Years ago, while traveling across Europe, my companions and I stopped at an old castle, a medieval relic, meticulously restored as a hotel for wayfarers like us. We stayed for dinner and while the late-day sun moved closer to the evening horizon, I climbed Rapunzel's Tower. As the spiral staircase carried me higher, I paused to catch my breath and look out the windows. The sun streamed in through those narrow slits in the granite walls, lighting my way. Each time I looked out, I got a measure of my progress and a new perspective on the surrounding countryside.
I have thought of that tower climb many times. It seems poetically symbolic of my life - and perhaps each person's life - as I evolve and grow spiritually. Like the spiral staircase, my life has core issues that I seem to circle repeatedly, but each time from different angles and levels. The chapters in this book are some of those core issues and what I have learned from encircling them.
The added insights of others have acted as shafts of light like those from the narrow tower windows. Their sharing helped me light my way, and allowed me to look out from my inner reflections to get a measure of my progress and to see my relationship to my surroundings.
In deference and gratitude to those who directly or indirectly shared their light and perspectives with me, I now share mine. If what others find here helps them on their "tower climbs" or helps to illuminate their inner reflections, my debt will be paid in-kind.