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Brokenness & Blessing: Towards a Biblical Spirituality

Author:	Frances M Young
Published By:	Darton, Longman and Todd (London)
Pages:	144
Price:	10.99
ISBN:	978 0 232 52656

Reviewed by Alun Brookfield.

This book is the published form of Frances Young's Sarum Theological Lectures for 2004. With that information of the front cover, I proceeded with caution. I was made even more cautious by the subtitle "Towards a Biblical Spirituality" which seemed to contain more than a suggestion that no-one had actually tried to develop such a spirituality previously.

I need not have worried. The lectures are a heart-warming struggle with the connection between "a realistic view of the human condition" (as experienced in the health struggles of the author's family during the writing of the book) "and the wonderful gift of grace which brings hope of transformation. It is this conversion of heart which constitutes the purpose of Scripture" (p.2). In particular, this book focuses on the interpretation of Scripture by the ancient fathers of the church.

Chapter 1 describes and addresses "the desert experience". The Exodus motif features strongly in this chapter as the author recognises that the desert is a normal part of the spiritual journey from slavery to the Promised Land.

Chapter 2 focuses on Jacob's wrestling with God by the brook Jabbok, a strange story which is open to a wide range of understandings and misunderstandings. Having explored some of these, Young seeks for modern analogies of the struggle between Jacob and his opponent. The protagonists include: atheism and modernity struggling with the concept of God; religious language struggling with the 'otherness' of God; creation struggling with its relationship to its creator; the struggle between spirituality and disempowerment.

The next chapter explores what the Fathers understood as following the way of Jesus. Were the Fathers interested in the Jesus of history? Yes, but not for the same reasons as we are. Their interests were for reasons of opposing heresy, apologetics, the exemplary aspects of Jesus' life and for the teaching of dogmatics.

The fourth chapter develops the theme of "Strangers and Exiles", exploring the idea of the city of God, citizenship of heaven.

Finally the author addresses the theme of "Desire Frustrated and Fulfilled", the idea of the Church as the Bride of Christ, always longing for the fulfilment of the relationship, always longing to rest in the arms of the Bridegroom.

I found this book intensely moving, especially so because its writing seemed to coincide with the author's own spiritual journey in dealing with the health problems of her husband, son and mother. I commend it as an excellent resource for a five day retreat. Read a chapter, then do nothing else for the rest of the day - just let it ferment in your soul.