Two of my dearest friends in the whole world happen to be Roman Catholic priests.
They were here on Martha’s Vineyard last week visiting and leading a three-day retreat that I attended.
And while they were here, they made me cry.
My beloved friends Edward Beck and Robert Joerger are fountains of inspiration, strategies and support in my life. Who is like that in your life?
I didn’t cry in that wrenching my-heart-is-totally-broken way. Rather, I cried in that healing and inspiring tears-are-to-the-soul-what-soap-is-to-the-body way.
All I did was sit in the energy and love of so many open-hearted souls coming together at the retreat (I’m not even a Catholic, by the way) and listen to the stories and wisdom my dear priest friends shared. And the tears just flowed. In that what-a-relief-to-stop-and-be-connected-to-humanity way.
Fathers Edward Beck and Robert Joerger belong to the Passionists order of priests (and you’ve likely seen Edward on his many regular television appearances from Good Morning America to The Joy Behar Show). Together, they set the tone of these retreats as welcoming, embracing respites from daily life.
Fathers Robert and Edward are two important men in my life who’ve cheered on Women on Fire and even inspired some of you to join us!
I want to share with you some of the wisdom that touched me and, in particular, from last week’s retreat Edward’s
5 Spiritual Truths To Center Us
1) Life is hard. We can’t escape that. What are you doing to make yours easier? To be more connected?
2) You are going to die. Do you live in a way that is conscious of your mortality? Or do you live in denial? We waste a lot of experiences because we fail to notice how precious life is. When we appreciate our mortality, we live from a different place and realize what a gift our life is.
3) You are not that important. Most of us are addicted to the “drug” of approval. Cultivate awareness. Live from your own intention.
4) You are not in control. (Need I say more about that? 😉
5) Your life is not about you. It’s about sharing your gifts with everyone and everything else. You are the vehicle so others can live more fully. When you make a difference for that one, it changes life for you and all of us.
Pure and simple, no matter your religion or beliefs, it becomes a deeply spiritual life when you practice what you preach.
For me last week, it felt good to remember that. So good that I cried.
When was the last time you experienced the gift of tears? Pure, sweet, life- affirming, soul-cleansing tears…
Please share your own story in the comments section below. I’d love to hear.
