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New Items
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Interview on Catholic Bookmarks (move the slider a little past the half way point to get to the beginning of Joyce's interview about her new book - Open the Door.)
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Article Go In peace, Rituals for the dying
In this article, published in U.S. Catholic, June, 2006, Joyce wrote about a meaningful and helpful blessing for the dying that she created and has shared with a number of persons who were near death.
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From the author... |
Greetings and welcome to my website. If you are revisiting my website, there’s some new information about what I’m currently working on now. If you scroll down a few paragraphs, you’ll find what it is. For whatever reason you ended up here, thank you for taking the time to do so. I’m delighted you stopped by. I hope you find what you are seeking as you browse through the pages. Faye Williamsen is my website creator and manager. As you can see by what is in front of you, her skills are marvelous.
If this is your first visit to the site, you may want to know a bit about the author of the resources you find here. Let me begin with what I consider to be the most vital part of my life – my ever deepening and expanding relationship with the Holy One. Ever since I grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa, I have sought a contemplative life, one that unites me with both Creator and creation. Through the years, nature has repeatedly taught me valuable lessons. As I grow older, I see that not only nature contributes to what I need for continued transformation, but each person I encounter. Nature, people, and life’s numerous events and experiences provide a lot of the content and inspiration for my writing and personal growth.
In this hectic, fast moving world we live in, the tension of contemplation /action continually challenges me. I am fortunate to live in a beautifully wooded, quiet spot in the heart of the city of Des Moines, Iowa. Here I have the stillness I long for and need. I also have deer, raccoons, possums, foxes, woodchucks, feral cats, squirrels(too many), a myriad of beautiful birds, and who knows what other little creatures, to keep me company. This lovely spot also allows for easy access into and out of the city’s humming heart.
I am deeply committed to my religious community, the Servants of Mary, whom most know as “Servites.” Currently I am facilitator of our membership’s ongoing spiritual growth program.
As for my current projects, here are some of them:
(1) Last year this time I was focused on writing Open the Door: a journey to the true self. This is now in the bookstores. Hurray! Thanks again to everyone who sent quotes and stories of personal experiences regarding the image of “doors.” Now, and in the coming year, a number of my retreats and workshops will focus on this book. In the several that I’ve already facilitated, participants have continued to share marvelous insights from their life experience with “doors.” This symbol obviously has countless layers to it.
(2) Some of you may have read May I Walk You Home?, the book that Joyce Hutchison and I coauthored for caregivers of the very ill. Now the two of us are writing a book for those who are grieving. The tentative title is: I’ve Walked You Home, Now What? This book will be designed similarly to our first one with Joyce’s stories and my meditations and prayers to accompany each story. Publication date for this book is next September.
(3) I am delighted to report that The Institute of Compassionate Presence that I co-direct with Margaret Stratman at the Center of Compassion in Omaha Nebraska has taken off with a lot of energy thanks to the eager participants who come with a wealth of wisdom due to their varied professions and personal journeys. We have 40 participants committed to the program which meets the 2nd Friday of each month, Sept to April. You can find more information at www.osms.org. You will soon be able to purchase Compact Discs(and possibly a DVD of the “Overview of Compassion” that I offered to the participants in September. Check this site for an announcement in December.
(4) This is the twentieth anniversary for the publication of Praying Our Goodbyes. I recently wrote a new foreword for the book and the publishers have a beautiful new cover for it. Look for this book to be out in June of 2009.
I am going to keep posting the following reflection for you because it continues to be strong in my heart and mind. It is what I most believe for us right now:
A big chunk of my ongoing gratitude is for you, my readers, and those I meet at various gatherings for conferences and retreats. The more I travel, the more assured I am that we are “all one.” Much more unites than divides us. It’s a matter of looking a bit deeper and finding the wealth of goodness inherent in each of us. I’m no Pollyanna about current global pain but I am also no pessimist about the potential in humankind to breathe forth love rather than warring antipathy.
I leave you with a quote from The Wise Heart, Jack Kornfield’s latest book, which I highly recommend:
There is no separation between inner and outer, self and other. Tending ourselves, we tend the world. Tending the world, we tend ourselves.
All the best to you in the remainder of this year of 2008,
-Joyce |
Articles of Interest...
Book shares peace found on journey - Review by Shirley Ragsdale, Des Moines Register, July 15, 2006, of Walk in a Relaxed Manner
Go in peace, Rituals for the dying - US Catholic Magazine, Jun 2006
Sneak Preview - Read preview chapter of Joyce's new book Walk in a Relaxed Manner online at The Healing Garden Journal.
"Desperately Seeking Sophia," US Catholic Magazine, October 2002
"Open Some Doors this Advent," US Catholic Magazine, November 24, 2008.
