As a culture, we have to be taught the language of descent. That is the great language of religion. It teaches us to enter willingly, trustingly into the dark periods of life. These dark periods are good teachers. Religious energy is in the dark questions, seldom in the answers. Answers are the way out, but that is not what we are here for. But when we look at the questions, we look for the opening to transformation. Fixing something doesn’t usually transform us. We try to change events in order to avoid changing ourselves. We must learn to stay with the pain of life, without answers, without conclusions, and some days without meaning. That is the path, the perilous dark path of true prayer.
–Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs, p. 45-46
This is what I was trying to teach my adult Sunday school class (again) just this week. Trust Richard Rohr to express it so eloquently.
JB, thanks for sharing these truly gorgeous thoughts for reflection. As a grief resolution specialist/grief educator, this is what I teach. “We must learn to stay with the pain of life, without answers, without conclusions, and some days without meaning.” I also teach that the pain can gradually be expressed and released in a variety of ways that do not harm the person who is expressing/releasing, ways that do not harm others, and ways that do not harm property. There is healing for life’s wounds while still on the journey of this life…and the final, ultimate healing comes with death and the transition to the next life. Just my opinion, my belief, based on my experience. Your mileage may vary…thanks again and blessings to you – GT~.