Faith & Life Inspirational Message

Every time I read or hear Richard Rohr, I connect with something he says.   I appreciate his witness and his words.   Rohr is a Franciscan priest who founded and headed up the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, NM a few years ago.   I am sure part of why I like what Rohr is doing is the fact that he is basically the same age I am.   Although he grew up in a rather pious Catholic home in Kansas and I in a less than pious Quaker home in Indiana, we nevertheless have a good bit in common.                I still use a couple of his books in classes I teach, so periodically I have a chance to reread some of my favorite lines.   However, it is also true that rereading a book always seems to lift up something you know you read the first time, but somehow it did not catch your attention in that first read.   That just happened to me when I turned to a chapter in his book, Everythin...

I go to a few different places on Sundays when I worship.   And some Sundays I don’t go anywhere.   It was certainly true, when I was growing up, that the implication was one would probably go to hell if you did not go to church somewhere.   I don’t know that anyone ever told me that would be the case, but it seemed implied.   And I do not ever recall anyone tell me it was not true. So I grew up assuming church attendance, while not compulsory, was very important.   Those were the “Leave it to Beaver” days!   How times have changed.   No one in my circles would consider playing golf on Sunday, even though I knew many people were out there on the golf course as I was dutifully riding to Quaker meeting with my parents.   How times have changed! I am sure there are still Christians (and maybe Jews and others) who still feel attendance at the weekly or routine gatherings are a “must.”   However most people with whom I associate do not ...

I try to follow some of the daily lectionary readings.   This is a discipline for me, which I know is healthy if I can do it.   However, there are typical temptations that derail my intentionality to be disciplined.   In fact, I am amazed how easily tempted I am and how easy it is to succumb to these temptations and not do what I intended to do.   When this happens, I am disappointed in myself, but I don’t beat myself up.   I just try to do better the next time.   Today I succeeded.   I managed to do the Morning Prayer.   Morning Prayer is the best way to get my day started.   I find it focusing.   I know that a little reflective time at the outset of the day is good for my soul.   I like following this prayer because I know it always uses a couple of the Psalms.   I know how important the Psalms have been throughout history---for the Jewish community and the Christian community.   The Psalms play a central role in the ...