Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some women, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give women a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men and women are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
HRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
As women age, their hormones begin to go through changes that affect their day-to-day lives. For women, hormone deficiency and imbalance usually occur during menopause and can cause chronic fatigue, hot flashes, and mood swings, among other issues. Hormone replacement therapy helps correct hormone imbalances in women, helping them feel more vibrant and virile as they age.
Often, HRT treatments give patients enhanced quality of life that they didn't think was possible - even in their 60's and beyond.
The benefits for women are numerous and are available today through Global Life Rejuvenation.
As women age, their bodies begin to go through significant changes that affect their quality of life. This change is called menopause and marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycle and reproduction ability. Though there is no specific age when this change occurs, the average age of menopause onset is 51 years old. However, according to doctors, menopause officially starts 12 months after a woman's final period. During the transition to menopause, women's estrogen and other hormones begin to deplete.
As that happens, many women experience severe symptoms. These symptoms include:
The symptoms of hormone deficiency can be concerning and scary for both women and their spouses. However, if you're getting older and notice some of these symptoms, there is reason to be hopeful. Hormone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine for women can correct imbalances that happen during menopause. These safe, effective treatments leave you feeling younger, healthier, and more vibrant.
The most common reason for menopause is the natural decline in a female's reproductive hormones. However, menopause can also result from the following situations:
Oophorectomy: This surgery, which removes a woman's ovaries, causes immediate menopause. Symptoms and signs of menopause in this situation can be severe, as the hormonal changes happen abruptly.
Chemotherapy: Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can induce menopause quickly, causing symptoms to appear shortly after or even during treatment.
Ovarian Insufficiency: Also called premature ovarian failure, this condition is essentially premature menopause. It happens when a woman's ovaries quit functioning before the age of 40 and can stem from genetic factors and disease. Only 1% of women suffer from premature menopause, but HRT can help protect the heart, brain, and bones.
For many women, menopause is a trying time that can be filled with many hormonal hurdles to jump through. A little knowledge can go a long way, whether you're going through menopause now or are approaching "that" age.
Here are some of the most common issues that women experience during menopause:
If you're a woman going through menopause and find that you have become increasingly depressed, you're not alone. It's estimated that 15% of women experience depression to some degree while going through menopause. What many women don't know is that depression can start during perimenopause, or the years leading up to menopause.
Depression can be hard to diagnose, especially during perimenopause and menopause. However, if you notice the following signs, it might be time to speak with a physician:
Remember, if you're experiencing depression, you're not weak or broken - you're going through a very regular emotional experience. The good news is that with proper treatment from your doctor, depression isn't a death sentence. And with HRT and anti-aging treatment for women, depression could be the catalyst you need to enjoy a new lease on life.
Hot flashes - they're one of the most well-known symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes are intense, sudden feelings of heat across a woman's upper body. Some last second, while others last minutes, making them incredibly inconvenient and uncomfortable for most women.
Symptoms of hot flashes include:
Typically, hot flashes are caused by a lack of estrogen. Low estrogen levels negatively affect a woman's hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls body temperature and appetite. Low estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to incorrectly assume the body is too hot, dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow. Luckily, most women don't have to settle for the uncomfortable feelings that hot flashes cause. HRT treatments for women often stabilize hormones, lessening the effects of hot flashes and menopause in general.
Mood swings are common occurrences for most people - quick shifts from happy to angry and back again, triggered by a specific event. And while many people experience mood swings, they are particularly common for women going through menopause. That's because, during menopause, the female's hormones are often imbalanced. Hormone imbalances and mood swings go hand-in-hand, resulting in frequent mood changes and even symptoms like insomnia.
The rate of production of estrogen, a hormone that fluctuates during menopause, largely determines the rate of production the hormone serotonin, which regulates mood, causing mood swings.
Luckily, HRT and anti-aging treatments in Hope, NJ for women work wonders for mood swings by regulating hormone levels like estrogen. With normal hormone levels, women around the world are now learning that they don't have to settle for mood swings during menopause.
