Persevere – now that’s a word that many of us may strive to do and would like to say we can do, yet often fall short of doing. To persevere is to continue firmly, perhaps even obstinately, in a course of action in spite of opposition, difficulties, even failure. When you meet someone who has the courage and strength to persevere under all kinds of challenges, you have met someone to respect and admire.

My friends Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat are two people who have my deepest admiration and respect. For four decades they have been covering contemporary culture and the spiritual renaissance, and they are the authors of many spiritual books (To read more about them, go to: http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/about/about.php?id=22576)

I first met Mary Ann when she was a teenager living in Karachi, Pakistan with her family. She was a high energy, intelligent, fun, persistent, talented young woman. She was soon to win a writing award for high school students from The Atlantic Monthly. I thoroughly enjoyed knowing Mary Ann and remember taking her and her sister Cora on a trip to Kashmir with me where we hiked and camped in that awesome place.

When I next connected with her in the 1970s, she was married to Frederic Brussat, a United Church of Christ clergyman with a journalism ministry. They were living in New York City and had just founded CIStems, Inc., a non-profit organization. Over the years they wrote a number of bestselling spiritual books and published resources including reviews and guides to contemporary books, films, music, art, and television. In the early 1990s, the Brussats focused their attention on the emerging spiritual renaissance and created a magazine Values & Visions which Bill Moyers said was the “the most original and refreshing guide to what’s truly valuable in American society.”

All of these projects have been consolidated and continued on their award-winning website www.SpiritualityandPractice.com.  Each year the Brussats identify spiritual themes in more than 300 books, 50 audios, and 300 films. They frequently write and speak about how to incorporate spiritual practices into daily life, drawing upon the riches of all the world’s religions.

I would honestly say that my friends Mary Ann and Frederic are the most committed and persistent people I know. They have done so much of their important work on what I would call “a wing and a prayer.” Yet they are always cheery, optimistic, and looking forward – without regrets – to what they can offer to the universe. I’m privileged to be one of their part-time staff members at SpiritualityandPractice.com where I have a chance to feel some of that persistence and commitment rub off on me. Now that’s an amazing gift!

Beloved Creator, you are our example of true perseverance and commitment. You hang in there with us when we have gone astray, when we are barely worthy of your tender care. Thank you for creating people like Mary Ann and Frederic who persevere in their essential work and who never give up. Help us to strive to be more like them. Amen.

Joy Carol

www.joycarol.com