Into the Foothills of Transformation

Shortly after becoming Chairman of the Birmingham District of the Methodist Church, Donald Eadie was told that he had a degenerative disc disease. Following three major spinal operations, he was forced to retire, and to face the letting go of identity and role, feelings of marginalisation and abandonment – living with the death of the old life, and not being able to imagine a new one with meaning and purpose.

Jesuit priest and writer Gerard Hughes accompanied Donald during this time. ‘The borderlands are the place of exploration and discovery. They are the new centre,’ he said. And paradoxically, in time, Donald began to experience the move away from the centre of a busy life to the edge as a journey deeper into the heart of things.

‘There will be new companions,’ another wise old friend promised. And to Donald’s great surprise and joy this has been true.

Much of Donald’s time is now lived in ‘a loved room’, visited by people who are also pilgrims within the borderlands.

Into the Foothills of Transformation is a collection of Donald’s reflections and journal writings, and letters, prayers and poems. 

Donald’s previous book is Grain In Winter.

Some comments on Into the Foothills of Transformation:

‘May we never lose sight of the possibility of transformation’, says one of our prayers in the Iona Community Members Prayer Book. It goes on to suggest the wonder of being ‘continually surprised by people who believe in one another’.

Donald Eadie believes in people and has never ceased exploring the wonder of transformation, in himself and in others. He is a man who knows that listening and caring, whether as husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, friend or minister, whether with those nearby or far away, means involvement, commitment, compassion and risk … and it costs. For his willingness to take risks, share his life and meet the cost, I, along with many others worldwide, will always be grateful.

A book by Donald is a rare and beautiful thing to be treasured. In Into the Foothills of Transformation he has gathered together this caring and conversation in poems, letters, stories, prayers, journal pieces – his own and others. His accessible, inspiring, challenging, intensely moving words are real and come from the heart. They reveal a depth of thought that emerges from life restricted now but not overwhelmed, from a spirit forever free. Donald takes us through pain, frustration, anger, sorrow and joy to the foothills; to somewhere we don’t know and are just beginning to understand: a place of vision and imagination. Our journey has changed us. The wonder and the surprise will be with us for the rest of our lives 

Joy Mead