On November 15th we will release Gunilla Norris’ newest offering, Sheltered in the Heart: Spirituality in Deep Friendship.
Gunilla Norris’ parents were world travelers in the Swedish diplomatic corps and so she grew up essentially in three places—Argentina, Sweden and the United States. As a child she was given a rich exposure to different languages and cultures. She received her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and her M.S. from Bridgeport University in the field of human development. She is a mother and a grandmother. She has been a psychotherapist in private practice for more than thirty years and has felt privileged to accompany many people on their journeys to growth and healing. Her special love has been teaching meditation and leading contemplative workshops of many kinds. As a writer Gunilla has published eleven children’s books, one book of poetry and six books on spirituality including: Being Home, Becoming Bread, Inviting Silence, A Mystic Garden and Simple Ways.
Sheltered in the Heart is now available to pre-order exclusively in our bookstore. And remember, like with all our titles, if you pre-order through us we will ship your book now! Visit Gunilla’s page in our store.»
In the weeks leading up to the release, we will be posting a few excerpts of Sheltered in the Heart. This third preview reflects on a few of the characteristics of deep friendship.
To be honest about our faults in the presence of love takes guts and humility. It is healing to name our failings and unhelpful habits of being. It is important to have no illusions about our selves either in detriment or in self-assigned grandeur. We are so very human, of the earth—a kind of humus, and from a larger perspective, very humorous, too. Really, how important do we think we are?
When the friend of our heart still loves us despite our worst faults, we can learn to love ourselves better. To be revealed with the limps of character we each have is very naked, indeed. This is the humus we must work with all our lives most likely. We may improve a little, but the tendencies to anger, impatience, discouragement, grandiosity, delusion, lack of courage etc. etc. are there, mixed in with our positive qualities. Perhaps we are born with these inherent tendencies. Perhaps our intrinsic goodness and our innate faults are meant to meet day by day in order to compost into something organic and vital? Then who would we most want to have in our corner if not our heart’s friend who honors the whole process with us? Who, but our friend, will be our sometime catalyst, confidant, challenger, confessor and consoler?