Spirituality and the Trapeze

“Trapeze is a vibrant icon of people engaged in living, trusting, harmonious relationships”

Since his death in the mid 90’s, I’ve had the privilege of being responsible for the archives and written works of the author, Henri Nouwen, who wrote some 40 books about his spiritual journey. Henri was a Dutch priest who taught at Notre Dame, Yale, and Harvard, and then came to live in the community of L’Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill, Ontario until his death in 1996. One of the projects that Henri loved but never accomplished was the translation of his experience with the trapeze into a book on the spiritual life. One day I began to ponder how I, an elderly Sister of St. Joseph, might bring this project to fruition.

But Me! On the trapeze! NEVER! No, I was simply curious because of Henri’s unfulfilled desire to write a story about the spiritual life and the trapeze. I had loved the image from afar and with Henri, saw it as a microcosm of life in relationships. For me, trapeze is a vibrant icon of people engaged in living, trusting, harmonious relationships. Talk about swinging back and forth on a trapeze! Henri’s diaries were so compelling that my heart leapt to say, “Yes! This is good! I’m going to write about this!” But shortly thereafter, the backward swing brought me to reality, “Are you kidding yourself? How do you propose to do this?” With all my wavering, the topic remained alive for me. I remembered a wonderful book by Sam Keen entitled Learning to Fly. Re-inspired, I wrote asking him if I could come and have some time to talk with him. Sam answered, “Sure, come! Call me and make a date.”

Thrilled, I asked if I could watch the trapeze, and his response was, “Sure! Do you want to go up on the pedestal?” Without hesitation I said, “Of course!” He went on, “Do you want to fly?” “Sure Sam, but I’ll be seventy-five next month!” I laughed. “Well, I’m seventy-six!” he said. Hearing that, I agreed. I started to get excited…and afraid. Sam’s friends put me through some initial exercises and then John followed me up the three-story-high ladder to the pedestal, encouraging me. I was actually panting, frightened out of my head, and excited at the same time. “OK, here’s the MOST important thing, so listen up! Smile! This is fun!” I burst out laughing as an arm circled my waist from behind, accompanied by a quiet, confident voice, “You’re set and you’re fine!”

I jumped with two feet off the pedestal into thin air. My arms held and suddenly I was flying through the air with the greatest of ease! Fear and exhilaration united into something beyond words. I came home filled with enthusiasm to overcome my fear, and once again I ‘stepped off the pedestal’ and began to write.

To read more about the connection between the trapeze and spirituality see
http://www.csj-to.ca/Whats_new/News/2006/flies_12_06.php

Written by Sue Mosteller CSJ, who also supplied the photos

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Spirituality and the Trapeze