The table of contents names the chapters well, and this well presented book is offered with intriguing questions and statements: “The Passion of My God,” “The Shadow of the Flesh,” “End Without End,” The Clamor of the Heart.” If it were not for the clarity of the writing, one would think there is a denseness to the text that thwarts an intelligent lay man or woman. Not so, for though there is a sense of mystery about the book, there is more greatly so a sustained exposition.
Many of the thoughts presented in this book will be familiar to the Christian reader, nonetheless by the authority of the figure who is author, and by the tone of the writing, clarification and consideration is evident. “The whole notion of a God who is ‘productive,’ free to create a world to which he can communicate something of himself, depends upon conceiving God’s intrinsic life as generative of relationship.” This sample of reason is helpful, and solid stuff. I like to hear it said.
In our world there is for us humankind, “…an eternal actuality…” Here again, just a few words, but words one can take and think about, and hang onto. In discussing Saint Augustine, as Rowan Williams does other historic Christian thinkers, for when this Augustine concept is used, we get the light of spirituality: “…the never ceasing pilgrimage of the heart or spirit …” we know that the Archbishop is a man who believes well what he writes: “The heart does not look for an easy stability…”
The book is, “…an introduction to the ways in which a succession of Christian saints lies in their readiness…to articulate their vision of the Christian calling…”
I like this quote from the Chapter, “The Sign of the Son of Man.” It ends the chapter