Beginning Again: Benedictine Wisdom for Living with Illness

Mary Earle offers true wisdom both practical and spiritual for those living with chronic illness. Her knowledge of the Benedictine way of life envelopes her words and offers insight for those facing the challenges of life with chronic illness. Rev. Earle speaks from her own experience in a way that provides enlightenment for the reader. Her words are calming yet challenging. It is clear she believes life with chronic illness is not an end to living well or an end to a true spiritual life and connection with God.

Written by an Episcopal priest and survivor of acute pancreatitis, Beginning Again: Benedictine Wisdom for Living with Illness is a guide for making major changes in one's life to accomodate the requirements of daily living with a serious or chronic condition. Author Mary C. Earle applied St. Benedict's ancient Rule of ordering the life and days of religious communities to apply the structure and stability needed by anyone who must follow strict guidelines for living with illness. From complicated medicinal regimes to the importance of regular exercise and healthy diet to making time in one's life for prayer and submission to God's will, Beginning Again is a profound self-help guide, acutely spiritual, embracing God's love and championing the power of the human spirit.

In this inspired book, Mary Earle--spouse, mother, Episcopal priest, spiritual director--views the exigencies of chronic illness in relation to the gifts and graces to be found along the Benedictine spiritual path. Herself a victim of chronic (and sometimes excruciatingly painful) pancreatitis, Earle readily and wisely links such very real practicalities of patient life as treatment schedules, medication regimens, nutrition, rest, and exercise with Benedictine "listening with the ear of the heart," mindfulness, lectio divina, stability, letting go, "dying and rising" on a daily basis, humility and obedience, ongoing conversion, prayer, and spiritual companionship. The illness thus becomes the spur to spiritual growth in the gentle, balanced "way" of St. Benedict. Very helpful suggestions for reflection and prayer are included. Patients and their caregivers will want to consult this splendid resource, again and again.

Mary Earle takes a difficult situation at best and turns it into a rich blessing from God. Whether you are learning to live with illness, living with someone who is, learning to live free of illness, or simply living life, she uses the Rule of St. Benedict to teach us how to live that life simply. We can all learn from Mary's journey how to enrich our own spiritual journeys.