Richard Rohr on PBS Religion and Ethics Show

It was about a month ago that Judy Valente in Portland, Oregon did an interview with noted Franciscan author and speaker Richard Rohr that has been featured on the PBS Religion and Ethics program. I've been an admirer of Rohr for several years and I'm blessed to live in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he is based with his Center for Action and Contemplation. I've met and talked with Richard a few times and I've done some work there at the CAC. The spiritual growth I've gained from his insight has helped me a great deal.

So I am always interested in Richard Rohr's new books and any interviews or coverage he receives. This PBS interview is one of the best I've come across. It shares in a short amount of time many of the profound points that Father Rohr often shares through his talks and books. These include the need for us to let go to the Holy Spirit and not get too caught up in doctrine. We also need to recognize our failings and that often God gets to us through our faults and our "falling down" - in other words, the whole "dying to self" in whatever way that occurs. Many people discover the spiritual rebirth after battling alcoholism, addiction, life threatening diseases or traumatic life changing events.

Our culture needs badly to move away from building and protecting our self-image whenever that is just ego justification. We need to do more than learn about God and Jesus. We need to have real change, what the saints and mystics would call transcendence.

This change often takes a lifetime and usually in the second half of life. But not always; some connect the dots earlier, like Francis of Assisi and St. Therese of Lieseux. I pray you discover this path. Check out the article and perhaps you'll have an "a-ha!" moment.