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Pack containing one copy each of: Vessels of Love and Years of Ripening.
Vessels of Love
The beloved writer and “spiritual midwife” offers timeless wisdom for those who have lived long.
“Have you ever thought of yourself as a ‘vessel of love’? This image speaks to what I envision for the elderhood years… During this lifetime, whether we’ve been aware or not, a Presence of immeasurable love has been flowing through [our lives], quietly filling the vessel of our inner being. Like vats of matured wine, our ripened goodness has readied itself to move outward. . . Now is the efficacious time to tend ‘our tiny vessel’ so this graced goodness strengthens in us and benefits the life of those we encounter.
”—From the Introduction
Years of Ripening
The Years of Ripening focuses on personal transformation, the wonder and goodness of our hidden self, how the qualities of our personhood have been expressed, and in what ways we can claim ever more of the truest reality of our inner being.
As old age takes place, our physical being naturally weakens and wrinkles. At the same time, our non-physical being smooths out with a peaceful satisfaction. The tight ridges of past failures recede and dark illusions fade as we increasingly trust our life to be a harmonious song rooted in love. This encourages us to shed our self-willed, false control until we become freed from what binds our spirit. We let go of who we imagined ourself to be and grow in a transparency that reveals our seasoned-with-love self.
All is not ended with our final departure. We leave behind the beauty and bounty that resided within our aged selves. Like a ripened melon on the vine, so the matured fruit of our loving heart and weathered wisdom leaves a beneficial legacy to nurture a future generation.
Joyce Rupp is well known for her work as a writer, international retreat leader, and conference speaker. She is the author of numerous bestselling books, including Boundless Compassion, Praying Our Goodbyes, Open the Door, and Fragments of Your Ancient Name, Prayer, Walk in a Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons from the Camino, and The Cosmic Dance.
