YEAR OF ZEN: SUMMER: DAY 39

A Storm in the Rocky Mountains - Albert Bierstadt

Q: How has pain (physical or emotional) played a part in your spiritual life?

A: There have been multiple times in my life where my pain was translated into spiritual growth. The largest such moment came after my dad died and I found solace in the expansive quiet of the Wasatch Mountains. Frequent hikes there became a form of therapy and helped me work through my pain and grief. Those moments also placed me in big, open, wild environment that continues to humble me. The perspectives offered helped me get a better handle on my place in this big, complex world and this has been a key component of my ongoing spiritual growth and awareness. There are other moments when personal trauma has led to introspection and an interrogation of self, but these formative moments in the Wasatch remain the most profound.