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A Greening of Imaginations: Walking the Songlines of Holy Scripture
Invites us to imagine what the “backstory” of our favorite scriptures might have been.
How do the scriptures speak to us today? Where do our stories mirror biblical stories? Herbert O’Driscoll, beloved Anglican preacher, storyteller, author, and hymn writer, invites us to imagine what the “back story” of our favorite scriptures might have been. By doing Christian midrash―telling the stories within the Story―Dr. O’Driscoll has filled in the gaps by creating new homilies and parables based on the text.
Some are narratives, such as Jesus wondering about his cousin John as a twentysomething activist, and Mary’s thoughts as she knelt at the foot of the cross. Others ask you to imagine a bundle of letters from early Christians that “might have been written if we could only find them,” like Philemon’s response to Paul’s request on behalf of a runaway slave, or a letter from a student-aged Judas Iscariot written to his parents expressing his excitement about a rabbi whose teaching he finds fascinating. Each of the twenty-eight short chapters offers a glimpse of the thoughts and emotions of individuals found in the Christian Testament, bringing alive the sights, sounds, and smells of the Holy Land.
How do the scriptures speak to us today? Where do our stories mirror biblical stories? Herbert O’Driscoll, beloved Anglican preacher, storyteller, author, and hymn writer, invites us to imagine what the “back story” of our favorite scriptures might have been. By doing Christian midrash―telling the stories within the Story―Dr. O’Driscoll has filled in the gaps by creating new homilies and parables based on the text.
Some are narratives, such as Jesus wondering about his cousin John as a twentysomething activist, and Mary’s thoughts as she knelt at the foot of the cross. Others ask you to imagine a bundle of letters from early Christians that “might have been written if we could only find them,” like Philemon’s response to Paul’s request on behalf of a runaway slave, or a letter from a student-aged Judas Iscariot written to his parents expressing his excitement about a rabbi whose teaching he finds fascinating. Each of the twenty-eight short chapters offers a glimpse of the thoughts and emotions of individuals found in the Christian Testament, bringing alive the sights, sounds, and smells of the Holy Land.
96 pages, Paperback
Published February 17, 2019
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About the author
Herbert O'Driscoll
64 books3 followersA native of Ireland, O'Driscoll is an Anglican priest and renowned storyteller and scholar of Celtic Christianity. By turns a teacher, speaker, broadcaster, hymnist, and author,he now lives in Victoria, British Columbia.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 13, 2021
I've had great admiration for Herbert O'Driscoll & his work for many years. I've had the honor of hearing him preach, & he is remarkable. Our diocese has hosted him for a clergy conference in the past, & so many of us had the opportunity to meet him up close & personal.
Would that there were more people like Herbert Driscoll who would approach the Scriptures as the living records they are. His imagination of "how it might have been" opens all sorts of vistas of reflection.
Would that there were more people like Herbert Driscoll who would approach the Scriptures as the living records they are. His imagination of "how it might have been" opens all sorts of vistas of reflection.
April 20, 2021
Beautifully written Bible stories by a master of writing and preaching, Herbert O'Driscoll. A fresh look at the stories of Jesus through the eyes of someone who also has visited the Holy Land. O'Driscoll takes you to the place where the stories happen, and makes you a part of the story as well.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews