A Reverent Life is my (C. Forrest McDowell) heartfelt reflections and mental ponderings on life.
I am 68 years old. In 2011 I was struck with Lyme disease that profoundly changed my life. Part of my updated story — I didn’t write anything for 5 years because of Lyme — is that I cured myself of this dreaded disease naturally without any form of medical intervention. It took years of earnest effort. But it also freed me up. Let me briefly explain.
To combat this debilitating controversial disease, I necessarily needed to recreate myself in all areas of my life, from the physical to the mental, emotional, spiritual, deeply held beliefs and values, and more.
Before Lyme, I perhaps saw the world all soft-focused, warm and fuzzy. Years of daily meditation seemed to round the sharp edges of reality. But having your life suddenly altered by an insect the size of the period at the end of this sentence puts things into perspective.
There is life that embraces reverence, respect, kindness, courtesy, honor, dignity, cooperation, sharing, etc. There is also an irreverent characteristic of life that cannot be denied. It is not so much a shadow side of reverence because a reverent consciousness needs no shadow side.
Irreverence simply is our human need to take issue with this tragic comedy in which we are forced to exercise our personally unique talent before our light is snuffed out. Lyme disease sobered me up. It didn’t take away my deep philosophical position of reverence for life. It gave me permission to accept irreverence — its tone, words, intent, and above all its opportunity to display wit and humor as a part antidote to its appearance in life, be it personal or cultural.
So, there you go. Enjoy both the reverent and irreverent.
A Reverent Life 