Inspirational Quote

I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection.

Sigmund Freud

A Depth Psychology Perspective (Love Hurts)

The cold white room and what felt like a stone table surface were a somehow familiar yet very foreign land as the nurse brought me to see my wife from the waiting room after 45 minutes of separation. My first son was awaiting birth, and I had no idea what to expect in that cold, abysmal place from which we tear the newborn from the tomb of that womb we initially experience as paradise.

What horrific yet novel beginnings. I should have brought a drumming party. However, I believe the Anesthesiologist and the OBGYN would take offense to the beating sounds of drums that welcome life to the world would drown out the sounds of their daily gossip.

As the surgery (C-Section) commenced, I was afraid. But I held my head close to my wife’s whose body laid open before my eyes. High on anesthesia, fearful of what was happening, she turned her head to me and asked if I could see what was going on. All I could say was that it would be okay. But would it? I had no idea. While my education may have prepared me to prepare people for aspects of the journey I was first-hand experiencing, books never make up for lived experiences.

As I saw the drape moving from left to right, I quickly realized new life was about to enter the room, even as its alternative was present, in the cold instruments used to sustain life while it is filleted open on a surgery table. What an odd experience between the beautiful world of life and death, all playing out in a basement on a stone slab, where life and death are present in their natural and unadulterated forms.

It was that day I found out the true nature of love. It is always a breath away from its natural conclusion. But, to this day, I choose to breathe life into those relationships that nurture my journey forward. What will you do for yours?

Love Hurts. But it is in that dividing pain that the brevity and beauty of life are experienced. May blessings find you on your journey to advance confidently in the direction of your dreams.

The Myth Within

Nurturing Grace: The Divine Equation of Love & Preventing Burnout A Sacred Journey: Where Myths Unfold and Potential Awakens

Are you a chronic caregiver, natural helper, or over-giver who feels like you’re running on empty? In this episode of A Sacred Journey, we dive into Dr. Thomas Maples’ insightful essay, Nurturing Grace: The Divine Equation of Love.We explore the "divine equation" from the Gospel of Mark—loving your neighbor as yourself—and why internal self-nurturance is a non-negotiable prerequisite for sustainable service. Learn why you "can't pour wine from a broken bottle," how to integrate the "holy no" to protect your boundaries, and practical ways to practice silence through Lectio Divinaand the intentional pause.
  1. Nurturing Grace: The Divine Equation of Love & Preventing Burnout
  2. The Chiseling of the Soul: Finding Mercy Beyond Guilt and Shame
  3. Filling Your Cup: The Discipline of Loving-Kindness
  4. Fill Your Glass: The Disciplined Practice of Loving-Kindness
  5. The Architecture of Joy: Navigating Darkness to Find Your Light

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