A book by a young vicar whose faith in God was tested to the limit when his spine began to crumble and cripple him with pain, has been chosen as the Archbishop of Wales’ Lent book this year.
Finding Hope and Meaning in Suffering was written by Rev Dr Trystan Owain Hughes as he lay bedridden, barely able to stand or move, for more than a year. Following an injury while playing badminton when he was 33, he had been diagnosed with a degenerative spinal injury and despite major surgery, was told he would have to live with chronic pain and limited movement for the rest of his life.
Unable to work, play sport or socialise, Trystan questioned his faith, felt the pointlessness of suffering and searched for inspiration. Gradually, however, he discovered that pain did not have to stop him living and he found new hope and meaning in things he had once taken for granted. His book affirms the importance of love, joy and faith and shows how our trials and tribulations can be turned into triumphs of our will and spirit.
Recommending the book for Lent study, the Archbishop, Dr Barry Morgan, said:
“This is a very honest and readable book which looks suffering unashamedly in the face and finds life, meaning and even laughter therein. Trystan writes from his personal experience of pain and loss, and also draws on his incredibly well-stocked repertoire of literature, art and film to widen the reader’s imagination and nourish their life and faith.
“The book’s five building blocks, nature, laughter, memory, art and helping others, will form excellent topics for a five-week Lent group, with additional material available online at http://www.hopeandmeaning.com”
Trystan, now the Anglican chaplain at Cardiff University, hopes his book, which was published last year, will help and inspire the many others who are suffering in some way. He said:
“I am delighted that my book has been chosen as the Archbishop¹s Lent Book this year. I hope all those who read it, whether they are suffering or not, will be able to relate to its message of hope and love. I especially hope it will help those who are going through a difficult time or those who are close to people who are suffering.
“Lent is a time for reflection on our everyday priorities, and the book will allow people to ask where they personally find hope and meaning in their often-hectic lives. I would be very pleased if my own journey in finding meaning in the midst of life’s ups-and-downs could help other people to recognise and appreciate the love and joy that can be found all around us in our everyday lives.”
The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on March 9. The Archbishop and the Assistant Bishop of Llandaff will be leading a Lent course every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night throughout Lent in three venues around the Diocese of Llandaff – St Tydfil’s Church, Merthyr Tydfil (Tuesdays), St Theodore’s Church, Port Talbot (Wednesdays) and All Saints Church, Llandaff North (Thursdays). Using material from Finding Hope in Meaning and Suffering, they will explore the following themes: believing, belonging, becoming, behaving, betraying. The evenings begin at 7.30pm and all are welcome to attend.
Finding Hope and Meaning in Suffering, by Trystan Owain Hughes, is published by SPCK Publishing, priced at £9.99.
Trystan Owain Hughes was born in Penmaenmawr, North Wales, the son of a clergyman, and is a fluent Welsh language speaker. He attained an MTh from Oxford University and a PhD from Bangor University, Wales.
