I am beyond pleased to announce the pressing of the ‘publish’ button for my first book ‘Climbing the Ancient Hills’ on 24th November 2021. Though I kept it quiet (I thought) the first copies zipped their way over the digital highway to take up residence in their new Kindle-based homes. The paperback was hatched some two weeks later on the 9th December.
Seeing it on Kindle was one thing, but holding in your hands the first copy of a book that you have written left me feeling is a sober and humble. Sober because there is a part, actually a big part, of me that simply cannot believe that it has happened – or more accurately that I have made it happen.
I vividly remember a time sitting in Neros in Enfield typing up a section of the dissertation on which the book is based. It one was one of those ‘wow’ moments that theology creates, though I cannot bring to mind exactly what triggered this specific wow. No matter. As I sat there, with literal waves rippling in the core of my being, a thought popped into my head – ‘this would make a good book’. I sat on that thought for a long time.
In December 2016 I submitted my dissertation, the result of some two years of work. A few days latter I got my feedback. Burried in this was a line suggesting that I consider getting my work published. I still wonder about this – were the people who marked my work being super nice to me? Or were they serious? I mean, feedback on a MA paper is not really the place that you say things that you do not really mean is it? I sat on that thought for some time as well.
To Publish – for People like me?
I explored getting it published in a journal, but put that on pause – I do not really know why – somehow it just did not seem the way to go. But an idea was planted, and soon it started to poke its head up above the soil. What about trying to bring some of this life giving, ancient teaching, to christians like me? Comitted, evangelical, protestant, thinkers – but spiritualy tired, disappointed and in need of an infusion of life. Those whose shoulders are pinned into submission – the wrestling confused. Those who think ‘there must be more than this’.
And so I set out to use my personal story, and set some of my experiences to the music of Saint Gregory of Nyssa’s understanding of the Divine. I wanted to demystify his writing, taking his complex ideas and making them available for people to relate to. A huge task, at times overwheling, but one that I would not have missed for the world.
The writing of this book involved standing on the shoulders of many great spiritual thinkers. I am humbled that I was introduced to the Fathers, that I was guided to consider this ancient teaching. I am humbled to take their work and to dare to add my own reflections to their understanding. Through their writings I have continued my ascent towards union with Christ, and for this I am thankful.
Glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who was, and is, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Chameleon photo by Parikshit Dholariya from Pexels