Reflection: Returning to Religion of The Heart

In 1986 John McCarthy, a journalist, was abducted by jihadist terrorists in Beirut. He was alone in his cell for over three months and hearing the sound of tortured prisoners all around him. One morning the cumulative fear overwhelmed him. He said that he felt that he was being sucked down into a whirlpool of despair. Suddenly he was on his knees, gasping to breathe and almost lost consciousness. He could only cry out, 'help me please, oh God help me!' The next moment he was on his feet and surrounded by a warm light and was dancing! In less than a breath, his despair had vanished and he was full of optimism and hope. He was left with a huge sense of gratitude, but not being religious, he was unsure whom to thank. Eventually he described it as a good spirit and he revisited that experience many times whenever his resolve began to slip.

John is not unusual. Many people, especially when they meet situations that take them out of their normal environment are opened up to spiritual experience. It may be an accident, an illness, or a separation that triggers an awareness of a deeper and wider dimension of life. That awareness can lead to a complete re-shaping of priorities, a deeper view of the world and often a more positive and generous outlook on life. Those changes are often sustained throughout the rest of life. All this is achieved without a formal religious background so it seems that this awareness is ours simply because we are human.

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