GRACE

Every day I receive a devotional from Radical Grace (Richard Rohr's Web site). I relate very
much to his posts and devotionals. The fact that he is a Catholic Father is amazing. Growing up as a Baptist, I was taught that Catholics are wrong and we should never even visit their churches. That makes my learning from Rohr a special treat, overcoming denominational labels and being open to truth from all sources. This one was extra special, worthy of posting and sharing.

GRACE IS EVERYWHERE

Enlightenment (John 8:12) cannot be manufactured, manipulated, or delivered on demand. It is always given from another. Wisdom is not a do-it-yourself project. The Spirit blows where it pleases, and for those of us on the journey, all we can do is listen for the lessons and remain open. Jesus called this faith.

All we can really do is ask for the grace to be open and willing enough to recognize the secret doorways God opens for us. The door is almost always some form of suffering—physical, relational, emotional, intellectual, or structural. I define suffering as what happens to you whenever you are not in control.

Enlightenment is not about knowing as much as it is about unknowing; it is not so much learning as unlearning. It is about surrendering and letting go rather than achieving and possessing. It’s more about entering the mystery than arriving at a mental certitude.

Enlightenment is all gratuitous grace, and the only reasonable response is a grateful heart and the acknowledgment that, always, there is more to the mystery.