Buddies Share Their Spiritual Journeys

Sixteen older men were asked to describe their spiritual journeys while on a retreat. They responded by opening their souls and speaking with rare honesty, courage, and vulnerability. The candor of the men revealed a tapestry of beliefs: most were Christian, though some attended church and others did not. One was Jewish while others identified as spiritual, agnostic, or atheist. The retreat provided a forum where the men presented authentic accounts of how their spiritual journeys unfolded in a secular society. The men shared how they apply their spiritual values to daily life, speaking of inner-world challenges, such as dealing with imperfections, doubts, and fears, and outer-world experiences, like suffering child abuse, the war in Vietnam, and alcoholism. This deep sharing created a deeper bond among the men, a connection characterized by respect and empathy. Buddies is a deeply personal and engaging collection of stories, each written, to paraphrase John of the Cross, "with no other light or guide than the one which burns in their heart."