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).
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of letting go of worldly attachments while trusting in a higher power's care.
Richard Rohr suggests that many followers of the Christian faith often cling to their beliefs and fears, focusing on self-preservation instead of surrendering their worldly attachments. He proposes that true faith involves recognizing that God is the one who holds on to us, while we must practice the art of letting go of everything that distracts us from the divine, finding freedom in trust and faith.
In practice
This quote can be shared in a sermon to encourage the congregation to trust in God's plan.
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.
We do not think ourselves into new ways of living, we live ourselves into new ways of thinking.
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.
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.
I do feel that spiritual progress does demand at some stage that we should cease to kill our fellow creatures for the satisfaction of our bodily wants.
I think when the people in Burma stop thinking about whether or not they're free, it'll mean that they're free.
I was not looking now at an unusual flower arrangement. I was seeing what Adam had seen on the morning of his creation - the miracle, moment by moment, of naked existence.
Lies are sufficient to breed opinion, and opinion brings on substance.
Many people feel small because they're small and the universe is big, but I feel big.
Kindness is not a bad religion, no matter what name you use for God.
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