A Return to the Riverbank by Leslie J. Francis

This year when the call of Spring came to the subterranean world of Mole, Mole emerged into the sunlight to find that everything appeared strange and unexpected. To begin with the familiar planes were no longer flying overhead, the roar of the traffic on the arterial road was subdued, and the constant coming and going of people hither and thither had thinned right out. Most eerily of all, when people did emerge from the lockdown in their barricaded homes, they kept unprecedented social distance, warily avoiding physical contact one with another and remaining highly alert, as if threatened by some unknown and unseen deadly enemy.

The riverbank, however, seemed to be thriving under this dark cloud of fear. The air was cleaner and richer than Mole could remember. The sounds of birds, of animals, of the burbling river were clearer than ever. No wonder something up above was calling him imperiously. No wonder he responded to that call and bolted out of the house without even waiting to put his coat on. 

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These days of lockdown are a good time for Christian disciples to re-engage with Mole's response to that imperious call, that call coming from above, and to re-connect with the primordial call into discipleship, journeying alongside those two fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew. It is a perfect time for the riverbank and the lakeside to point beyond what is transitory and to grasp the Gospel message that is eternally true.

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This is the latest Lockdown Blog article by one of Darton, Longman and Todd’s amazing authors, offering a personal reflection on our current situation in life. These blogs post are written sometimes in reference to one of the writer’s books, and sometimes about how they are living in response to the coronavirus and our current world situation. We hope it will give you a taste of the depth and diversity of DLT’s list – books for heart, mind and soul that aim to meet the needs and interests of all.

Today’s post is by Leslie J. Francis, author of The Gospel in the Willows: Forty Meditations Inspired by The Wind in the Willows, which you can buy here.