The Three Marriages by David Whyte
As Doris Lessing said, the right book has a way of "insinuating itself into your hands" at the right moment.
That happened for me with The Three Marriages, by David Whyte. I had bought the book several months ago, and it was in plain view, lying around with a dozen other books in various piles, waiting to be read.
After reading Whyte's earlier book, The Heart Aroused, I still had a clear memory of the unique intuitions of this author, known in some circles as the poet of the workplace. I was certain I would enjoy this recent opus too, with its intriguing title.
And indeed, as I read through his narrative about the marriage to one's partner, one's work, and oneself, something deep inside clicked into place. I was profoundly reassured by Whyte's insights into the mysterious aspects of life. Reading his work renewed my faith.
To illustrate the way the marriages are intertwined, the author talks about the lives of three intriguing individuals. All had to challenge the great difficulties life presented and yet all managed to work out their commitment to the three marriages.
Robert Louis Stevenson, Jane Austen and Pema Chodron seem to be vastly different characters; yet the lives of all three are suitable examples of how we face our sorrows and still manage the life- affirming commitment to our partners, our true work, and ourselves.
The book was also full of fascinating anecdotes from Whyte's own life, and sprinkled with examples of his wonderful poetry. I noticed with pleasure that it was dedicated to the late John O'Donohue, an author for whom I hold the greatest admiration.