Staying fit and healthy is hard for anyone living in modern America. However, for women with hormone imbalances during perimenopause or menopause, weight gain is even more serious. Luckily, HRT treatments for women coupled with a physician-led diet can help keep weight in check. But which hormones need to be regulated?
Lowered sexual desire - three words most men and women hate to hear. Unfortunately, for many women in perimenopausal and menopausal states, it's just a reality of life. Thankfully, today, HRT and anti-aging treatments Hope, NJ can help women maintain a normal, healthy sex drive. But what causes low libido in women, especially as they get older?
The hormones responsible for low libido in women are progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone.
Progesterone production decreases during perimenopause, causing low sex drive in women. Lower progesterone production can also cause chronic fatigue, weight gain, and other symptoms. On the other hand, lower estrogen levels during menopause lead to vaginal dryness and even vaginal atrophy or loss of muscle tension.
Lastly, testosterone plays a role in lowered libido. And while testosterone is often grouped as a male hormone, it contributes to important health and regulatory functionality in women. A woman's testosterone serves to heighten sexual responses and enhances orgasms. When the ovaries are unable to produce sufficient levels of testosterone, it often results in a lowered sex drive.
Often uncomfortable and even painful, vaginal dryness is a serious problem for sexually active women. However, like hair loss in males, vaginal dryness is very common - almost 50% of women suffer from it during menopause.
Getting older is just a part of life, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for the side effects. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women correct vaginal dryness by re-balancing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. When supplemented with diet and healthy living, your vagina's secretions are normalized, causing discomfort to recede.
Uterine fibroids - they're perhaps the least-known symptom of menopause and hormone imbalances in women. That's because these growths on the uterus are often symptom-free. Unfortunately, these growths can be cancerous, presenting a danger for women as they age.
Many women will have fibroids at some point. Because they're symptomless, they're usually found during routine doctor exams. Some women only get one or two, while others may have large clusters of fibroids. Because fibroids are usually caused by hormone imbalances, hysterectomies have been used as a solution, forcing women into early menopause.
Advances in HRT and anti-aging medicine for women give females a safer, non-surgical option without having to experience menopause early. At Global Life Rejuvenation, our expert physicians will implement a customized HRT program to stabilize your hormones and reduce the risk of cancerous fibroid growth.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS, and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Xenoestrogen is a hormone that is very similar to estrogen. Too much xenoestrogen is thought to stimulate endometrial tissue growth. HRT for women helps balance these hormones and, when used with a custom nutrition program, can provide relief for women across the U.S.
Hormone stability is imperative for a healthy sex drive and for a normal, stress-free life during menopause. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women balance the hormones that your body has altered due to perimenopause or menopause.
HRT for women is a revolutionary step in helping women live their best lives, even as they grow older. However, at Global Life Rejuvenation, we know that no two patients are the same. That's why we specialize in holistic treatments that utilize HRT, combined with healthy nutrition, supplements, and fitness plans that maximize hormone replacement treatments.
If you've been suffering through menopause, is HRT the answer? That's hard to say without an examination by a trusted physician, but one thing's for sure. When a woman balances her hormone levels, she has a much better shot at living a regular life with limited depression, weight gain, mood swings, and hot flashes.
Here are just a few additional benefits of HRT and anti-aging treatments for females:
Hormone imbalance causes a litany of issues. But with anti-aging treatments for women, females can better process calcium, keep their cholesterol levels safe, and maintain a healthy vagina. By replenishing the body's estrogen supply, HRT can relieve symptoms from menopause and protect against osteoporosis. But that's just the start.
Global Life Rejuvenation's patients report many more benefits of HRT and anti-aging medicine for women:
If you're ready to feel better, look better, and recapture the vitality of your youth, it's time to contact Global Life Rejuvenation. It all starts with an in-depth consultation, where we will determine if HRT and anti-aging treatments for women are right for you. After all, every patient's body and hormone levels are different. Since all our treatment options are personalized, we do not have a single threshold for treatment. Instead, we look at our patient's hormone levels and analyze them on a case-by-case basis.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we help women rediscover their youth with HRT treatment for women. We like to think of ourselves as an anti-aging concierge service, guiding and connecting our patients to the most qualified HRT physicians available. With customized HRT treatment plan for women, our patients experience fewer menopausal symptoms, less perimenopause & menopause depression, and often enjoy a more youth-like appearance.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies. Ipamorelin can boost a patient's overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life.
