Daily Excerpt: Weekly Soul (Craigie) - Introduction
Today's book excerpt comes from Weekly Soul: Fifty-two Meditations on Meaningful, Joyful, and Peaceful Living by Frederic Craigie . INTRODUCTION In August, 2004, my friend and psychologist colleague Peter Flournoy, Ph.D., died of cancer at the age of 45. Peter was a remarkable person, an energetic professional, and a gentle soul. He experienced his cancer as a blessing that taught him more about life than he otherwise would have understood. He packed a lot into the last couple of years of his life, ice climbing several times and sea kayaking to Monhegan Island (ten miles off the Maine coast—not for the faint of heart) a month before his death. Peter was also excited about his spiritual life, which was informed particularly by Buddhist philosophy and practice in his last years. His memorial service took place on a glorious summer day. We who attended all received a card with a favorite meditative image of Peter’s and his words: Life has taught me not to grasp and hold but