When the Spirit Moves You

At the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville this Friday I'm signing copies of MARRIED TO BHUTAN, and I'm on a panel talking about spirituality. The title of the discussion is "Where the Spirit Moves You -- True Stories of Faith in Change." I don't usually talk about my own spirituality or comment on the spirituality of others. It's a private thing. Our spirituality manifests itself-- whatever our beliefs-- in our actions. Why talk so much about it when you can live it, so to speak?

The spiritual realm, whatever and wherever that is, is the only place where true change happens, in our lives and in the world.

I moved to Bhutan so many years ago because I was drawn to the spirituality of the people and place. It oozes out of the rocks. It's not so much religion as it is a way of life. I also like the way that the pace of life unfolds in a purposeful way. Living in Bhutan has taught me the most important lesson of my life and this is it:  Before we talk about "spiritual," and even before we pronounce ourselves spiritual beings, we have to get things right in our lives. We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and be honest with what we see. Not possible for some. Possible for others. But we know when we don't have things right in our lives, in our jobs, with our families, and especially in our motivations. 

                   The saddest are those not right in their lives/who are acting to make thing right  for others:/ they act only from the self - /and that self will never be right:/ no luck, no help, no wisdom. -- William Stafford