When there is an increased concentration of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, there are positive benefits to the body. Some benefits include:
Whether you are considering our HRT and anti-aging treatments for women in Hope, NJ, we are here to help. The first step to reclaiming your life begins by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation. Our friendly, knowledgeable HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
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The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to present Housing with Hope, an exhibit of artworks by the residents of Springfield Senior Citizen Housing in Springfield, New Jersey at the Commissioner’s Gallery, located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth.The gallery is open during regular weekday business hours and on alternate Thursday evenings when the Commissioner Board is in session.“On behalf of the Commissioner Board, I would like to th...
The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to present Housing with Hope, an exhibit of artworks by the residents of Springfield Senior Citizen Housing in Springfield, New Jersey at the Commissioner’s Gallery, located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth.
The gallery is open during regular weekday business hours and on alternate Thursday evenings when the Commissioner Board is in session.
“On behalf of the Commissioner Board, I would like to thank our seniors for sharing their artwork with the Union County community. Their paintings form a colorful, vibrant exhibit that shines with beauty and grace,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “I would also like to thank Housing with Hope for their dedication to connecting seniors with new friends and activities.”
All of the artworks for the exhibit were created by Springfield Senior Citizen Housing residents during a group “Golden Arts” art class organized by the nonprofit organization Housing with Hope, as part of its Seniors Day Out series. The instructor for the class was Danielle Corso of Art Chick Designs, LLC.
The artists on exhibit are Lan Tian Fan, Joanne Hodges, Yulan Jim, Runnian Li, Isabel Lusolo, Vanda Milovc, Christopher Ortiz, Lanying Qin, Maureen Thomas, Ma Xiu Ying, Yuqin Wang, Dora Yaynberg, Esperanza Zambrano and Yufeng Zhuang.
Housing with Hope cultivates community partnerships to enrich the lives of seniors through engaging events, activities, supportive services, and housing that is affordable for those on a fixed income. Seniors Day Out programs are offered free of charge. For more information visit housingwithhope.org.
For more information about Art Chick Designs visit facebook.com/artchickdesignsllc.
The Seniors Day Out art class was made possible by funds from the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
The Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs is a division of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. For more information about all activities and programs of the Office, email [email protected], call 908-558-2550 (relay users dial 711), or visit ucnj.org/cultural.
For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email [email protected] or use the online Contact Form.
Connect with Union County on social media.
A small cluster of tiny homes is offering a measure of hope and a fresh start for formerly incarcerated men in New Jersey.The half-dozen 100-square-foot homes are part of the Village of Hope transitional housing program in Bridgeton, which opened in November. Each individual unit is heated and cooled and contains a bed, storage space and desk. A shared kitchen, communal bathroom and community room are located on the property.“Approximately 10 to 15 percent of parolees are homeless or become homeless upon release from pris...
A small cluster of tiny homes is offering a measure of hope and a fresh start for formerly incarcerated men in New Jersey.
The half-dozen 100-square-foot homes are part of the Village of Hope transitional housing program in Bridgeton, which opened in November. Each individual unit is heated and cooled and contains a bed, storage space and desk. A shared kitchen, communal bathroom and community room are located on the property.
“Approximately 10 to 15 percent of parolees are homeless or become homeless upon release from prison,” says Kevin McHugh, executive director of the Reentry Coalition of New Jersey. “Without stable housing, it is not possible to help address the challenges that these individuals face.”
[RELATED: How a Chocolate-Making Program Helps Formerly Incarcerated]
The program’s goal is to provide free, temporary housing to formerly incarcerated people for up to six months.
