Mark is a therapist in a partial hospitalization program in New Eng-
land. Also working on his doctorate, he is exploring gay spirituality, and so
this story reflects much of that very active and reflective thinking.

Mark grew up in the Midwest in a small town and went to a Catholic
school. His first identity religiously was as a faithful (but sometimes ques-
tioning) Catholic boy who wanted to grow up and be a missionary. Yet some
significant experiences when he was an adolescent disillusioned him, and he
left the church. It wasn't until he left home to go to graduate school in New
England that he fully addressed his gayness. Thinking at first that he would
be forever celibate, a book given him by his twin brother triggered a total
change in perspective. Now he practices Siddha Yoga; is in a significant and
spiritually grounded relationship with his partner, Leo; and is on the verge
of completing his dissertation.

Mark thinks primarily in spiritual terms about his life. Once seen as a
boy who would become a priest, Mark now finds his spiritual meaning in
Siddha Yoga, meditation, and a broader sense of the spiritual. In this first
piece we hear him talk about a recent pilgrimage across the country that in
many ways marked a significant point in his internal path.

You don't notice the significant changes in your life until you leave and
come back, which is what my year has been about, Leo and I drove cross-
country a year ago; we left in mid-December and got to San Francisco
about Christmastime, right after Christmas.

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