Premium Members Get 10% Off and Earn Rewards Find Out More
Seeing in the Dark: Pastoral perspectives on suffering from the Christian spiritual tradition
Life is joyful, beautiful and a rich blessing, but also difficult, painful and mysterious. This profound and practical book looks at how the Christian spiritual tradition has tried to understand the part suffering plays within human growth and our experience of God. Suffering can ask questions of us and impel us to live for what is really important – it can also diminish us and stunt our growth. What makes the difference? This book helps all engaged in pastoral care or spiritual direction explore that question for themselves and with others. From Julian of Norwich gazing at Christ entering the depths of our difficulty, to the terrors of the ‘dark night of the soul’ experienced by St John of the Cross, to the poets George Herbert and Gerard Manley Hopkins who, like Jacob, wrestled with God, this rich book helps us see that even in a desolate and trackless wasteland, we are in the company of pilgrims across time and can glimpse a hidden Promised Land. Through these different windows we are encouraged not to cling to suffering, nor to flee from its threat, but to discover within it the work of a resourceful, creative and compassionate God.
1114031408
Seeing in the Dark: Pastoral perspectives on suffering from the Christian spiritual tradition
Life is joyful, beautiful and a rich blessing, but also difficult, painful and mysterious. This profound and practical book looks at how the Christian spiritual tradition has tried to understand the part suffering plays within human growth and our experience of God. Suffering can ask questions of us and impel us to live for what is really important – it can also diminish us and stunt our growth. What makes the difference? This book helps all engaged in pastoral care or spiritual direction explore that question for themselves and with others. From Julian of Norwich gazing at Christ entering the depths of our difficulty, to the terrors of the ‘dark night of the soul’ experienced by St John of the Cross, to the poets George Herbert and Gerard Manley Hopkins who, like Jacob, wrestled with God, this rich book helps us see that even in a desolate and trackless wasteland, we are in the company of pilgrims across time and can glimpse a hidden Promised Land. Through these different windows we are encouraged not to cling to suffering, nor to flee from its threat, but to discover within it the work of a resourceful, creative and compassionate God.
26.99 In Stock
Seeing in the Dark: Pastoral perspectives on suffering from the Christian spiritual tradition

Seeing in the Dark: Pastoral perspectives on suffering from the Christian spiritual tradition

by Christopher Chapman
Seeing in the Dark: Pastoral perspectives on suffering from the Christian spiritual tradition

Seeing in the Dark: Pastoral perspectives on suffering from the Christian spiritual tradition

by Christopher Chapman

Overview

Life is joyful, beautiful and a rich blessing, but also difficult, painful and mysterious. This profound and practical book looks at how the Christian spiritual tradition has tried to understand the part suffering plays within human growth and our experience of God. Suffering can ask questions of us and impel us to live for what is really important – it can also diminish us and stunt our growth. What makes the difference? This book helps all engaged in pastoral care or spiritual direction explore that question for themselves and with others. From Julian of Norwich gazing at Christ entering the depths of our difficulty, to the terrors of the ‘dark night of the soul’ experienced by St John of the Cross, to the poets George Herbert and Gerard Manley Hopkins who, like Jacob, wrestled with God, this rich book helps us see that even in a desolate and trackless wasteland, we are in the company of pilgrims across time and can glimpse a hidden Promised Land. Through these different windows we are encouraged not to cling to suffering, nor to flee from its threat, but to discover within it the work of a resourceful, creative and compassionate God.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781848252592
Publisher: Hymns Ancient & Modern
Publication date: 03/25/2013
Pages: 192
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Christopher Chapman has been a spiritual director and retreat leaders for 30 years. Formerly Spiritual Formation Adviser for the Diocese of Southwark, he is an Associate Tutor for St. Augustine’s College of Theology.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ix

Introduction: Can we see in the dark? xi

1 Starting Points: Beliefs and attitudes towards struggle and difficulty 1

2 In Darkness and Secure: John of the Cross and the dark night

3 Jacob Wrestling: Poetry of struggle from Herbert, Hopkins and Hadewijch 34

4 The Hazel in Winter: Hadewijch and the changing seasons of our experience 52

5 Falling Down: Julian of Norwich on the falling and rising of humankind 71

6 A Way in the Wilderness: William Williams on journeying into the unknown 92

7 Out of the Land of the Slave-Drivers: Ignatius of Loyola on the changing moods of the heart 111

8 Meeting and Separation: Simone Weil on the absence and presence of God 132

9 Fruit from the Tree: Etty Hillesum on learning to live well through suffering 154

10 The Support We Need: Some pointers for those who accompany others through suffering 167

11 A Cloud of Witnesses: Some brief biographical notes 175

From the B&N Reads Blog
Page 1 of

Customer Reviews