As well as a place to live, Village of Hope helps residents secure employment and permanent housing and offers services such as help getting a driver’s licence and gaining access to health and wellness resources.
Village of Hope is a collaboration between the Kintock Group, the Gateway Community Action Partnership and the Reentry Coalition of New Jersey, with significant backing from Bridgeton mayor Albert Kelly, who has been pushing to get these homes built. He has said that he’d like to see the Cumberland County program expand statewide.
“The coalition is looking at this as a demonstration project,” McHugh says. “I see this as an opportunity to try an alternative approach to address what has been an intractable situation.”
Find more information and an application at kintock.org/village-of-hope or by calling 856-459-2701.
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Actor and outspoken Christian Kirk Cameron said he cried "tears of gratitude and hope" following a recent New Jersey library event promoting his faith-based children's book.Cameron, who has recently been hosting story hour events, hosted his 10th event at a Cherry Hill, New Jersey library on Saturday, April 29.Camron released his book As You Grow, which aims to teach children about the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, with Brave Books publishing.In an email to...
Actor and outspoken Christian Kirk Cameron said he cried "tears of gratitude and hope" following a recent New Jersey library event promoting his faith-based children's book.
Cameron, who has recently been hosting story hour events, hosted his 10th event at a Cherry Hill, New Jersey library on Saturday, April 29.
Camron released his book As You Grow, which aims to teach children about the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, with Brave Books publishing.
In an email to Fox News, Cameron shared that parents and children began singing and worshiping God while they waited their turn to enter the library. In response, the "Growing Pains" actor" began to cry "tears of gratitude and hope."
"When the overflow group of families … started their own worship service – think beautiful voices of children and strong declarations from moms and dads, hands raised, singing sacred songs of thankfulness and praises to God – filling the lobby, the staircase and expanding into the upper room [of the two-story library], I got emotional and began to cry," Cameron told the outlet.
"Tears of gratitude and hope. Songs of courage and resolve," he continued.
Cameron also told the families present at the library, "God's not finished with America."
According to Brave, at least 700 people came out to the library on Saturday.
"When [library] staff saw how many people were eagerly waiting outside, they decided to open up the room divider halfway through the first story hour group," Brave told Fox News Digital.
"This allowed Brave to host three separate story hours and not have to turn anyone away."
The publisher also noted that the library staff was "very accommodating and welcomed" Kirk Cameron alongside journalist John Solomon and worship leader Sean Feucht "with excellent customer service."
"What was most notable was how wonderfully Cherry Hill Public Library served their community and how thankful in return event patrons were that the library allowed Kirk to have the story hour and get everyone in."
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Paul Morigi/Stringer
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for Christian Headlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
Christian actor and author Kirk Cameron said the crowd at a recent New Jersey library event promoting his faith-based children’s book brought him to tears, but not because of sadness; the “Growing Pains” star said the crowd made him cry tears of hope.Cameron and his publishing company, Brave Books, have been hosting story hour events at various libraries throughout the ...
Christian actor and author Kirk Cameron said the crowd at a recent New Jersey library event promoting his faith-based children’s book brought him to tears, but not because of sadness; the “Growing Pains” star said the crowd made him cry tears of hope.
Cameron and his publishing company, Brave Books, have been hosting story hour events at various libraries throughout the country, inviting people to attend and hear the actor read his new children’s book, As You Grow. The Christian-themed book teaches children about the biblical concept of the Fruits of the Spirit.
On Saturday, the actor hosted his 10th story hour event at the Cherry Hill Library in New Jersey, which allowed Cameron to rent out a space for the private gathering.
Fox News reported that a large crowd showed up to meet Cameron, and due to the overflow, many families were forced to wait in line until more space became available. The actor’s publishing company told the cable news outlet that around 700 people attended the event on Saturday.
While parents and children waited in line, they began to sing and lift up their praises to God, which the 52-year-old celebrity said made him emotional, according to Fox News. The children’s book author said he cried "tears of gratitude and hope.”
