Her earliest memory was of the time when she was a tiny baby, lifted by strong arms to the light in a train compartment. Adriannes adult life is distracted by daydreams of childhood; of her powerful uncle Eladio; her best childhood friend, Tomas; and more. Looking back, she can see every mistake she ever made. The uncertainty of her true identity draws her into a realm beyond imagination. She cant even trust her own memory now to help her determine which childhood traumas were real and which were the workings of a mind too young to understand. To this day, one question haunts her: if she could have just accepted the life she was so desperate to leave behind, would she be happier today? Now her life is defined by her success as a real-estate developer, an art dealer, and an innovative architect with visions of reinventing entire communities that celebrate both function and design simultaneously. She drowns her feelings by constantly achieving the impossible, often falling prey to her own desiresand the cunning schemes of the unpredictable man who invaded her life. When a phone call from Spain sends Adrianne rushing back across the Atlantic, can she dare to hope that the answers that had eluded her throughout her life await?

This past year has been troubling for many of us who have had to deal with the ravages of the COVD-19 pandemic. We have had to deal with a loss of freedom, and some of us have lost jobs and income. And most tragically, there was the loss of family and friends who were fatal victims of this virus. The result of which is that we have been forced to make many difficult transitions in our lives. Life, as we have known it, has changed. But did you know that there is great power in transitions? These transitions are here to announce that we must set aside some old ways of thinking and doing and set our eyes on a new reality. So where do we capture this new vision? Where is life taking us? How do we read the road signs? In this book, Walking through Troubled Waters, we will explore the process of finding peace in the midst of our chaotic world. We will do so by probing the life of an ancient biblical character--King David. What does such an ancient figure have to teach us about living through troubled times? His story may well reflect our own experience. David's story is a drama of his life-changing transitions, which he had to overcome; and through these changes, he has much to teach us. Each time he found himself facing a new transition, this great king revealed a heart for God. And with this strong belief system, he was guided through some troubling times. Through faith, he transformed some simple words into a prayer to the Almighty. His faith in God was, therefore, the foundation to overcoming many of the challenges he had to face as a king and as a man. What can faith do? It can turn a boy into a warrior. And with a warrior's spirit, he had the strength to defeat those challenges before him. With faith, he learned to hear God's voice as he was guided through those troubled waters. Through faith, God taught him patience; and with patience, David learned that everything happened in God's perfect time. David had to face many of his enemies who tried to destroy him. He had to face his own sin and the rebellion in his family; and each time he triumphed. His final challenge was facing his own death. Did he find peace? I will let you be the judge. More importantly, can you, like King David, find peace in these troubling times?

A provocative piece of literary work! Provides a vivid exposition of the evil within our midst, the truly dark side of our Saint Lucian culture. Disturbing in its tortuosity, it is not for the faint of heart or those with deep dark secrets. It may be found offensive, inflammatory, and challenging to many of previous eras and also to those in this current era who sing and dance to the words I wanna be a billionaire so freaking bad! . . . Wanna be on the cover of Forbes magazine . . . buy the things I never had! A must read, however, for those seekers of wealth, power, and status! The book does a great job of characterizing the escalating problem of depravity of the human soul stemming from social, cultural, and spiritual deficiencies. It begs the question, Has our holy mother, the Catholic church, been able to attain that nexus between Saint Lucias Afrocentric culture and Christianity? Has our local church been able to challenge and confront what has been deemed acceptable to the bourgeoisie as inherent social/cultural/spiritual values reflected in duplicity in religious outlook? The book however provides a ray of hope as it culminates in an expression of the beauty of the sacramental life provided by mother church, which is available to all in order to put on Gods armor so as to be able to resist the devils tactics. It is hoped that there are still many God-fearing persons in our society who continue to strive for the virtues of honesty and integrity, not willing to compromise the well-being of their fellowman for the sake of an insatiable ambition for power, wealth, and fame! This brilliant exposition then ought to move those who possess a genuine soul, a social and moral conscience, those who still bear light in their hearts, to bring light and life into successive generations of our beloved country, Saint Lucia, seeking to reject evil under all conditions.

