Faith Evolving

Short description

How is religious faith affected by our life’s experiences? NZ’s Trish McBride started with a traditional Christian faith. Over time this has evolved into a belief in a God who is free of denominational church boundaries. One poem and prose step at a time, Trish weaves the scattered patches of her life into a compelling narrative that will touch your heart, and invite you to ponder your own faith journey.

Book Description

How is religious faith affected by our life’s experiences? Trish McBride started with a traditional Christian faith. Over time this has evolved into a belief in a God who is free of denominational church boundaries. One poem and prose step at a time, Trish weaves the scattered patches of her life into a compelling narrative that will touch your heart, and invite you to ponder your own faith journey.

“My purpose in assembling the first edition of Faith Evolving was two-fold: to fill a gap in the spirituality literature by offering a sample longitudinal study of an ordinary woman’s journey of faith, and to encourage readers to reflect on their own journeys. This edition has the same aims!

The hard times are well and truly over and life is enjoyable and mostly peaceful. Good health helps with that, as do plentiful silence, solitude and simplicity – and more quilt-making. Another ten grandchildren have come along, all delicious buds on the family tree.

For me now God permeates everything as Life-Force, and is personally communicating and relational in Jesus, my life companion, and is Holy Mystery. Perhaps this approaches what the Church Fathers were trying to get at when they defined the Trinity!” Trish, From the Preface to the Third edition

Praise for Faith Evolving

“This book is divided into three sections, each prefaced with a reflection on how she perceives, retrospectively, her faith journey:

Clothes-line Theology: 1974–1986
After That: 1987–1994
Turangawaewae: 1995–2005

The young adult Trish, who strived to fulfil the expectations of a traditional [Christian] marriage and parish, has passed through the crucible of pain and loss by 2005 to become a mature and joyful Trish. The God, who at the beginning is a demanding figure evoking total blind surrender, is by the end the One who seeks justice in solidarity with marginalised women and men, and who manifests not only in creation, but also as the Quiet within.” Anne Hadfield PhD, author and spiritual director

About the author

Trish McBride is a Wellington, New Zealand writer, spiritual director and retired counsellor. She has recognition as an interdenominational Associate in Christian Ministry, and has had ministry and chaplaincy roles (including workplace, hospice and mental health roles) in and beyond the church for over 30 years.

Writing highlights include an international religious journalism prize (London Tablet, 1994), publishing Faith Evolving: A Patchwork Journey (2005) which traces 30 years of her God-journey, and Exploring the Presence: More Faith Patches (2011). Trish wrote the lead article in the June 2016 issue of Presence, the Spiritual Directors International Journal, US, and has had numerous other articles published. She has also contributed to five of the Catholic-based series of NZ theology books published by Accent Publications.

She is passionate about Gospel justice for marginal people, the interaction of faith and mental well-being, recognition of common ground with other faiths, quilting, family, friendships and her 19 amazing grand-children.