"When the overflow group of families … started their own worship service — think beautiful voices of children and strong declarations from moms and dads, hands raised, singing sacred songs of thankfulness and praises to God — filling the lobby, the staircase and expanding into the upper room [of the two-story library], I got emotional and began to cry," Cameron told the outlet via email.
The publishing company Brave Books told Fox News that due to the high volume of attendees, the library staff opened up a room divider, which allowed them to hold three separate story hours and not have to turn anyone away.
In a Saturday tweet, the publishing company shared a video of people worshiping at the event, writing, “God is on the move.”
Worship erupted at a BRAVE story hour in a public library in New Jersey today. God is on the move ???? @jsolomonReports@KirkCameronpic.twitter.com/qaUdmXgQ96
Brave Books also complimented how accommodating the library staff was to Cameron, along with John Solomon, editor-in-chief of Just the News, who's a frequent guest on Fox News, and musician Sean Feucht.
Feucht is a former worship leader at Bethel Church who recently said the nation should be ruled by people of faith. Feucht, who is also the founder of Let Us Worship, led the audience in singing worship songs, the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance.
"I leave the New Jersey public library full of hope and expectation that if parents are standing up here in the Northeast, then parents are going to stand up anywhere all across America,” the Christian singer told Fox News Digital via email.
As The Christian Post previously reported, a Tennessee library board fired the director of the Hendersonville library back in March after the actor alleged that then-Director Allan Morales and his staff were not accommodating during a February story hour event. In addition to Cameron, the event featured University of Kentucky swimmer and women's sports advocate Riley Gaines and reality star Missy Robertson of "Duck Dynasty.”
In a Feb. 28 Facebook post, Cameron reflected fondly on the event, with the exception of the “unkind pushback” from what he described as a “disgruntled librarian.” Missy Robertson also said during a podcast interview with BlazeTV's "Unashamed with Phil & Jase Robertson” that the library staff kept talking loudly and making other disruptive noises when she and Cameron attempted to film a promotional video of the event.
According to the “Duck Dynasty” star, a Brave Books team member then asked someone in charge if they could ask their staff to keep it down for a few minutes. While she didn’t mention anyone by name, Robertson said that the person the team member spoke to replied, “You’re not even supposed to be here anyway.”
In a series of email messages between the library and a Brave Books representative obtained by CP, the former library director appeared concerned about the event's size and that it would be political.
Tim Jones, county commissioner for Tennessee's 23rd district, who was present at the event, addressed the allegations against the Hendersonville Library and its staff in a March 16 Facebook post. The county commissioner stated at the time that he didn't believe Morales was a bad man but believed the director made some questionable decisions.
Jones clarified that Brave Books had a contract with the library permitting them to use the facility's community room for the event. When Cameron and his group decided to use the library foyer to film a promotional video, Morales “reluctantly agreed, as Jones noted.
Despite the mayor’s expressed support for the event, the county commissioner noted that Morales had a negative attitude throughout the day, and he did not correct his staff when they became disruptive.
"We had an opportunity to be, as the Bible and Ronald Reagan referred to, 'a city on the hill,' a beacon for the nation to see why so many have moved here. Instead, we are an embarrassment," Jones wrote.
The occurrences at the Tennessee library are not the first time that Cameron has claimed that he has faced challenges hosting a story hour. The actor and his publishing company said in December 2022 that over 50 public libraries declined to run a story hour program for the actor to read his book despite having hosted controversial drag queen story hour events. However, some told the actor that he could fill out a form and reserve a spot for himself.
By Jim McGreeveyIt was about 15 years ago on Good Friday in the Hudson County Jail on the women’s tier when the women decided to play the roles interpreting Luke’s Passion of Christ. It’s a weighted passage, we had persons of other faiths and no faith, yet all the women wanted to participate. The passages were to be read in English, except the role of Jesus, which was to be read in Spanish, then English.I remember it as if it were yesterday. The two women who played the part of Jesus were standing on th...
