Over the last twenty years, I have delved into deeper, more ancient understandings of the Christian journey, wandering in and out of an eclectic mainstream of traditions while steering firmly from my own tribal barque. The cross-cultural backwaters of orthodoxy, medieval contemplative mystics, holistic Celtic fervour, spiritual direction, the beauty of some sacred textual translationsContinue reading “Lenten Voices: Synchronicity”
Category Archives: books
Vocational Wisdom
My peers agreed it would be an excellent focus for our small discussion group – Living the Questions: Essays Inspired by the Work and Life of Parker J. Palmer, Sam M. Intrator (ed.), (Jossey-Bass, 2005). I had not previously heard of Parker J Palmer, but was attracted to his deliciously alliterative name. Google led me to discoverContinue reading “Vocational Wisdom”
A Dangerous Method and Synchronicities
As long suffering readers of this blog may know, I am fascinated with synchronicities (aka “co-incidences”), so off I hied myself to see “A Dangerous Method“, a movie on the early professional life of the guru of synchronicity, Dr Carl Jung. I found the movie somewhat dis-satisfying, although I appreciated the exploration of his relationshipContinue reading “A Dangerous Method and Synchronicities”
Alain de Botton’s pastoral atheism – Eureka Street
Alain de Botton’s pastoral atheism – Eureka Street. I’ve not read Alain de Botton’s Religion for Atheists, but I find this review fascinating, as I have observed this “pull” for meaningful ritual amongst many of my “post faith” friends. Some are able to articulate along the lines suggested in the review – that community, ritesContinue reading “Alain de Botton’s pastoral atheism – Eureka Street”
If Dickens were alive today – Eureka Street
I know there are still Charles Dickens fans out there. The blogosphere, Facebook and Twitter have been quietly partying on the 200th anniversary of his birth. The local newspaper contemporised some of his more memorable characters – Miss Haversham, Fagin, the Artful Dodger. And now this thoughtful reflection that ponders a space/time transplant of thisContinue reading “If Dickens were alive today – Eureka Street”
A Thousand Splendid Suns – a book review
This morning brings the news of a Taliban raid on an international hotel in Kabul. Innocent lives lost have added to the growing tally that amounts to the tortuous agony of Afghanistan. It takes a book like A Thousand Splendid Suns, however, to reveal the complexities of a society that lives with violence almost everyContinue reading “A Thousand Splendid Suns – a book review”
Red Letter Christians » Love Wins: Rob Bell and the New Calvinists
A controversial book of the moment before it is even released is “Love Wins: a book about heaven, hell and the fate of every person who ever lived” by Rob Bell. Apparently it is creating a storm amongst the leading lights of the “emergent ” part of the Christian spectrum, with some condemning what theyContinue reading “Red Letter Christians » Love Wins: Rob Bell and the New Calvinists”
Thirteen Moons: a book review
My regrets at not inquiring more closely when I traveled through Cherokee country in 2008 were compounded when reading this novel by Charles Frazier. His protagonist is Will Cooper, all but abandoned as an orphan at the age of 12. In his role as a bound boy running a remote trading post, Will finds himself adopted by the fading remnants ofContinue reading “Thirteen Moons: a book review”
Just bought Don Watson’s new title, Bendable Learnings (Random House). Watson continues his crusade against the pervasive lingo of modern management speak. He’s at his best when he’s poking fun at it. Humour is often the most effective instrument for bursting bubbles of hubris, pomposity and camouflage that uses faux competence to hide mediocrity. I wonderContinue reading
Some books I’ve been reading…
Here’s two I’ve managed to complete in the Christmas New Year lull… The other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson (Chatto & Windus, London, 2006) The tragic outcomes of sibling rivalry span two generations in a remote Canadian farming community – not too remote to be unaffected by unfolding world events such as theContinue reading “Some books I’ve been reading…”
Wondering Pilgrim 