Since the first edition of Joyfully Shattered was published in 2015, events have unfolded that have changed our lives in unforeseen way. As I write these words, our world is experiencing a pandemic of the novel coronavirus that is shaking our assumptions about who we are, our place in the world, and how to live a good life in the face of truly unprecedented challenges. The times to come can be expected to bring more challenges and likely even greater threats. What lies ahead will increasingly cause us to seek new answers for how to live with uncertainty and fear, suffering and death.
The answers for how to cope, how to allow ourselves to be transformed in the best possible way by today's experiences and those to come, lie in reframing these experiences as moments of choice for how to best walk our time on this earth as a spiritual path. We will all die. And when we do, we will confront the question, "Did I live well?" Framing our lives as a spiritual path leads us to challenge ourselves to live the best existence we can until that happens - to serve the light, to serve that which we hold highest and most holy. Content has been added to this 5th Anniversary Edition that draws us into spiritual opportunities the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic is creating, as will the challenging times yet to come once this pandemic is behind us. Indeed, it is through engaging opportunities for spiritual growth that all challenges provide that we will heal and grow as individuals, communities, nations and as one shared humanity around the world.
Another set of events that has also made writing a new edition of this book necessary. I am speaking of the information that has come forth about Joao Teixeira de Faria, the man known as John of God, a spiritual healer in Brazil. My encounters with this man - and more importantly the spirit brings which I now hold in my web of belief to be agents of extraordinary healings, and miracles that have transformed my life and the lives of those I love - have played a significant role in my spiritual journey. In December 2018, six women appeared on a Brazilian television show each alleging they were sexually assaulted by Joao. Since that time, more than 300 women have come forward in sworn police reports of being sexually assaulted by him. As of this writing, he has been convicted on multiple counts of sexual assault, with additional cases being investigated.
The first edition of joyfully Shattered provided questioning, probing reports of the work of John of God, but it did not question the man behind the work. Given what has come to light, this cannot stand as the last word.
It has always been unacceptable for men to mistreat women. Today each of us is called upon to stand firm and clear in condemning all mistreatment of women, including violation of appropriate sexual boundaries. For this reason, I can no longer refer to this man as John of God. Instead, except when the requirements of accurate and effective storytelling dictate otherwise I will refer to him by his name, Joao, or as Medium Joao, because serving as a medium was his role (as is explained in Chapter VIII that describes my experiences with his work).
Our world is entering a challenging and potentially dark time. We need all who serve the light to step forward now, I hope this new 5th Anniversary Edition of Joyfully Shattered will provide you valuable resources to help you do your part
