Monday, October 17, 2016

A Day and a Life by Penelope Wilcock



A Day and a Life is yet another thought-provoking glimpse at the sanctifying process of being a monk. Central to the story are two young brothers at St. Alcuin's monastery. Brother Cedd and Brother Colin are plagued with feelings of self doubt wondering if they will ever find the place that God has for them in the community.

Wilcock is a master storyteller, creating the most vivid and poignant images of daily monastic life. We often think of the cross we bear to be something huge like grappling with an illness, mourning the loss of a loved one, or facing persecution.  But in A Day and a Life, the brothers learn instead that a cross may merely be learning how to tolerate and patiently withstand the quirky, petty differences among them that can wear on a man's nerves and drive him to distraction.

Only in learning to love and accept the unique weaknesses and frailties of others, can a man truly live in peace with Christ. Learning deep lessons alongside Wilcock's characters, the reader will be forced to examine their own life and appreciate the forbearance others show toward our own annoyances.

When you really think about it, how does God even tolerate us?  Such a fickle, shallow, slow to learn people? I love the picture of Abbot John who has learned to love and encourage his novices as a result of the suffering he has experienced himself.

Escape to the medieval world of St. Alcuin's.  How much our world could learn from the beautiful example of the Brothers in A Day and a Life.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of A Day and a Life from Kregel Publications for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

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