Review in Today's Church Times, 2 December 2011

‘Maggie Ross, the author of Writing the Icon of the Heart: In Silence Beholding, is an Anglican solitary, who has spent long hours in silence. The book’s subtitle captures its essence; for it is about silence and our need to “behold” God. “Beholding” is a concept that not only are we in danger of losing, but that is often lost in translation, even by the NSRV and the Jerusalem Bible. “Beholding” needs to be rediscovered both in theology and practice. Ross is very aware of “poor talkative Christianity”. There is a twofold plea to enter into silence — for "lack of silence erodes humanity” — and to behold the radiance of God. This is a deep book full of questioning and the testing of our assumptions. Throughout, there is a great love for the world and for our humanity with a sadness at how we are so easily distracted. Was the sin of Adam and Eve that of being distracted? We are invited into a silence that is not necessarily an absence of noise, but is a limitless interior space. Ancient texts are used in new and exciting ways, and many of our worship practices are challenged. She is in no doubt that “the glory of the human being is the beholding of God.’

Canon David Adam is a former Vicar of Holy Island. Church Times, 2 Dec 2011