A Guiding Star: Advent Reflections - Uncovering Fresh Wisdom in the Christmas Story

This book is different from the usual Advent devotional.

It is for you, whether you are atheist or agnostic, Christian or a believer from another faith, spiritual but not religious, or just tired of hearing the same old story.

The Christmas story is one many of us know well, but what if there was a new way to understand it? What if a two-thousand-year-old tale has enduring relevance for our lives today? What if you could step into the story and relate to the people who actually lived it?

This book offers a gentle, yet heart-warming journey through Advent. With a combination of deep reflection and light-hearted re-telling that makes links between this story and other wisdom traditions, each short, daily reflection is sure to get you contemplating a classic tale in a fresh, inspiring way.

This is fabulous gift for your teenage godchildren who don’t go to church, your interested but non-Christian friends, and anyone looking for a new perspective and a fresh relevance in story we all think we already know…

A wonderful companion for Advent that is not confined to Christian readers - indeed, some might find it a bit ‘too far out of the box’ for their taste. I would encourage them to read it anyway, and perhaps be surprised by joy.

I would also urge non-Christians of all stripes to read it. This delightful book is more poetry than prose, but then again, more prose than poetry. Just read it, belief is not required!

Chris Scott – Author of The Jesus Myth

This beautiful book is so gentle, yet it prodded me deeply. It opened my heart to see the people in this very familiar story anew, as real human beings, and to see once again that when you let go and let God, all things find a way of working out.

Deb Simmons – Author of The Warrior’s Journey

Lizzie’s reflections challenge and refresh our ways of understanding and engaging with life. With a beguiling lightness of touch, Lizzie joyfully disrupts notions of God, power and our agency in the world.

Rev. Kate Plant – Priest in Charge of Breadsall and Smalley with Morley.

Lizzie’s unique reflections on Advent offer a wonderful opportunity to consider the Christmas story in a more relevant light. Each day brings an insightful interpretation of another aspect of the story, highlighting something for consideration that is relevant to my life today. This book sparked new wondering about the deeper meaning of Christmas and what that might reveal about who I really am, who we all are.

Dominic Scaffidi - Master Certified Coach