Free Will: Still a Good Idea?

When I deliver keynotes and workshops at caregiving and healthcare conferences, my message has to be secular, so last summer when I was invited to speak at the Oregon Episcopal  Church Women’s Conference, I had a great deal of fun sharing my mother’s spiritual journey through six-and-a-half years of caregiving.  The presentation was based on excerpts from my book, “Letters from Madelyn, Chronicles of a Caregiver.”

Although Mom always believed in a loving and benevolent God, her letters at the beginning of her caregiving experience were often irreverent. In this excerpt, she was struggling to decide which church they should visit, as my dad could no longer manage the stairs at the Congregational Church where they had been members for more than 50 years.

As my dad’s condition worsened, Mom’s faith became deeper, and her spiritual life expanded as she read books by a variety of thought leaders, listened to Deepak Chopra tapes, and learned to meditate. At age seventy-five, she became a certified Reiki instructor.

Since I rarely have the opportunity to share the spiritual part of my mother’s story, we recorded the presentation.  I believe the message will appeal to other caregivers who have an open mind, an inquiring spirit, and the willingness to accept that many roads lead to Damascus. Stay tuned for more excerpts, and if you’d like details on how to order the DVD, please click here: “So God, what are WE going to do today?”