By Jim McGreevey
It was about 15 years ago on Good Friday in the Hudson County Jail on the women’s tier when the women decided to play the roles interpreting Luke’s Passion of Christ. It’s a weighted passage, we had persons of other faiths and no faith, yet all the women wanted to participate. The passages were to be read in English, except the role of Jesus, which was to be read in Spanish, then English.
I remember it as if it were yesterday. The two women who played the part of Jesus were standing on the gray institutional chairs on opposite sides of our circled gathering. The passage is narrated from the Passover dinner through the surrender of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus says, “Yet not my will, but yours be done.”
As Gabriella read the passage in Spanish, tears start flowing, then muffled sobs. I got up and asked her if she wanted to stop, she turned aside, and politely, but firmly said, “no, let’s keep going.” The women read the entirety of the passage until the crucifixion.
At that point, we are quiet, humbled and emotionally exhausted. For me and Gabriella, our understanding was that the acquiescence of Jesus was a profoundly transformational decision. For Christians, Jesus knowingly and willingly entered the Passion — his arrest, trial and suffering. For Gabriella, who is grappling with Illness, depression and estrangement, Luke’s passage offered respite, solace and perhaps even a healthy direction to yield to her better angels, rather than abandon hope.
We had re-enacted the Passion, as it has been done millions of times, in different languages, in many places, to find ourselves more exposed, yet strangely comforted, even strengthened by the response of Jesus to the brutality of Rome.
These sacred myths were for professor Joseph Campbell, as they were for psychiatrist Carl Jung, archetypal stories that are embedded in the human psyche. These stories, understood as reality or metaphor for the believer or agnostic, provide guidance to interpret and navigate the world. For Campbell, we are each on “The Hero’s Journey” in our own lives. For Romanian historian Mercia Eliade, it is the phenomena of religion, the experience of the sacred and religious texts — from The Book of the Dead to the Rig Veda to the Bhagavad Gita to the Quran — that offer intrinsic value in the expression of universal truths.
From the chaos to order in the Creation story of Genesis, from escape and the delivery from slavery to the Promised Land in Exodus, from the loving sacrifice of Jesus in Luke, from the obedience of Ibrahim and the willing sacrifice of Ishmael in Surah 37, the sacred myths provide us in the eternal now with a passageway to virtuous living, wisdom and transcendence.
This year we are blessed with a temporal overlay of Islam’s Ramadan, Christian Holy Week and Judaism’s Passover. The holidays coincide about every 33 years, according to Lees-McCrae College, principally due to their adherence to different calendar cycles.
The three holidays have unique narratives: Passover commemorates God’s deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt; Lent and Easter narrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Ramadan commemorates when Mohammed was commanded by Gabriel to receive the words of the Quran.
Each carries unique religious rituals, whose acts may inspire the faithful, through engagement with the sacred event, and the memories invoked by the traditions of our family, our community. As Rabbi Michael Berk of San Diego’s Congregation Beth Israel said, “We are meant to take that inspiration and those memories into our lives and try to cleave more closely to the way we ought to be living in order to be a good Jew, a good Muslim, a good Christian — really, a good person.”
For the men and women with whom I have the privilege of working, these sacred myths, narratives, are among the few stories they know. And, it is in grafting their story of brokenness, my story of brokenness, with sacred scripture that we may be among the Elect.
For me, the deliverance from slavery, the deliverance from death and the grace of divine revelation offer a message of transcendent hope that the chaos and misery of the human condition may be offered respite, that fear, evil and malice, while not eviscerated, may be overcome through faith, hope and charity.
And while the psalmist offers precious hope to the aggrieved, it is the prophet Isaiah who calls in righteousness “to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness” (Isaiah 42:6-7). Indeed, Sister Anthony instructed me in fourth grade to be intentional about two realities: that God is love and that we are actors in the mystery of Creation. We are called to serve, to act, to be “the arms and legs of God on earth.”
Thus, we are each called to be servants. That we, as well as the “prisoner,” may bring freedom and deliverance from our embattled human nature in the faithfulness of following “not my will, but yours be done.”
Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey is the chair of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation.
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