I am currently in the process of developing the second edition to my book, The Spiritual Revitalization of the Legal Profession: A Search for Sacred Rivers. The second edition will be in paper back and will capture the recent developments in this field that have occurred since the first publication in 2005. In addition, the concept of spiritual intelligence, which was not discussed in the first book, will be explored and applied to the practice of the law. One of the major questions raised by some lawyers who have read my book or head me discuss it, relates to how these insights and ideals can be applied to daily life and practice. I plan to address this question in greater detail in the second edition. I am also in the early stages of exploring, along with colleagues, the development of a professional responsibility casebook that places the rules of professional conduct within a spiritual framework. There are other law professors who are attempting to integrate a spiritual perspective into their professional responsibility courses. We believe that a major step in advancing the teaching and understanding of professional ethics is the development of a casebook that others who have similar inclinations can use. This project is in its infancy but is being supported by the Center for Law and Renewal.

While working as a staff attorney with the Federal Trade Commission in 1978, I was asked to lead an investigation into the newly enacted Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA). This act initially was intended to address the deceptive and unfair practices perpetrated by debt collection agencies against consumers. In the Chicago regional office where I worked, we received quite a number of complaints against a local attorney who was engaging in the types of practices that were forbidden by the FDCPA. I felt that we could not ignore the actions of this attorney even though this new legislation was not intended to be used against the legal community. My colleagues and I were able to get permission to open up a formal investigation against the local attorney and developed a novel theory as to how his actions should be covered under the FTC act. Though I had left the agency by the time the case was decided, the FTC did prevail and was able to prohibit the attorney from engaging in deceptive and unfair practices in this context. More importantly, eventually the FDCPA was amended to cover attorneys. If we had initially ignored these complaints because attorneys weren't covered, then it is very possible that the scope of the FDCPA would not have been expanded, and numerous consumers would have been unfairly harassed by attorneys who made this part of their practice.

My most recent publications include, "Katrina: Spiritual Medicine for Political Complacency and for Social Activist Who Are Sleepwalking," published in 23 Harvard BlackLetter Law Journal (Spring 2007), and "Reclaiming the Sacredness of the Legal Profession," a tribute to Father Robert Drinan, which was published in the BC Law Magazine (Summer 2007).

Four Letters of Love by Niall Williams stands out in my mind because of its splendid mix of the search for love, personal tragedy and the spiritual power of renewal and redemption. This novel, which is set in Ireland, is about two Irish families whose lives appear to be separate and unconnected. They are brought together by the intertwining of tragedy and the endless search for meaning. It peaks when four letters written by a young man in love never reach his intended lover because they are intercepted and destroyed by the mother of the intended recipient. The book is beautifully written and captures how the lives of two distant individuals are collectively shaped and woven together out of personal tragedies and choices. The book eloquently explores how we make sense out of our lives from an everyday spiritual perspective. I also enjoyed reading Care for the Soul by Thomas Moore. This is a classic psychoanalytical exploration of the soul, and how we nurture that aspect of human existence.

The things I like to do most with the gift of time is to spend it with my family. I love to drive for long distances with my family. The rich conversations we have are just as exciting as the exploration of new places. I also like quite moments when I can meditate, pray, write poetry and weave stories. I like climbing mountains and gazing at beautiful bodies of water. My wife and I climbed to the top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park recently and it was spectacular. Eating soybean ice cream is also a good use of my time.

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