Searching for Wellness in Difficult Days
How one woman in the 14th century helped me and can help you through challenging times.
We need something to anchor to these days. We need breakthrough in our mental capacity to navigate a future that is unknown, uncertain and unstable.
In the months and weeks leading up to the National Election, I found an anchor in the words, life, example and prayers of a English woman who lived in the 14th Century in England. Her name is Julian of Norwich (1342-1416). She survived the worst pandemic and plague that swept across Europe snuffling out the lives of millions of human beings. It was called the “Black Death.” This horrid disease killed half of the population of England. Half. 50% of children, parents, brothers and sisters, neighbors and those in high places and whose living was eked out in the gutters died from this dreaded disease.
The disease was so terrible and swept across Europe so quickly, that people were buried in mass graves; layered human bodies lowered and quickly buried—some graves containing hundreds, even thousands of bodies.
Sometimes, some perspective actually does help us.
We need perspective these days to help us find our anchor. History offers us a perspective that we need in these modern times to remind us that we are not the first to have to navigate uncertain times; hard times and impossible times.
Julian’s entire life was lived during this time of catastrophic conditions. The plague began when she was six years old. She caught the plague at age thirty; had last rites said over her but miraculously survived. It was during such dire times that Julian had a series of visions. In her visions, Julian was given words, visions and insights which she then, offered to people who came to her for encouragement and direction. Her words became anchors—anchors that helped anchor people in challenging times.
Just yesterday, my friend, whom I have written about on Substack, and is ten years older than me, called me early the morning after the election. He was in despair. I knew from his voice that he wasn’t doing well. He simply said, “Steve, I need a ‘word.’” I immediately knew that not only did my friend need a word but, I needed a word as well. Perhaps, you do as well.
To be human is to admit there are just times in our lives when a word from beyond is just needed. Nothing else will do but hearing a word from beyond the breaking news; beyond the political candidates; beyond our frail humanity that can reach the great, deep abyss of the human soul. Such a word is not a word of pie in the sky. It is not a Hallmark Greeting Card—and it is not just quoting a Scripture.
A word, when given, is like a rich distilled insight that somehow, calms the soul and offers assurance and perspective. It is a candle lit in the most dark places of our cloistered, four chambered heart. It is but a crumb of bread dropped in our hands that when chewed and savored offers us nourishment and strength. That is what a word is like to receive one. A word is an anchor to help someone stay anchored in hard times.
One of the words given to Julian in 1373 was this:
“All shall be well.
And all shall be well.
And in all manner of things, all shall be well.”
Julian’s words are the exact words I offered my friend, alone in his room in the nursing home, not one mile from my mountain home. I said, “Listen to me and listen well.” Focus on these words written long ago but perfect for us today.” I paused, took a slow breath and exhaled these words as a word that might help. They are:
“All shall be well.
And all shall be well.
And in all manner of things shall be well.”
My friend, sighed and said, “Oh me. I needed that. Thank you.” We hung up. I felt honored to have a ladle to reach into my soul to draw up and out such words of life for my friend—water I have needed to drink multiple times these hours and days.
Julian lived out her life in a very small room with two windows in the walls in her town of Norwich in England. One window in her cell or room, opened to the streets outside of her town, Norwich. Through that window, she could hear people talking and walking outside. It was through this window that people came to speak to Julian. She had developed a huge reputation as a spiritual advisor—a spiritual director—a trusted voice that offered light in such darkness. She sat in her cell and listened and then after a great listening, offered perspective. People in her day needed perspective they needed a word. And, this is no different from today.
The other window in her room opened to the sanctuary of her church. Through that window she heard the prayers, sermons, chants and smelled the incense that gave her perspective. In her small cell, between the church and the world, Julian lived her life. She lived between two world—just like I feel I do. I’m not Julian. But I am inspired by this woman of conviction and her words offered seven hundred years ago bolster me; help give me perspective and hope. That is what I call I three prong anchor: To be bolstered; to be offered perspective and to be given hope. That is the anchor so many of us need these days—and will continue to need in the unknown future. We need an anchor these days and I think Julian’s words are such an anchor to consider.
I live in-between two worlds: the world of church and the world of the world where politics, conversations and trivia all mix. I resonate with her life and navigate some of the same conversations she most likely had in her own time. Julian was not a theologian nor am I. She was a simple woman—but a wise soul.
She, liked me, lived in between two very alive and active spheres. And in this space in the in-between, she sought wisdom and insight. It is why I like her so. It is why I have come to trust her words so much these days.
She was real. She had lived experience giving her authority to say such a word and she was and continues to be, believable—trustworthy—a Voice from beyond. She lived through hard times. She brought light to the darkness. I hope to do the same. In only in this Substack for you—wherever you are in reading this and when ever you discover it. She is vetted and trustworthy. I receive her words as a wonderful and steady anchor in turbulent times and I offer them to you.
Julian’s primary message to people living in such dark times, was about their wellness—their well-being. She knew that life was more than just being physically healthy; financially healthy or going to church and assume that one’s mere attendance to a service was enough to offer an anchor to survive life’s storms. Her simple words all distilled come down to wellness—a commodity that cannot be politicized, regulated or dispensed through pharmacology.
Her words about wellness help me understand why the word and term, “soul care” has been my life long mantra and will be till I die, I suppose. It’s all about caring for what matters most. What matters most is the soul. Knowing this, then, I must choose to care for what matters most in my life.
Her words, again are these:
“All shall be well.
And, all shall be well.
And, in all manner of things, all shall be well”
These are the words of wisdom we need regardless of how you voted; what you believe doctrinally and what creed you live your life by these days—even what political party you are affiliated with right now. Storms are going to come to all of us. They already are here.
