The Clear Light of Day
by Penelope Wilcock

List Price: $13.99
Pages: 289
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 0781445531
Publisher: David C. Cook Distribution

Lonely, divorced and newly assigned to a rural parish full of quirky characters, Esme Browne rediscovers the beauty of friendship in a most unlikely place.

Recently ordained and more recently divorced, Revered Esme Browne finds herself at an uncomfortable crossroads when stationed at the Portland Road Chapel. In addition to the church in the seaside town, she also now bears the spiritual responsibility for two country chapels which, for the efficient, well-versed, forty-something lifelong student should be exciting, invigorating and even hopeful. However, Esme has forgotten how to pray… and how to feel.

A chance encounter with an eccentric pair of country gnostics may change all that, but she’ll have to be willing to juggle the demands of the Church, her parishes and a bevy of well-intended but nibby neighbors before she’ll know for sure.

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1. At the beginning of the novel, Esme reads words she had written years ago about a country church she saw through a train window. What do you think this church represents to her?

2. What contributes to Esme’s restlessness at the beginning of the novel? How does she begin to move past this feeling?

3. After Esme’s first husband leaves, she throws herself into her work. How do you see this affecting her emotionally and spiritually?

4. Esme is immediately fascinated by Jabez. Why do you think she finds him so intriguing?

5. Esme fears what people will think of her if they find out that she feels unable to pray. Do you think pretense is more or less apparent in ministry than other vocations? Why or why not?

6. Jabez feels the church’s prayers for his wife, Maeve, were filled with unreality. What do you think he means by this?

7. Esme faces the dilemma of choosing fulfillment through professional success or through relationship. Why do you think she chooses not to move?

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