Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom describes a soul friend and it was recommended by a good soul friend of mine.  The book presents a view of spirituality incorporating aspects of Christianity and traditional Celtic spirituality.  Anam Cara  is Gaelic for “soul friend” and it explores the power of intimate friendship in understanding one’s inner self.  John O’Donohue has popularized Celtic spirituality as a poet, author, priest, and philosopher.

He describes an anam cara as “a person to whom you could reveal the hidden intimacies of your life . . . Central here is the recognition and awakening of the ancient belonging between two friends”  (p. xviii).  A friend is not simply an acquaintance but “. . . a loved one who awakens your life in order to free the wild possibilities within you” (p. 19).  The author identifies a number of principles and spiritual disciplines that help one understand and respond to the rhythm’s of one’s inner life.

The book is not overtly Christian in its approach; however, it does contain a number of biblical principles.  A major theme throughout the book may be summarized by the statement, “Once the soul awakens, the search begins and you can never go back” (p. 7).  If you’re eager to gain a fresh perspective in your spiritual walk, this book contains a number of thought provoking ideas.  O’Donohue writes, “The waste of time is one of the greatest areas of loss in life.  So many people are, as Patrick Kavanagh put it, ‘preparing for life rather than living it.’  You only get one chance,  You have one journey through life; you cannot repeat even one moment or retrace one footstep”  (p. 218).

Are you living your life or simply preparing for life?  The Apostle Paul realized the importance of living fully in the moment as he quoted from the Old Testament,

for He says,
“AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.”
Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”—  (2 Corinthians 6:2)

May you experience life in His fullness!