Recognition - Tapa dura

Is it possible to bridge that gap that often painfully exists between Sunday's preaching and the realities of work, relationships, and simply being human? These stories arise from the acknowledgment of that costly struggle and a determination to find relevant, authentic faith. They explore Biblical events and characters from new perspectives and give voices to onlookers and participants to show that they were, as we are, wrestling with questions of suffering and doubt, rejection and reconciliation. Storytelling leads us into the possibilities of imagination and empathy, of truths felt more deeply than doctrine, and reminds us of a God who created memorable characters, told unforgettable stories, and chose to be part of the story of humanity. Here contemporaries meet. Observers react. Women and men, met fleetingly in the Gospel narratives, gain context and have a past and future beyond that encounter. As each story unfolds, there is the potential for recognition: for the characters, as they encounter one another, and for ourselves to see what may have been familiar in fresh, perhaps startling, ways.

Janet Killeen lives in South London. A retired teacher, she has published collections of short stories for adults as well as writing for children. She believes children can be empowered with language, and develop imagination, humour and empathy through stories they enjoy.