Everything. Open. Eager.

Three books and three lessons on Listening, Loving, and Living.

Everything...I’m struck by the story of a lady whose husband died. And whose God died. Rob listens to the story with his hand on his heart. The audience leans in, waiting. Waiting to hear the response, the comfort, the wisdom. What will he say?

Open...I’m learning a new way to pray. Opening my heart, mind, body, emotions, and whole being to the Ultimate Mystery that is the Spirit of God. Focusing more on presence than words. I love the opening line of this book, “Contemplative prayer is the world in which God can do anything.” As I near the end of this book, I see how Thomas helps unveil the unimaginable depth of life and love and mystery in the Spirit. What does he say?

Eager...I’m learning about an alternative way of living. The way of St Francis. A way of living on “the edge of the inside.” A way of living in humility, simplicity, peace, freedom. Living a radical Christianity following a radical Jesus. Living in solidarity with humanity. Letting go of the old ways of thinking and living to gain a new way of thinking and living. What does Richard have to say?

Everything...It’s what he didn’t do that touched me. Here he is, the “expert.” The guy everyone came to see and hear. The guy with the answers. Here he is, leaning in with everyone else. Fully engaged in the moment. In this story. Here he is, not speaking, but listening. Listening to the story of this lady’s husband and God dying. Feeling the emptiness. Joining in the loss.

Open...I’ve never written so much in a book before, underlining text and writing in the margins. I’m savoring this book. The message is simple and repetitive, but still fresh and powerful. I’m learning to pray for the first time again, and Thomas is showing me an alternative way to reach deeper. Connecting to a source in a way that is more real than any prayer practice I’ve ever experienced. The fullness. The gift.

Eager...As I read the pages, I can almost hear Richard narrating. I’ve listened to so many of his messages and interviews. I even took his online course teaching the alternative way of Francis. So as I see the words, I hear his voice. I can hear the admiration for this man who embraced the teachings of Jesus so deeply and lived so fully. So fully “on the edge” as was the Jesus he followed. I hear his words painting the picture of life eager to reach out, eager to love.

Everything...There is suffering and pain. And we go through this together. Our suffering creates a whole new story. We are transformed daily in the mundane and in the spectacular. Some transformation is painful, some is joyful. The beauty is that we don’t have to have the answers. We have to be in it together. We have to listen. We have to love. We have to live.

Open...When we step into the unknown, we’re stepping out in faith. Collectively and individually, we have created belief systems and dogmas and doctrines to help us make sense of this mysterious and magnificent God and His Spirit and His Son. I’ve always felt like we are supposed to know the answers and be able to share those in “statements” of belief. But I love the idea that “statements lead to a state and questions lead to a quest.” I’m definitely in a quest. This book is taking me even further into the mystery of prayer and faith. I’m listening. I’m loving. I’m living.

Eager...I didn’t know that an alternative orthodoxy was an option. But when the Spirit leads, it might be the only option. Long before I came across Francis of Assisi, I knew there had to be an alternative to the formulaic belief system I had been handed. It was a good system to begin my spiritual journey, but if I plan to transform and grow, I must be willing to step forward in faith to my next step. In prayer. In life. Listening, loving, and living.

I was thinking about the greatest commands to love God and love others. In reading these three books, I think we can show this love by listening to God and listening to others. Without all the answers. Just embracing the mystery of this life’s journey. This quest.

Everything...listen

Open...love

Eager...live

Everything is Spiritual ~ Rob Bell

Open Mind, Open Heart ~ Thomas Keating

Eager to Love ~ Richard Rohr