One Solitary Life

This week, Holy Week, Soul Spa was built around the story of Jesus’ last days.

It was a bold step for the team to declare Jesus as the subject for Soul Spa as it is typical to keep the language neutral and inclusive, appealing to a broader spirituality and those with different faith backgrounds. There was even vigorous triggered response within the planning team, illustrating clearly that the theme could, indeed, use further exploring. Inviting Jesus to Soul Spa was going to take some serious effort.

So how does one take a 5 centuries old tradition (known as the “Stations of the Cross”) and offer a contemporary, reimagined approach? One that helps people who may have limited, or  even no knowledge, of the tradition have a meaningful interaction with the narrative… and still appeal to that broader audience for a deeply meaningful encounter?

The hive mind of the worldwide webs, of course!

One video, in particular, a contemporary approach to the Stations of the Cross developed in 2020 by St Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Minnesota stood out. (link provided below). The commentary of the video and sacred songs offered in response provided a framework for many of the contemplative stations at Soul Spa, reimagined and renamed, pairing stations used in past events, but seen through a new lens.

The poem, “One Solitary Life” (attributed to James Allen Francis), set the tone for the evening… and then participants went on to walk the labyrinth, to reflect, to forgive, to consider what feeds them, what brings them to their knees, and what is worth living for.

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant.  He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30. Then, for three years, he was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn't go to college. He never lived in a big city.  He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born.  He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.

He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him.  His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial.  He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his garments, the only property he had on earth.  When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend.

Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race. I am well within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched,  all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the rulers that ever sat upon their  thrones.  All these —put together—have not affected the life of anyone on this earth as much as that one solitary life.

If you are looking for a way to deepen your Good Friday experience, take some time to watch the video that inspired this beautiful evening of exploration.Click Here to view the video

And if you are looking for a way to explore your spirituality through contemplation, movement, creativity and connection, Soul Spa is a monthly event to soothe your soul, with the next one taking place on Monday, May 12 at 7pm.