Liso Makarius Starrett

Separations - Necessary Evils?: a Memoir Liso Makarius Starrett

The book describes examples of separations as an opportunity for transformation and healing. These include early experiences from the author's personal life, such as missing her absent father as a four year old, and how she found a way to cope; once she moved to the United States she pursued a personal search for meaning, mostly spiritual, in unexpected places: during a vision quest, the World Trade Center after September 11, a bungee jump in New Zealand, learning & teaching how to walk a Labyrinth, becoming a Spiritual Director, Skydiving, serving as an auxiliary mounted police officer in New York's Central Park, becoming a pilot. Later, her personal experiences and training helped her understand and connect with patients, who shared their lives during visits. As a chaplain, the author learned quickly that one cannot easily fix other peoples' problems but can walk alongside them in their longing to heal and perhaps even discover their own spiritual potential. From these experiences, the readers learn that there are surprising benefits to facing physical, mental, emotional or spiritual distress in life. They may also discover the possibility to heal and even to reach a higher spiritual level when they understand, they are not alone.