James Finley on the Healing Path

by Swanson

“The beauty and illumination of Jim’s language, whether he is writing about trauma or God’s presence, open the heart. To read this book is to be changed forever.”
— Bonnie Badenoch
(Author of The Heart of Trauma: Healing the Embodied Brain in the Context of Relationships)

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I was overly giddy, strangely nervous, but above all grateful to be in conversation with Jim about his breathtaking new book, The Healing Path: A Memoir and an Invitation. Each page is a thousand pages deep, that is how Jim walks about the world, drawing from the depths and teaching with winsome grace, poetics, and of course, wisdom. I have read The Healing Path twice now and I don’t see an end to rereading it, it charts the unfolding of Jim’s life; terrorizing trauma and abuse he endured as a child and at the monastery, graced invitations of transformative amidst the anguish, spiritual guidance from Thomas Merton, the richness of marriage to his beloved late wife, Maureen, and so much more. Published by the fine folks at Orbis Books who are bringing us some of the best contemplative writing this side of the century. I have bought copies for friends and family. It is a rare and delicate thing to say about a book, but this book The Healing Path, could change your life.

I first met Jim 15 years ago when i was but a lowly intern at a contemplative organization. We were hosting a big conference and as often happens at such events, there was big banquet. I happened to be sitting next to him at a dinner table, alongside Richard Rohr and Cynthia Bourgeault. Luck and grace seemed to be conspiring for my benefit that evening. Richard and Cynthia fell into conversation. Jim and I shrugged and looked at eachother like, I guess we are one another’s evening entertainment. I was thrilled, because I was obsessed with Thomas Merton and knew Jim actually knew and sat at the feet of my hero. As I peppered Jim with all of  my Merton questions, his eyes sparkled in animated response. Slowly, my questions about Merton transformed into shared conversation about life. I learned what and how he read, his practices, his work as a therapist and teacher, his life as father and husband. He asked about my journey, my internship, my hopes and dreams. And we laughed our asses off. I was spellbound by how his presence radiated with the  qualities of Divine Love. I am tarrying on now, but the point I am sharpening is that Jim Finley is a rare teacher whose guileless poetic teachings have an eternal and evergreen quality to them. 

Now for the official bio, student of Thomas Merton and clinical psychologist, Dr. James Finley teaches how connecting to our Divine indwelling can transcend fear and shame and awaken to our True Self. A faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation, he is the author of Merton’s Palace of Nowhere, The Contemplative Heart, and coming out today is his latest book The Healing Path. Jim is the host of the best contemplative podcast out there today, Turning to the Mystics. His conversation partner in podcasting is the terrific Kirsten Oates. In our conversation today we talk about Jim’s book, The Healing Path: A Memoir and an Invitation and the conversation floats through key reflections from his book; on the trauma he endured and graced invitations, stories about Thomas Merton’s attention and wit, bringing the monastic sensibilities and rhythms in his daily life in the world, and so much more.

Buy The Healing Path or get it from the library. You will reread it and gift it to those who understand that the healing path is always mysteriously unfolding. Or maybe how Jim would put it in his poetics, “God protects us from nothing, but inexplicably sustains in everything.”

Listen to Jim on his sublime podcast: Turning to the Mystics

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Episode Show Notes

Books by James Finley

Resources & People Mentioned

Drink Recommendation

  • Drambuie Scotch (or iced tea)
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photo swiped from cac.org