The
second book in this series continues with the same framework – a
contemporary setting prompting the telling of a story from medieval
times.
The
stories again have moral messages for contemporary readers. One tells
of a debate called by an Augustinian Prior to determine whether God's
justice or love is the greater attribute. We learn of an ulterior
motive to the whole event. Another is about friendship. “A friend
is someone who helps you persevere.” (48)
There
are little lessons embedded in both the contemporary and medieval
stories. For example, one of the daughters in the contemporary family
must visit a doctor. In the waiting room, they see a doctor
misunderstand a young girl. Our narrator catches the misunderstanding
and gives her daughter a lesson. Understanding is something very
different from knowledge. One must listen to the wisdom of life to
gain that understanding. “They can't teach you that at university,
or medical school...” (82)
This
is another interesting book in the series. I found the stories from
the monastery entertaining as well as instructive, each one yielding
a lesson in life. One learns more about life in a medieval monastery
too.
Penelope
Wilcock is a full-time writer and former Methodist minister, prison
and hospice chaplain. She lives in Hastings on England's south coast
with her family. You can follow her popular blog, Kindred
of the Quiet Way, here.
Lion Hudson (distributed in the U. S. by Kregel), 187 pages.
I
received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the
purpose of an independent and honest review.
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