David Adam (2) (1936–2020)

Combining story with spiritual reflection, poems and prayers, Walking the Edges invites us to journey to the borderlands, the place inhabited by Christians willing to extend themselves in adventurous living for the sake of love…

This work explores what it means to be a saint, to always be walking on the edges - geographically, physically and spiritually. Saints give us an idea of what we could be if we had the courage and faith to move out of our comfort zones and truly begin to live in the show more presence of God. The author calls on us to take this path, painful as it may be, since it is the only way open to the Christian serious about growing in faith. "Walking the Edges" is inspired by the stories of St Martin, St Patrick, St Cuthbert and other. show less

I am re-reading all my David Adam books. I've been privileged to hear him speak on two occasions. His faith is warm and real and practical, imaginative and full of love, and he is neither too simple nor too abstract. There are many echoes through the books, as prayers and themes are restated, yet this is not so much repetitive, as like the interweaving of the Celtic motifs illustrated, and serves to gently reinforce the message.
As I re-read, I remember how I used some of these prayers many show more years ago, such as the Caim (encircling), and what help they brought. And I realise that some of the prayers, including ones he quotes, have become part of my life.
I often include a David Adam prayer when I lead intercessions at church; the non-rhyming ones are best for that. show less

The Celtic Church saw and reflected a glory which we seem to have lost. The Celts accepted that all things were both inter-related and inter-dependent. There is no doubt, says Adams, that we are caught up in a Cosmic and perhaps even a Universal ebb and flow of tides and seasons---most of them are beyond our control. But we cannot separate ourselves from them--at best we can affirm our spiritual interaction with them.

In ‘Tides and Seasons’ David Adams has assembled a collection of poems show more and prayers that echo these rhythms of Creation and which have parallels in our spiritual lives. Collectively these prayers can encourage us to recapture that awareness. show less

Here's what I wrote about this read in 2022: "Easy read, written by an Anglican priest. Read as part of preparing for Scotland walking pilgrimage to Lindisfarne. Undoubtedly St. Cuthbert lived and was a committed man of God in the early church. How many of the stories of his life (and preservation past death) are true?"