In the prologue to this paperback, English spiritual writer Margaret Silf states: "I find myself fired by the wonders that science is revealing, as well as being deeply inspired by the wisdom of the spiritual traditions of the human family. Holding the empirical evidence of science and the intuited wisdom of spirituality together in one mind and heart isn't always easy, and yet I feel that this challenge points to a necessary paradox, a creative tension which we must embrace, if we are to evolve further into the great adventure of becoming fully human."

We are made of stardust and we are all sparks of God evolving into something that only the Divine Artist can see. The challenge of the Christian experience, writes Silf, is to become a lover, be sensitive to the needs of others, make the most of our choices, honor the many mysteries of life, realize the positive power of cooperation, read the signs of the times, and fly free. In these short essays, Silf writes creatively about all the wild possibilities. She closes with her own list of Oscars for areas of our lives that are helping to make us more human, including these two:

• "Everyone who cares about our living planet, whether they are on the forefront of environmental research, or in a position to make decisions about funding, or whether they simply faithfully recycle their cans and bottles each week.

• "People who make space in a crazy world for stillness, for themselves and for others; people who open small oases in our cities where people can drop in for a moment's quiet; people who are prepared to listen to the stories of others."