Don't Be A Waster Of Sorros [Hardcover]

The well known Austrian poet and spiritual writer, Rainer Maria Rilke encouraged his young friend not to be a waster of sorrows, but to use them in a positive way as a means to help him grow in holiness. And isn't this the challenge for all of us? Everyone has sorrows in life. The important question is: what can we do with them so that we don't waste them? Whether our sorrows are personal or communal, how can we share our mutual vulnerability so that we can connect with others in a way that leads to growth? For over thirty years as a psychotherapist and spiritual director, Peter C. Wilcox has listened to people's stories about their lives. Often, parts of their stories involve sorrows of one kind or another. Some people become overwhelmed by their sorrows while others have learned how to integrate them into their lives in a positive way. This book is an invitation to discover how we can learn to integrate our sorrows into our own lives so that we can grow psychologically and spiritually. It suggests nine ways that we can reflect on our sorrows to deepen our spiritual lives, so that as Rilke wrote to his friend, we don't waste them. Dr. Samuel Johnson wrote: 'For sorrow there is no remedy . . . it requires what it cannot hope.' In Don't Be a Waster of Sorrows, Peter Wilcox proves Johnson wrong. The book becomes 'a place of refuge' where the reader considers how to accept, grieve, pray, empathize, bless, serve, learn, and ultimately live with the mystery of sorrow. Everyone has been wounded by sorrow; this book provides the hope required both to live through it and to thrive. --Jeannette Suflita, Organization Development Consultant, The Johns Hopkins Hospital The beauty of Don't Be a Waster of Sorrows is that it opens us up to new opportunities for processing the pain and suffering in our lives. . . . Every reader will gain insights from Peter Wilcox's psycho-spiritual career and life experiences. --William Talentino, OFM Cap, St. Fidelis Friary PelC'