The Gospel in the Willows

Forty Meditations for the Days of Lent

By: Leslie J. Francis

Narrated by: Philip Ormond

Join Ratty and Mole on a journey of faith. This beautiful book, which may be used as a daily devotional through Lent or any other period of the year, reopens Kenneth Grahame’s classic children’s novel The Wind in the Willows for a new audience.

Combining a daily reading from the literary classic with a gospel passage, a short meditation by Leslie Francis and a prayer, The Gospel in the Willows takes us on a journey through the Christian life, exploring themes such as The Call, Shaking the Dust, Finding Acceptance, Divided Loyalties, Real Repentance, Facing Temptation,The Lost Son and Accepting Release.

The much-loved characters of Mole, Rat and Toad become the perfect allegory for the grand adventure of faith, from our terrifying first steps into and beyond the riverbank, to the challenges, temptations and triumphs that await us as we journey into the world, with Jesus by our side.

©2009 Darton, Longman and Todd (P)2012 Prospero Media

Brief and simple meditations

Many believe that The Wind in the Willows is something of a fifth gospel, and these brief and accessible meditations attempt to demonstrate that. The listening experience is, unfortunately, embarrassingly and jarringly undermined by the reader’s mispronunciation of “gaoler,” which is the British spelling of “jailer,” as “GOH-ler” instead of “JEI-ler.” Since the word occurs dozens of times in the episodes of Toad’s adventures, the effect is devastating upon an otherwise pleasant reading.