The Nest in the Stream
Page 12
In the earliest pages of the book you are introduced to a young man named Ben, who is living, and dying, with cancer. I asked Ben if I could share his story in a book I was writing, adding that I felt he had a lot to teach others. He immediately said yes. He asked me to tell him about the book, which I did. Later, I shared the finished manuscript with his mother, Juanita. I wanted to make sure that she was happy with how I had told her son’s story. She took the manuscript to read and we met afterward. She told me that she had wept while reading about Ben. She said she was happy for me to share Ben’s story and hoped that it might be a help to others. I am deeply grateful to Ben and Juanita.
I am especially grateful to my mentor and dear friend Joanna Macy. I have learned and continue to learn so much from this huge-hearted, Earth-loving elder. She has been, and continues to be, a huge inspiration to me. Thank you, Joanna, for your encouragement always, and for your beautiful foreword.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity of being mentored by Jon Young during the writing of the book. I have learned so much from Jon about demystifying the practice of nature connection, and making it as accessible as our own backyards. Thank you, Jon.
Even though I never had the opportunity to meet Irish philosopher and poet John Moriarty in person, his thinking, published work, and orally recorded teachings educated and encouraged me to begin writing this book in the first place. I am deeply grateful for the inspiration I have received and continue to receive from this great Celtic bard.
When I told my beloved godmother, Dorothy Cross (Senior), that I was writing a book, she asked, “Is it a big book?” “Yes,” I replied (at that time it was more than 180,000 words!) “I think you should write a short book,” she said, “No one reads big books anymore.” I took your advice, Aunty Dor. Thank you!
There are many others who have helped me by reading the manuscript in its various iterations, and offering me critical feedback and words of encouragement and endorsement: Ed Bastian, Rick Beckett, Robbie Bosnak, Ed Casey, Mario Cepeda, Kathy Corcoran, Dorothy Cross, Antony Farrell, Catherine Gautier, Leslie Gray, Richard Groves, Kurt Goerwitz, Tom Hutchinson, Steve Jacobson, Richard Kearney, Sally Kearney, Carolyn Kenny, Krista Lawlor, Stephen Liben, Teddy Macker, Elaine McCracken, BJ Miller, Thomas Moore, Bal Mount, James Morley, Anne Price, Dave Richo, Souken Danjo, Mary Vachon, and Mary Watkins. My thanks to each of you, and to anyone I have inadvertently missed, please forgive me.
Finally, I want to thank Juliet Spohn-Twomey and Stephanie Glatt, who allowed me to come onto the grounds of La Casa de Maria Retreat and Conference Center in Santa Barbara to write. There I would sit, under the oaks or by the creek. The book is a co-creation with this sacred land and the beings who live there.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
MICHAEL KEARNEY is a physician specializing in hospice and palliative medicine, with over 35 years’ experience. He has lived in Ireland, England, France, and Canada before moving to the United States in 2001. He currently lives in Santa Barbara, California, where he is a founding partner of Palliative Care Consultants of Santa Barbara. Michael is married to psychologist, meditation teacher, and author Radhule Weininger, PhD. They teach and write together and share six adult children between them. Additional content related to this book can be found at www.michaelkearneymd.com.
DESCENDANTS OF THE EARTH
Descendants of the Earth is a community-based nonprofit organization under the leadership and service of Wolf and Lisa Wahpepah, whose vision is to preserve the integrity of traditional Native American culture for the benefit of all people, while promoting the noncommercialization of Native teachings. Native culture has much to contribute to the environmental restoration of Mother Earth, promoting harmony in interpersonal relationships, and peaceful resolution to larger conflicts that affect the welfare of all people.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Descendants of the Earth,
PO Box 301, Ventura, CA 93002,
United States of America
Phone (office): 805-677-4075
A portion of royalties from the sale of this book will go to Descendants of the Earth.
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Parallax Press is a nonprofit publisher, founded and inspired by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. We publish books on mindfulness in daily life and are committed to making these teachings accessible to everyone and preserving them for future generations. We do this work to alleviate suffering and contribute to a more just and joyful world.
For a copy of the catalog, please contact:
Parallax Press
P.O. Box 7355
Berkeley, CA 94707
parallax.org