A provocative piece of literary work! Provides a vivid exposition of the evil within our midst, the truly dark side of our Saint Lucian culture. Disturbing in its tortuosity, it is not for the faint of heart or those with deep dark secrets. It may be found offensive, inflammatory, and challenging to many of previous eras and also to those in this current era who sing and dance to the words "I wanna be a billionaire so freaking bad! . . . Wanna be on the cover of Forbes magazine . . . buy the things I never had!" A must read, however, for those seekers of wealth, power, and status! The book does a great job of characterizing the escalating problem of depravity of the human soul stemming from social, cultural, and spiritual deficiencies. It begs the question, Has our holy mother, the Catholic church, been able to attain that nexus between Saint Lucia's Afrocentric culture and Christianity? Has our local church been able to challenge and confront what has been deemed acceptable to the bourgeoisie as inherent "social/cultural/spiritual values" reflected in "duplicity in religious outlook"? The book however provides a ray of hope as it culminates in an expression of the beauty of the sacramental life provided by mother church, which is available to all in order to "put on God's armor so as to be able to resist the devil's tactics." It is hoped that there are still many God-fearing persons in our society who continue to strive for the virtues of honesty and integrity, not willing to compromise the well-being of their fellowman for the sake of an insatiable ambition for power, wealth, and fame! This brilliant exposition then ought to move those who "possess a genuine soul, a social and moral conscience," those who still bear light in their hearts, to bring light and life into successive generations of our beloved country, Saint Lucia, seeking to "reject evil under all conditions."

An indispensable guidebook to walking the Via Francigena between Lausanne and Lucca. This is the middle section of the pilgrim route connecting Canterbury to the Vatican City in Rome, and passes through some of the Via Francigena's most beautiful and dramatic scenery. Starting at Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) in Switzerland, the 725km route crosses the Alps into Italy at historic Great Saint Bernard Pass, descends through the Aosta Valley to the Po Valley, then climbs again to cross the Cisa Pass into Tuscany. The route is described in 32 day stages averaging around 23km a day, but can easily be customised to other itineraries. It is suitable for any averagely fit walker, although there are a few steep mountainous stages. Relevant variants are described, including options to make use of boat, bus and train connections, and it is possible to cycle all or part of the Italian portion of the route. In this guidebook, full stage directions are accompanied by maps showing the route line and the facilities available at different locations. Accommodation listings give invaluable information on low-cost pilgrim hostels and where to stay. There are useful city maps for Lausanne, Aosta, Ivrea, Pavia, Piacenza and Lucca, and a stage planning table lists intermediate distances between accommodation providers, so you can customise your own walking schedule. One of three volumes covering the complete Via Francigena.

The essays in this collection all concern the interpretation of Scripture in relation to the Catholic Ressourcement. A theological renewal movement that began in the early twentieth century, the Ressourcement movement centered on a “return to the sources” such as Scripture, the Church Fathers, and liturgy. The point of such a return was to discover in these sources the wisdom, truth, and spiritual insight which could speak meaningfully to contemporary challenges. William M. Wright first focuses on three major Ressourcement figures—Henri de Lubac, Yves Congar, and Joseph Ratzinger—and considers aspects of their theological thinking about Scripture or how Scripture is employed as a theological resource. Next, Wright examines Benedict XVI’s Jesus of Nazareth books, showing how they put into practice (for a general readership) many of the theological insights characteristic of the Ressourcement movement. Last, Wright considers how the theological insights of the Ressourcement movement can be used to as a resource for the interpretation of Scripture. He uses characteristic Ressourcement concerns, such as the relationship between the testaments, the theology of history, and liturgy, to help illumine the biblical text. Wright not only provides substantive examination of the place of the Bible in this important theological movement, but also shows how the insights of the Ressourcement can be helpful for the interpretation of Scripture today.

‘Welcome to the land of Aotearoa, where waterfalls cascade from mountains that touch the clouds, ancient trees whisper and wild, untamed wilderness lies.’ Clip together your waist strap and tighten your boots, this practical and vibrant guide from experienced adventurer Hannah-Rose Watt is for anyone interested in exploring our wilderness — from absolute beginners looking to dip their toes into the world of tramping, to families, to seasoned adventurers seeking inspiration for technical backcountry journeys. Featuring 59 walks across New Zealand’s North and South islands, this practical guide is for anyone keen to explore Aotearoa’s wilderness on foot. Containing key info about essential gear; safety on the tracks; how to read topographical maps and trail markers; hut and track etiquette; advice for solo and female trampers; and details and logistics for each walk, this book will be your new tramping companion. Packed with well-trodden and lesser-known walks — from quickies while on a roadie, to hikes for tykes and multi-day journeys — you’ll find options for all ages, fitness and experience levels. Lavishly illustrated with photographs of New Zealand’s picturesque landscapes, Wild Walks Aotearoa is a must-own, whether for inspiration on your coffee table or planning your next adventure.