Two major writers testify to this fact. May Sarton, in one of her published journals, said: "Here I am fifty-eight and in the past year have only begun to understand what loving is." T. S. Eliot, at sixty-nine, wrote: "I've only just now had the illumination of knowing what love is. We all think we know, but how few of us do!" A major theme in this workshop will be an exploration, both verbal and experiential, of the meaning of love.
The other theme will be the essential nature of religion. Our real religion, as opposed to our professed religion, consists of how -- deep in ourselves -- we understand the world to be. Our real religion focuses on the things we actually care about in the world -- what we do and what we strive for -- rather than what we profess. Our real religion is something we are and are becoming, not something we memorize and recite. Joseph Campbell saw our actions as emanating from "our own most secret motivating depths." The contents of these motivating depths shape the character and quality of our lives. In exploring religion, we will also seek the meaning of mysticism and of "rational mysticism." An oxymoron? Not at all. The term points to a vital world view that is available to us and will move us toward fullness of life. Rational mysticism generates a highly significant pattern of meaning.
A third theme will be an introduction to various forms of private religious
practice: meditation, naturalistic prayer, epiphany, and an easily learned
form of Tai Chi called Tai Chi Chih.
Dr. Lex Crane has been studying, reflecting on, and writing and speaking about the interface between love, intimacy, meaning, and religion for over 50 years. While on sabbatical at the University of California, he studied the social psychology of professional life, then developed an original understanding of the field. His earlier education was at Johns Hopkins University, where he majored in English, then earned an MA in Creative Writing. Ordained a Unitarian minister in 1952, he has been plying that art, and craft, ever since, mostly on the west coast, from Vancouver to San Diego. Lex is a provocative, insightful, and lucid thinker, speaker, and teacher who has led many workshops in many settings. Among his many accomplishments, he's responsible for the Executive Director of Rowe Camp and Conference Center, Douglas Wilson, becoming a minister. Doug invited him to share the insights he has gained in half a century of ministry with us, and we're honored to have him with us. We hope you will join us.