You cannot grow in the integrative dance of action and contemplation without a strong tolerance for ambiguity, an ability to allow, forgive, and contain a certain degree of anxiety, and a willingness to not know-and not even need to know. This ever widens and deepens your perspective. This is how you allow and encounter Mystery and move into the contemplative zone.
Richard RohrUntil we learn to love others as ourselves, it's difficult to blame broken people who desperately try to affirm themselves when no one else will.
Richard RohrTo give, and not demand that others receive . . . that is the crossover point to maturity. . .
Richard RohrThe greatest enemy of ordinary daily goodness and joy is not imperfection, but the demand for some supposed perfection or order.
Richard RohrNature religions, for example, speak of summer, fall, winter, and spring. They see the downward path as the necessary prelude to any kind of upward path again. Our vocabulary is different. We Christians speak of the death and resurrection of Jesus. But unfortunately, we've projected it all onto Jesus and it didn't become a life agenda for the rest of us.
Richard RohrMost Christian 'believers' tend to echo the cultural prejudices and worldviews of the dominant group in their country, with only a minority revealing any real transformation of attitudes or consciousness. It has been true of slavery and racism, classism and consumerism and issues of immigration and health care for the poor.
Richard Rohr