The Golden Cord

The title of Charles Taliaferro’s book is derived from poems and stories in which a person in peril or on a quest must follow a cord or string in order to find the way to happiness, safety, or home. In one of the most famous of such tales, the ancient Greek hero Theseus follows the string given him by Ariadne to mark his way in and out of the Minotaur’s labyrinth. William Blake's poem “Jerusalem” uses the metaphor of a golden string, which, if followed, will lead one to heaven itself. Taliaferro extends Blake’s metaphor to illustrate the ways we can link what we see, feel, and do with deep spiritual realities. Taliaferro offers a foundational case for the recognition of the experience of the eternal God of Christianity, in which God is understood as the fount of all goodness and the subject and object of our best love, revealed through scripture, tradition, philosophical reflection, and encountered in everyday events. He addresses philosophical obstacles to the recognition of such experiences, especially objections from the “new atheists,” and explores the values involved in thinking and experiencing God as eternal. These include the belief that the eternal goodness of God subordinates temporal goods, such as the pursuit of fame and earthly glory; that God is the essence of life; and that the eternal God hallows domestic goods, blessing the everyday goods of ordinary life. An exploration of the moral and spiritual riches of the Christian tradition as an alternative to materialism and naturalism, The Golden Cord brings an originality and depth to the debate in accessible and engaging prose.

In September of 1970, on the way to a farm, I began to say the Lord's Prayer. "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." As these lines flowed from my lips, I knew something was happening to me. It was as though someone else was speaking through me. I could not resist. I kept speaking. I could hear myself saying, "Give us this day our daily bread," and the rest that follows, as the whole landscape melted away. The trees, the fields and the hills in that moment began to move as if they were liquid oil reflecting light. Powerful lights shone through. I could still hear myself in the distance, faintly whispering the Lord's Prayer. My whole being was passing through dimensions that, until this day, I can hardly find words to describe. I stood before a vast stream of indescribable light, rivers of golden fire, and waves of blue flame - as one finds towards the end of a burning candle, but infinitely larger in dimensions. Since then, the Lord's Prayer has held a supernatural fascination for me. That moment with the Lord's Prayer opened up for me the vistas of the Heavenly dimensions. The pattern and process of this prayer were the magma that formed the stone of my prayer life. Of the numerous spiritual experiences I have had through the years, this one was so indelibly imprinted into the depth of my soul that I find myself returning to the Lord's Prayer in times of confusion. This meditation has never failed to yield fruit.

The Golden Cord takes readers on a journey through Saint John Chrysostom’s teaching on the Christian family. Coupling his spiritual wisdom with insights from some of the greatest modern thinkers, The Golden Cord invites thoughtful parents and teachers to delve deeper into the treasury of their ancient Christian heritage. Faith, tradition, and contemporary thought do not always have to be at odds. The author explores how current and ancient sources can agree on the subject of how the Christian family can grow together in virtue and stand firm against the powerful antichristian forces that move through secular society. This exploration focuses on three key elements of St. John’s pedagogy for the family: spiritual exercise, imitation, and story-telling.

Set during the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 AD, The Golden Cord -- the second book in The Long-Aimed Blow series -- opens with unbridled cruelty. Caradoc's lust to rule Albion drives him to eliminate all in his path. He murders his father and his own wife, then he exiles his brother, Amminus, the rightful heir to the throne. Left behind are his twin sons, Boaz and Jachin. Each mistakenly believes the other has been killed by their father. As they mature into adults, their lives take very different paths -- with one becoming a Greek physician and the other a Roman legionnaire. Now High King of Albion, will Caradoc be dethroned when Amminus resurfaces? Will the twins reunite? Will Jachin sate his thirst for revenge by killing his father? Or will Caradoc's ruthless ambition continue to destroy his sons' lives? The Golden Cord taps into the age-old themes of familial love, unrestrained ambition, breathtaking adventure, and reckless revenge intertwined with hope and redemption, recovery and faith. It's a tale vast in scope, conveying an ancient world where loyalties and passions violently collide, culminating in total war.

The Dohnavur Fellowship is a group of Indian and European men and women working together in South India. Its friends wanted to know how it began, and asked for something that would link up the stories already written: “What [kind of cord] holds you together?” Dohnavur answered, “A gold cord.”

The world of Ae'leron is a perilous place, with dragons and griffins attacking from the skies, the Drobin Empire seeking slaves, and an abyss of clouds called the Void surrounding the plateau. Guardian Drake Bloodstone is called on to leave his village and guide two Drobin warriors on a dangerous mission to the lair of the Dragon King.