"The invitation to participate in the adventure of the Kingdom of God is an invitation to human being and human becoming, and saying yes requires me to embrace the truth that crucifixion and resurrection dwell together as I go on becoming the person God created me to be."

I was honestly not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did! I had mentally put this into the box of 'pious Lent/Advent' reflections, light theological reading, of which about 20 are published every year, and as it began I assumed this was the case - but not so.

Most Church of England clergy are offered a three month sabbatical every seven years, and there is the assumption that during this time you are supposed to produce some sort of short written reflection. Bishop Rachel Treweek has produced this text, and this perhaps shows how rare it is these days for serving bishops to write books.

The book is mixture of biographical reflection, scriptural reflection, and a wider consideration of what ministry a diocesan bishop can offer to those on the margins in the early 21st century. As the title illustrates, it focuses on encounter - those Treweek has encountered that impacted her vocation, those encountered by Christ in the gospels and what this means for us, and further, what it means for the ministry of the Church to those on the margins.

This text was written for the most part before the pandemic, and the author comments that we should perhaps distinguish between physical distancing and social distancing, the former being a term that can be used to describe a state of alienation and discontent which is the antithesis of Christianity.

The author focuses on the various encounters detailed in the Gospels and what they might mean for us - these are interpreted in a rather broad, Ignatian, imaginative sense, which is perhaps not my cup of tea, and at first left me somewhat discouraged. But I pressed on.

She looks at the Magnificat, and asks what does it mean for us to be dependent on God, and let go of familiarity and security? Over the book, she recounts many examples in her own life of finding peace after encountering the unexpected and unwanted twists and turns of the human condition.

A notable emphasis in this book is seeking Christians to explore their faith and vocation beyond coming to church and serving in various churchy ministries, and this is a refreshing position. It also provides a glimpse into the role of a diocesan bishop as they traverse the various ecclesiastical, political and personal domains. She also reflects on the toxic nature of busyness and what this means for the spiritual life.

This is perhaps the first time I've ever read of a senior cleric reflecting on the pain of family illness, the sadness of ended relationships, what it is to live a ministerial vocation without having children, and the difficultly of maintaining friendships in the ordained life.

I particularly enjoyed her writing of Jesus' encounter with Zaccheus, and her consideration of his 'seeing' Zaccheus, and the number of times that sight is mentioned in the Gospels, and of the deeper meaning in this, that we might 'make connections and allow restoration to take place in our inner being such that our relationship with God and neighbour can be transformed...and then see yourself more clearly and discover what it means to truly dwell with God.' She also memorably describes baptism as being 'soaked to the skin in the death of Christ. Our union with Christ drips from us…We trail wet footprints of this drenching wherever we go; we never dry off’.

I happily commend this surprising book.

I really enjoyed this! I didn't really have any particular expectations but the writing was great, it was theologically wise without being overbearing and I think it would make a great lent book.