"Five Spiritual Lessons of Loss," Family Perspectives Journal, Summer 2002
"Celtic Crossovers: May the Lent of the Irish Be With You," U.S. Catholic, March 2001
"The art of cultivating spiritual growth," The editors interview Joyce Rupp. US Catholic, April 2000. pp 26-31.
"Let the Land Teach Us" About Healing and Creativity. Joyce Rupp. Catholic Rural Life, Spring 2000, pp. 12-16. Catholic Rural Life is a publication of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. http://www.ncrlc.com
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Reviews...
"The Dance of Oneness," A review of The Cosmic Dance by Loretta Peters, EarthLight, Summer 2002.
"A Nurturing God," A review by Sally Cunneen of Prayers to Sophia and The Star in My Heart. The American Catholic, March 2000, pp. 7, 19.
http://www.vfr.com/tac
Reviews by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat,Values and Visions Review Service
Walk in a Relaxed Manner
Out of the Ordinary: Prayers, Poems, and Reflections for Every Season
The Star in My Heart: Experiencing Sophia, Inner Wisdom
Reviewed by Sharon Flesher Prayers to Sophia: A Companion to "A Star in My Heart"
Reviewed by Austin Repath Walk in a Relaxed Manner |
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About Joyce Rupp...
Joyce Rupp is well known for her work as a writer, a spiritual "midwife," and retreat and conference speaker. She has led retreats throughout North America, as well as in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Joyce has a B.A. in English, a M.R.E. in Religious Education, and a M.A. in Transpersonal Psychology. She is a member of the Servites (Servants of Mary) community and a volunteer for Hospice. She currently resides in Des Moines, Iowa. A list of Joyce's works can be found in the left column of this page. Click on the book title to find out more information about that title.
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Spiritual Zest
July 2009
If you don’t learn to laugh at trouble,
you won’t have anything to laugh at
when you’re old.
The quote above (from American novelist, magazine & newspaper editor, Edgar Watson Howe) holds a great deal of truth. Not long ago I was sitting around a luncheon table with several of my aunts and my mother’s cousins, eight of them in all, ranging in age from 78 to 91. I just loved being there with these women, hearing their stories of the past, and joining in their laughter. As I looked around the table that day, I couldn’t help but marvel at the resilient spirit of those present. None of them had easy lives. All were widows. As the oldest daughter, one of the cousins stayed home after high school to help her father take care of her nine siblings when her mother died. Another woman was the primary care-giver of her spouse for seventeen years after his stroke. Others had tended their husbands when they were dying of cancer. One widow was married to an active alcoholic. At one time or another, most had known the hardship of financial insecurity.
As I looked at the happy faces of the women present and listened to their jokes and stories of younger years, their easy laughter frequently filled the room. I thought how amazing it was that none of them was bitter, filled with self-pity, resentful, or harboring envy of someone else’s easier times. Each of them had obviously made their peace with life’s struggles. They left the past behind and looked to the good that life still held for them. Each one gave me hope and a certainty that none of us need be overcome by adversities.
While each of these women has a solid religious faith, it is not only this that keeps them happy. Their open-heartedness and ability to laugh has greatly aided them in maintaining a positive outlook. They reminded me that if we forget how to laugh we miss the hidden joy in each day.
Laughter brings balance to the heart when troubles weigh down the teeter totter of life. No wonder some of the most popular workshops are those on therapeutic laughter. As one ad puts it: “Laughter registers in the body’s chemistry, reversing unhealthy stress reactions and helps various treatments work better…” I really don’t need a workshop to convince me of that. All I need is time spent with people whose wit loosens the stronghold of my struggles. A few hearty belly laughs does me as much good as my daily vitamins.
Most of us take ourselves way too seriously. I know I do. I can’t keep pain and loss from invading my existence but a good sense of humor can keep me from being overburdened by it. When I find myself becoming anxious, irritated, nervous, or overly concerned about my own or others’ problems, I say to myself: “Lighten up, loosen your tight grip.” This works…when I remember to do so.
Comedian Milton Berle quipped, “Laughter is an instant vacation.” Here in the USA, we’re into July, the time of vacations. So, let’s take a “laughter vacation” this month. It will do ourselves, and our world, a lot of good.
© Joyce Rupp
Check out previous Spiritual Zest Articles.
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Index of Poems found on this Site
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"Evergreen" - from Joyce's new book Rest Your Dreams On A Little Twig
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"A Celtic Moment" from the article "Celtic Crossovers: May the Lent of the Irish Be With You"
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Poetry Cards - Samples of cards available for purchase - poetry from Rest Your Dreams On A Little Twig
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Book Awards Announced
Catholic Press Association:
Walk in a Relaxed Manner - placed first in the area of spirituality, softcover book.
The Circle of Life placed second in this same category!
Independent Book Publishers Association:
The Circle of Life received a second place award in the Religion category.
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