Catching the Light
Here a Little, There a Little
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Somewhere, somehow, the Universe helped Marshall to die peacefully and his loved ones to witness and partake of that peace. The spaciousness and beauty of the accommodations of the hospice care center calmed Marshall immediately and uplifted us all. Family members helped me to hold vigil in shifts. We all talked to Marshall and held his hand. One gave Marshall gentle massages to help relieve the rigidity of his body, and another sang to him. The nursing staff was incredibly skilled, respectful, and sensitive. A mere furrow in Marshall’s brow brought them running to treat his discomfort or pain. Almost everyone who walked into the room remarked on the peace in his face. Still more, more than I can list. There were the blessings of all those who called and wrote and included Marshall in their own prayers and prayer circles of whatever faith. There was the nurse who found me in the middle of the night and held me while I cried. I don’t know her name and probably never shall. There were my spiritual ministers who traveled across the state in the darkness of the early morning hours to bless Marshall and consecrate his body. And last, but not at all least, there was the sweet peace of my very own, very dear husband, Marshall. I guess this must all be part of what is called the Mystery. How is it possible to hold so much grief and so many blessings, all at the same time? I know only that Life is what tells the story and weaves these together. Maybe Marshall knows the answer to my question now, and perhaps, in time, we all shall know as well.
Select Format
Book Details
About the Book
Catching the Light is the spiritual autobiography of the author’s life in transition just before and after her husband passed. Even though she was already in her late 70s, she felt led to explore new beginnings. Some changes were physical—the move to Maine, for instance. But most of all, she had grown tired of a lifetime of seeking and longing for a dramatic spiritual awakening. When at last she gave it up—the planning, the thinking, the endless reaching, the next book to read—there came an opening. She began to give her attention to the little moments of daily life, and this new focus blossomed into harmonious days and being. These moments and their gifts are told in story, vignettes, self-reflection, and poetry in Catching the Light. An early reader wrote to Janice, “Life stands still when I read your work. Your writings are really wonderful.”