Song of the Nightingale is a book that inspire readers to claim their unique vocation in life. Drawing on naturalistic imagery from the poetry of St. John of the Cross, Michael Ford invites readers to join him as he retraces the steps of his own spiritual pilgrimage. Starting with a serious car accident in 1990, Ford has kept a journal to chart the highs and lows of his inner life. He uses the nightinglale's song as a metaphor for God's calling us to claim our distinctiveness-particularly during the dark times. Throughout the book, Ford shares the ups and downs of his search to find his true calling. We follow him as he weighs whether or not to become a priest, his foray into a seminary and out again, and his far-flung assignments as a BBC religious affairs journalist. As he reports outwardly, he reflects inwardly. His inner story is always close to nature in which he sees symbols of the divine hidden in the world around him. After more than a decade negotiating his way through ambiguity, uncertainty, joy and struggle, Ford discovers that the secret of his vocation lies much closer to home. This is a unique book in which a journalist turns the table on himself. In the spirit of Carl Rogers' words, "what is most personal is most universal," Ford spurns the utter objectivity of the journalist for a view that is totally subjective. In this context, this book could be described as 'a spirituality of searching.' Song of the Nightingale is written in a readable style, for people from all walks of life and denominations and it will be especially meaningful for seminarians and parish priests.
