Robert V. Taylor is an internationally known spiritual leader who has worked for decades with Archbishop Desmond Tutu in the fight against apartheid. Born and raised in South Africa, he experienced a miraculous healing as a teenager in Cape Town. This enabled him to empathize with those in dire straits, those who homeless, poor, sick, or lonely.
Taylor's lifelong commitment to service of others found another avenue of expression through his spiritual adventures as the first gay Episcopal priest in America. He worked in the Diocese of New York from 1983 - 1999 and was Dean of St. Mark's Cathedral Seattle for eight years. Today Taylor is Chair of the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation.
At one point, Desmond Tutu asked Taylor: "Tell me about your life, Robert — not what you've done, but who you are." Now Taylor challenges us to do the same. The stories of our lives are significant and hold great and enlightening epiphanies for us when we take them seriously.
From the perspective of a lifetime of service and activism, Taylor presents the "Seven Pathways to Becoming Fully Alive." Among them are:
"1. Create mindful aware living — to live your life open to the thin places.
"2. Discover the disguises of the Holy — to be present to the surprises of the Holy around us.
"3. Polish your connection to the Universe — to be grounded in your belovedness."
In a world of broken promises, 24/7 stress, and fears about the unknown future, Taylor gives us hopeful spiritual pathways into the years ahead. There is so much that must be done. That is why we are grateful for the reminder that we are co-creators with God of a new world of more justice, equality, and peace.
