Molly Srode is a retired hospital chaplain in her early 60s. A spiritual seeker, Molly shares details of her own spiritual journey (she was once a Catholic nun and educator) with readers of all faith traditions with ease. She and her husband, Bernie Srode, a former priest, have been actively pursuing their spiritual lives together over the past twenty-five years. They are publishers of the Senior Spirituality Newsletter and coauthors of Keeping Spiritual Balance As We Grow Older: More than 65 Creative Ways to Use Purpose, Prayer, and the Power of Spirit to Build a Meaningful Retirement (SkyLight Paths). When they are not traveling, they make their home in Columbus, Ohio.

Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi

Part One The Individual Spirit
1. Taking the First Step 3
2. Letting Go of Who We Were 9
3. Finding Out Who We Really Are 13
4. The Round House 17
5. Gone Where? 21
6. Soul Purpose 25
7. Taking the Plunge 29
8. Connecting with Spirit 33
9. Finding the Voice of Spirit 39
10. Attuning to the Voice of Spirit 43
11. Fruits of the Spirit 47

Part Two The Great Spirit
12. Preface to God 53
13. Strange Gods 57
14. The Journey Continues 63
15. A Bend in the Road 67
16. Will the Real God Please Stand Up? 73
17. Creation Speaks 79
18. The Presence 83
19. The Other 87
20. What about Religion? 93

Part Three Practical Spirituality
21. Where Do We Go from Here? 99
22 . Compassion 101: Loving Yourself 103
23. Compassion 102: Loving Others 109
24. Judge Not Lest . . . 113
25. When Bad Things Happen 119
26 . Sitting with the Feelings 125
27. Four A.M. Darkness 131
28. Measuring the Distance 137
29. Keeping in Step 143
30. Getting the Job Done 149
31. Unfinished Business 153
32. Four Steps to a Better Day 157
33. Going Home 163
34. Now Is the Time 169