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Stories and Allegories reflecting on the Fruits of the Spirit
Stories and Allegories reflecting on the Fruits of the Spirit
by Rev Catherine Wood SCL
About the Book
About the Book
When the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Galatia, he encouraged his listeners to turn away from all that is destructive and let God's gentle Spirit flow through their lives. The fruit of that would be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. These stories reflect on each of the fruits of the Spirit, particularly in the light of the growing global awareness of our urgent need for change in order to protect and care for our planet. As our understanding of human consciousness increases, so does the realisation of our profound interconnectedness, and the extent to which we influence one another by our thoughts and actions. Although the challenge of the environmental crisis that we face can feel overwhelming, we are not powerless. Every time we choose the path of love in what we do, how we think, we strengthen the global longing to care for and heal Mother Earth. Centuries ago, Aesop said, 'No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.' The hope is that these stories will contribute to a deepening spiritual awareness of God's compassion for all life on Earth as we nurture and grow our fruits of love, respect and concern.
An Excerpt
An Excerpt
‘Tell me about your childhood,’ said Sophie, as she buttered a third round of toast.
‘I can’t remember anything,’ replied Tom, immediately.
‘Try,’ probed Sophie, gently. ‘Take your time.’
In the peacefulness of Sophie’s caravan, his hands warmly wrapped around another mug of tea, Tom began to tell her about his high-flying father and all the new jobs he had had – better money, each time with a bigger house and car. As Tom went quiet, Sophie asked, ‘and how many times did you lose your home?’
Over the next two days, embraced by the trees and kept company by the wild ones, Tom learned to release the tears he thought he had buried with the lonely boy he had been. Every so often, an ant would scurry over his leg or a winged one would land on his arm. And when a spider, smaller than a pinhead, crawled across his hand, Tom realised that the tears had changed. Held in a moment of awe, he knew that if something that tiny could be alive, then Life itself was vastly bigger than anything imaginable. For all that he had lost and had been trying to recover, he was being shown the way home by all whom he would have made homeless without a thought.
Appreciation for Pips in the Wind
Appreciation for Pips in the Wind
This collection of gentle and powerful stories has a simplicity that speaks to the heart and a depth of spirituality and imagination that will leave readers reflecting long after they have put the book down. Like parables, they use images drawn from the world around us to illustrate deep truths, inviting us to wonder at the intricate beauty of God's creation, the goodness and loving kindness of the Creator, and the healing and redemption that the One who is love so graciously and freely offers, which is the world's hope.
Olivia, Bishop of Reading
"In this beautiful collection of fables Catherine Wood gently reminds us of our deepest connections – with the earth, with all creatures, with each other and with the Source of life which is present in all. They speak of attentiveness, kindness, mercy and healing and open up a world of relationships and interdependence which has been largely lost to our contemporary culture. Facing the approaching catastrophe of climate change and species extinction, we need stories which challenge and surprise our way of looking at ourselves and the world around us. The wisdom held here is a step on the way to recovery from pandemic and to peace with each other and our planet."
– Br. Samuel SSF, Co-author of
'Seeing Differently: Franciscans and Creation'
These are fables and parables that illustrate some of the root deep principles of life lived to the keynote of love. They are populated by animals and humans often in relationship with one another. To see truly one must look with the inner eye of the Spirit; to hear truly one must listen with the inner ear of the Soul. Read and reflect. And enjoy.
Sister Ruth CSC
These stories remind us, because we always need to be reminded, that all creation, without exception, is one whole. As Ephesians 4 also reminds us, there is '... one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.'
Sister Aileen CSC
About me
About me
Catherine began life in England before emigrating with her family to Aotearoa/New Zealand. She was ordained an Anglican priest in the Auckland diocese in 1984, and came back to the UK in 1987 for a year-long Celtic pilgrimage. Having returned to A/NZ, in the early 1990s she was appointed Co-ordinator of Environmental Education for the Auckland diocese, encouraging people to deepen their concern for all God's creation. Alongside that role, she was also the Northern Fieldworker for Christian World Service - the ecumenical Aid and Development agency of the National Council of Churches.
Catherine returned to England permanently in 2001. She was parish priest for Tatsfield and Limpsfield Chart in the Southwark diocese. She then took on the role of prison chaplain - firstly at Latchmere House, and later at Wormwood Scrubs before moving to live and work with the Community of the Sisters of the Church in 2008. In 2015 she made her life vows as a Religious Sister in the Single Consecrated Life.
God's love and compassion for all creation has always been at the heart of Catherine's spiritual life, and she draws particular inspiration from Celtic and creation-centred spirituality and St Francis of Assisi. In different ways, she has been part of the social justice, environmental and animal welfare movements for many years, and experiences God's presence in nature, especially. A lover of all things finned, furred and feathered, she is particularly drawn to giraffes, as they stick their necks out!
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