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March/April 2008 Living Now
A Tribute to the Life of John O'Donohue

This early, dark morning is a prayer of vibrant stillness as a bright moon sets in the west, journeying beyond my horizon while a new light glows in the east. I think of the author John O'Donohue who is now just beyond our horizon, and we, the international community, that both mourn the loss of this luminary and celebrate his life.

O'Donohue passed away unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep on January 3 at age 52. The immediate and profound loss of this soul friend was felt by all who knew him. Readers everywhere, touched by the intimacy of his writing, felt they too mourned a friend who departed too soon.

This man had a way with words. O'Donohue is perhaps best known as the Irish poet and philosopher who authored the international bestseller Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom. His writing shows a rare gift for drawing upon the deep well of ancient Celtic spirituality and melding with it serious philosophy, poetic imagination and compassionate kindness. Of equal inspiration are his books, Eternal Echoes: Exploring Our Yearning to Belong, and Beauty: The Invisible Embrace as well as his poetry, and his forthcoming book To Bless the Space Between Us.

Everything he has written is a deeply felt blessing, prayer and love letter in tremendous appreciation and reverence for life and its sacredness. O'Donohue puts into words our innermost being for which we ourselves have not yet found words. He encourages a soul life amidst modern culture and calls us to bring ourselves and the world into wholeness.

O'Donohue was also a former priest, theological scholar, environmental activist and a native to Conamara in the wildness of western Ireland. He made a yearly pilgrimage to the Northwest to lead week-long retreats at the Oregon coast. In last October's Portland workshop called "Awakening to God is the Great Adventure," he invited participants to the intimate yet wild geography of the divine ground, and inspired all to come home to their own presence, to the home they never left.

He said God calls us to live the unlived life. Perhaps the best tribute to O'Donohue is to live the life one dreams. In his fullness he cast light into the mystery and revealed extraordinary presence. Wasn't he also coaxing us to come into rhythm with ourselves and offer our gifts too? John O'Donohue, I trust in your journey beyond the horizon to the farther shore, to the home you never left.

A wide circle honors him with heartfelt offerings that celebrate his earthly lived life. Attend a public tribute to John O'Donohue on March 25 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Central Library in the U.S. Bank meeting room at 800 SW 10th Ave. in Portland. Visit www.soulfriending.com/tribute.

- Helene H. Emerson