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Disaster Relief 37
But, for others, love is not enough. What inspires life?
Although not of a Christian faith, I have always been fascinated by
paintings of the annunciation. It is, to me, the moment of the most pro-
found, divine inspiration. Inspiration is about infusing life with spirit.
Paintings of the annunciation portray the moment when Mary begins to
understand her purpose. The Holy Spirit enters her and, for the first time,
she intuits why she lives. She receives her calling.
Whether or not we understand it in religious or spiritual terms, I think
we each need to find our calling. What are we here to do? While the
therapist can help us sort out the various strands of our reactions to a
tragedy, more is often needed to help us find the purpose that can ani-
mate our lives.
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