The Dream of Learning Our True Name

Kathy Galloway is a theologian, poet and liturgist, and the current leader of the Iona Community. This new collection of her writing reflects the fact that we meet spirituality in the whole of life – not only in the ‘nice’ bits. It is present in the agonies, the hatreds, the cross-border divides, the prejudice, the messiness of relationships, the wildness of sexuality. It also exists in the love that springs up everywhere, often born of pain, anger and disconnection from our identity. Walking a path of integrity is the beginning of learning our true name.

These poems provide a powerful resource for personal contemplation and many of them can be used in a group or worship setting.

… and the Great Spirit who loves us
and has given us our true names
whispers them in the darkness,
when we are alone
when we are weary
when we are despairing,
and we are re-membered
in the heart of God.