Imagine these words offered to a middle school girl navigating peer pressure at school.
Imagine these words offered to a boy who is being bullied.
Imagine these words to a friend diagnosed with cancer.
Imagine these words to someone you know facing a very hard time right now.
Well being is not for one class of people; one political party and certainly not one, particular denomination. Well-being is what the Creator had in mind when all us came into being. Wellness is not just for Americans. It is for the people this morning climbing the side of a mountain in Tibet searching for their dinner tonight. It is for the coffee farmer in Ethiopia who picks red coffee berries every day and roasts them; then sells them to barter enough goods to buy their spices for the stew that will be cooked tonight. Well being is not just for one group of people at the expense of another. That’s not well being--that is privilege. Well being is the right, hope and responsibility of every single human on the planet. We are all God’s children.
Well being is about my friend in the “rest home” that provides no rest for his sound mind and who calls his new digs, a “human warehouse of death.” His well being yesterday was at stake given that when he woke up; heard the news of what had happened in the election began to spiral into a deep, dark hole.
Friends, our well being is at stake.
We need a word.
We need a message from a woman who recorded her words because they were visions “given” her by God for such times.
Julian’s words have helped anchor me and I believe that Julian’s words can foster your own well-being.
Her words give perspective. We need a wide perspective to help us avoid spiraling and living in despair. Perspective helps us realize that it’s a new day, today. It’s not the end of the world.
Her words are anchored in the human condition marred by trial, danger and vulnerability.
Say them with me, every day. Say them for your evening prayers before going to bed. Say them with me as your have your first cup of coffee. Say them as you sit in the sun today or ride in the Uber to your office. If you are in a cubicle or if you are in the forest; if you are with your pre-school children who are sick or if you are on a cruise in the Mediterranean… these words are needed.
I noted with great sadness, my social media flow yesterday. People I respect; authors that I read; counselors that I admire; and poets that I love were all lamenting and teeter-tottering on the edge of despair. One person I read, opened their feed this way, “I’ve got nothing for you but one shitty prayer…” Seeing and reading people’s responses to the election—some were happy and thrilled while others tanked out and floundering, opened up a pathway that invited me to also sit in a dark space.
But, I remembered Julian. I remembered her words. I said them over and over as a breath prayer and I am saying them again today. Perhaps, this might be the only prayer I might say. I don’t know. I just know that whether I face death or a longer life, I want to say with Julian her astonishing prayer.
I wish more of my friends knew the life and work of Julian—a woman seasoned by adversity; wise beyond circumstances and spiritual to seek a higher perspective may just offer to us—too all of us an anchor we will need.
What is sure is this: Storms will come and storms will go. We need an anchor.
Moods will change like morning clouds and most of us will never remember a single sermon, even the best preachers, among us will deliver. But, what we can remember is Julian’s astonishing prayer:
“All shall be well.
And, all shall be well.
And, in all manner of things shall be well.”
Recently, Gwen and I gathered with some very special friends to celebrate our joint 70th birthdays. We invited our friends to the coast where we laughed, ate seafood and enjoyed time together. It was here, in this setting that I told my friends about Julian’s words that had become so important for me. Knowing my friend’s stories, not one of us had been spared some form of plague that felt as if we may perish by a huge storm in each of our lives. There was a dark plague happening in each our lives and we had come to the beach for perspective. We told our stories to each other and then I offered Julian’s prayer for us. We said her words and kept saying through the weekend together.
We were bolstered. We where encouraged by her words; we felt as if a great word from beyond had been given us from Julian’s sandwiched cell with two, tiny windows in the midst of deadly plague.
In that place and in our own place we can say this prayer with assurance and comfort and gain hope and perspective.
“All shall be well.
And all shall be well.
And in all manner of things, shall be well.”
May it be so!
Welcome to all the new subscribers to my Substack. Many of you have found your way here because of my “Notes.” I’m using Notes on Substack to place quotes, prayers, things that move me and interest me in the hope that these little “notes’ might be some sort of anchor for you. In most Substacks, I’m writing a poem—my new way of writing these days. But, there was something stirring in me this morning and I needed to just get this out for any who might be helped by it—to anyone needing an anchor.
I want to post Parker Palmer’s post regrading where we are and how I tried to offer my own reflection in the need to have the good words of Julian;
Here's what I’ve been doing since election day: gathering (mostly online) with people who care about each other to give and receive the good words that are, as the poet says, bread for the soul.
“Good words” come in many forms. Sometimes they're words of pain, anger, and fear. Sometimes they're words of resistance and commitment to the struggle. What good words have in common is the simple fact that they come from the depths of the human heart—and when we speak them, they deepen the bond of trust that creates community.
Trust has been one of the big losers in this era of American politics—and trust is what we must restore if we are to reweave and transform the tattered fabric of our common life. So let’s begin close in, with people we know to be trustworthy. And let's keep expanding the circle to those who "stand in need" the way we do.
For the past three days, I’ve had a chance to do just that with groups ranging from 4 to 25 to 1,000. It's been healing and empowering for me.
Slowly, slowly, I’m finding ground beneath my feet again. Slowly, slowly, in the lives of my friends, colleagues, and strangers I’m seeing the bright stars V.P. Harris talked about in her concession speech—good people doing going work against stiff odds—stars that are best seen against the backdrop of a midnight sky.
David Whyte has it right: turn off the noise of what people call “the news.” Tune in to the news of the human heart where ground and guidance for the journey can always be found. Exercise the muscle called trust whenever and wherever we can—and then reach out in trust to one more and one more and one more.
No one is going to rescue us, so let's start rebuilding a community devoted to the common good from the inside out and from the ground up. We're all hungry, and we can feed each other.
I posted David Whyte’s remarkable poem in NOTES!