Taking risks to share in the life of others, even if it hurts or breaks our heart.

Tears flowed freely when I heard the news that my 89-year-old friend Peter was taken to intensive care, and I felt deeply sad when one of his friends told me he had died. I was lucky to have known this wonderful gardener and spiritual teacher during the later stage of his life. I became friends with him after responding to an invitation to help out in the grounds of a retreat centre. As we gardened, we easily slipped into deep conversation and I appreciated Peter’s gentle smile, contemplative wisdom and robust strength. Here I suggest three ways in which Peter showed me how to love:

Continue reading “Being loving” →

Eager and keen to get stuck into work, hobbies and projects.

Enthusiasm (from en “in” + theos “god”) is a spiritual dynamism that is in harmony with what ‘God’ does in us and what we do in ‘God’. It often involves letting go of our goals and expectations – as I was invited to do recently at a five-day retreat – and to acknowledge that all good, long-lasting ideas come from a wiser, compassionate source.

Continue reading “Enthusiasm” →