Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States).

She holds a BA in Theology from the Facultad de Teología Pontificia y Civil de Lima (Perú); an MA in Old Testament from Catholic Theological Union; a ThM in Old and New Testaments from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago; an MLA from The University of Chicago; and a PhD in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Dr. Pilarski has published many papers on the prophets, lamentations, migration, Latine and Latin American biblical hermeneutics, decolonial thinking and the Global South, and feminist critical inquiry. She has edited or co-edited Daughters of Wisdom: Women and Leadership in the Global Church (Wipf and Stock, 2023); 2 Kings [Wisdom Commentary Series] (Liturgical Press, 2019); Judges [Wisdom Commentary Series] (Liturgical Press, 2018); By Bread Alone: Reading the Bible through the Eyes of the Hungry (Fortress Press, 2014), and Pentateuco: Introducción al Antiguo Testamento/La Biblia Hebrea en Perspectiva Latinoamericana (Editorial Verbo Divino, 2014).

Featured
Joanne Rodríguez

Rev. Dr. Joanne Rodríguez is Executive Director of the Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI) and an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church USA. Since 1999, Rev. Dr. Rodríguez has collaborated with students, faculty, deans, presidents, and directors of non-profit educational programs to ensure that HTI doctoral students graduate as influential leaders in theological and religious education and the broader educational landscape. She holds an honorary doctorate from the Iliff School of Theology, where she served as the Commencement Speaker for the class of 2024. She also earned ThM and MDiv degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and a BA from Pace University. The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) recognized her contributions with a 2024 Women in Leadership Trailblazer Award. Additionally, Rev. Dr. Rodríguez is a teaching elder at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Trenton, New Jersey.

 
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