I've had the good fortune of teaching and preaching across much of the globe, while also struggling to make sense of my experience in my own tiny world.
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the balance between sharing knowledge globally and understanding one's personal experiences.
Richard Rohr expresses a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to teach and preach around the world. He contrasts this with his ongoing personal struggle to understand his own experiences, highlighting the idea that even those who share wisdom widely may still face challenges in making sense of their own lives. This duality underscores the complexity of human experience and the importance of introspection alongside outward teaching.
In practice
During a seminar on global learning, this quote can be used to illustrate the importance of personal reflection in teaching.
My scientist friends have come up with things like 'principles of uncertainty' and dark holes. They're willing to live inside imagined hypotheses and theories. But many religious folks insist on answers that are always true. We love closure, resolution and clarity, while thinking that we are people of 'faith'! How strange that the very word 'faith' has come to mean its exact opposite.
The gift of darkness draws you to know God’s presence beyond what thought, imagination, or sensory feeling can comprehend.
I cannot illustrate huge differences between male and female spiritualities except in their starting points, style and fascinations along the way. This is significant, however, and has huge pastoral implications: men must be challenged in the world of doing; women must be challenged in the world of relating.
Much of the Christian religion has largely become “holding on” instead of letting go. But God, it seems to me, does the holding on (to us!), and we must learn the letting go (of everything else).
We do not think ourselves into new ways of living, we live ourselves into new ways of thinking.
Church practice has been more influenced by Plato than by Jesus. We invariably prefer the universal synthesis, the answer that settles all the dust and resolves every question even when it is not entirely true over the mercy and grace of God.
Beware! Don't allow yourself to do what you know is wrong, relying on the thought, Later I will repent and ask God's forgiveness.
To see the best before I have properly begun would be somewhat premature.
Creativity is intelligence having fun.
Always define WHAT you want to do with your life and WHAT you have to offer to the world, in terms of your favorite talents/gifts/skills-not in terms of a job-title.
Words people say not only have a shelf life but have the ability to shape life.
Every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration. Constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought.
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