In this devotional book, Stephen Cottrell reflects on five paintings from Stanley Spencer's Christ in the Wilderness series. These paintings give us startling insight into Jesus' own vocation and self-understanding of his ministry. They show his great love for the earth, for the whole created order and for all creatures within it. For Christians, the wilderness is a place of discovery. By dwelling in the wilderness of these beautiful and provocative paintings, Stephen Cottrell encourages us to refine our own discipleship and learn again what it means to follow Christ. His three previous SPCK books are all best-sellers. This book is excellent reading for Lent but can be enjoyed at any time of year. It includes full-colour illustrations, making it a lovely gift book.

Author Biography

Stephen Cottrell is the Bishop of Chelmsford and was formerly the Bishop of Reading. He has worked in parishes in London and Chichester, as Canon Pastor of Peterborough Cathedral, as Missioner in the Wakefield diocese and as part of Springboard, the Archbishop's evangelism team. He is the author of three books for SPCK: The Things He Carried (2008), a book of Lent and Holy Week meditations; a follow-up of reflections for Easter Day, The Things He Said (2009); and his new Lent book, The Nail (2011).