Tag Archives: growth
Faith and Doubt Are Not Opposites
Unknowing Faith and Doubt Are Not Opposites Wednesday, February 3, 2021 The imagination should be allowed a certain freedom to browse around. —Thomas Merton, Contemplation in a World of Action Basic religious faith is a vote for some coherence, purpose, benevolence, and direction in the universe. Unfortunately, the notion of faith that emerged in the West was… Continue Reading Faith and Doubt Are Not Opposites
Doubt: A Necessary Tool for Growth
Unknowing Doubt: A Necessary Tool for Growth Monday, February 1, 2021 My good friend and colleague Brian McLaren’s recently published book, Faith After Doubt, shows how doubt and periods of unknowing are necessary for spiritual growth. Brian proposes a four-stage growth process of Simplicity, Complexity, Perplexity, and Harmony. He writes: Doubt, it turns out, is… Continue Reading Doubt: A Necessary Tool for Growth
Pulling Back the Veil
A Time of Unveiling Pulling Back the Veil Sunday, January 3, 2021 The future, however, is finer than any past. —Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, The Making of a Mind If you are anything like me, there is some part of you that was relieved to turn the calendar over to 2021. The new year puts… Continue Reading Pulling Back the Veil
The Ability to Hold Paradox
Order, Disorder, Reorder: Part Three The Ability to Hold Paradox Monday, August 24, 2020 Beyond rational and critical thinking, we need to be called again. This can lead to the discovery of a “second naïveté,” which is a return to the joy of our first naïveté, but now totally new, inclusive, and mature thinking. —Paul… Continue Reading The Ability to Hold Paradox
Going on the Full Journey
Order, Disorder, Reorder: Part Two Going on the Full Journey Friday, August 21, 2020 This journey from Order to Disorder must happen for all of us. It is not something just to be admired in Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Job, or Jesus. Our role is to listen and allow, and at least slightly cooperate with… Continue Reading Going on the Full Journey
Dying as Disorder
Order, Disorder, Reorder: Part Two Dying as Disorder Thursday, August 20, 2020 Dying is not extraneous to life; it is a part of the mystery, and we do not understand life until we stand under death. —Richard Rohr There may be nothing more disordering than being diagnosed with a terminal or chronic illness. It upends… Continue Reading Dying as Disorder
Disorder: Stage Two of a Three-Part Journey
Order, Disorder, Reorder: Part Two Disorder: Stage Two of a Three-Part Journey Sunday, August 16, 2020 Last week’s Daily Meditations focused on Order as the first stage of healthy development. To continue growing, we must go through a period—or even many periods—of Disorder. The pattern of transformation involves at least some measure of suffering. Part… Continue Reading Disorder: Stage Two of a Three-Part Journey
The Universal Pattern
Order, Disorder, Reorder: Part One The Universal Pattern Sunday, August 9, 2020 It seems quite clear that we grow by passing beyond some perfect Order, through an often painful and seemingly unnecessary Disorder, to an enlightened Reorder or resurrection. This is the universal pattern that connects and solidifies our relationships with everything around us. This… Continue Reading The Universal Pattern