Change – A Personal Story of Transformation
The gift of change; the mystery of change; the miracle of change; the constancy of change; the fear of change; the future of change; the philosophy of change; the politics of change; the hope of change; the perplexity of change; the threat of change; the challenges of change; the power of change; the promises of change; the inevitability of change; the spirituality of change; the blessing of change.
By now the pattern of these four-word statements should be clear. Others include abundance, beauty, unfolding, awe, amazement, joy, resilience, avoidance, astonishment, wisdom, metaphor, light, purpose, heartache, humility, courage, transformation; insight, implication, inspiration, and many more given some imagination.
It should also be noted that these litanies about change also entail negatives of change, or consequences, that many must deal with such as backlash, lost ground, lost momentum, lost rights, and lost faith in secular and religious institutions as just a few examples. I know that I have personally experienced some of these.
Feel free to pause here for a moment or so to reflect on one or two of these characteristics of change that might resonate with you.
Writing this essay three years ago would have been impossible due to the many profound changes occurring in my life including those brought about by the peak COVID era we were in. Let me explain. In 2021, I published a memoir about my personal journey from the lifetime obliviousness of my own racism to an evolving (changing) antiracism awareness and activism. Writing a book was a very challenging endeavor on several levels especially relying on numerous, long forgotten memories given the seven decades, and now moving towards eight decades of my life.
I had never thought of myself as having the gift of writing (and these doubts still linger) let alone taking on the challenges of being an author. However, the end-result was very rewarding (although not much in any remunerative way!)
Since the time of publication late that year (and as fate would position it, on the exact date of the 55th anniversary of my father’s passing), I have had many discoveries, detours, and what I consider intervention-type learnings. Through much internal reflection as well as some external encouragement, the thought of a second book, sequel, or perhaps simply an essay came to mind … so I start here.
I struggled with what the storyline might be that would not only attract potential readers to whatever I wrote, but also wanted it to contain a useful vision that would ensure its endurance through the generations for my grandchildren’s children to hopefully enjoy… a legacy of sorts. And I say this in all humility and understanding that perhaps all my writings, whether books, articles, or my many blog posts will simply get buried in the dustbin of similar literary attempts. But at least I attempted to leave some footprints about my life and thinking.
Given the many types of change noted above, there are several I could write about if not all of them from my personal, experiential view.
But keeping in mind the thought of legacy, I will focus on one that perhaps encompass many, if not all the others: the spirituality of change which is also closely connected with the blessing of change.
Two Significant Spiritual Interventions
In early 2023, a little more than a year into my early post-publication period, I had done dozens of presentations, was doing a regular e-mail update sent to about 400 friends and family in my growing network, and writing blog posts on my website about various related antiracism topics and experiences. It was about this time that I began to question the real effectiveness of what I had been calling my “ministry.”
Virtually all the feedback I had received post-publication was very positive. However, I was left uncertain not only about the “what’s and how’s” of this work, but also questioned whether my various audiences were really being moved towards deeper antiracism thinking and actions within their own lives. I concluded that the answer was probably much more in the “no” domain and began to realize that perhaps I had to dig even deeper into my own self before I could suggest to others that the antiracism path was worth joining.
And to be honest, I also began to think that perhaps the term “antiracism” connotated an unattractive, more negative view of a complex topic difficult to grasp and was perhaps distracting, uncompelling, and most concerning, uninspiring. I began to interject synonyms such as “love,” “freedom,” and “justice” in my writing and presentations to suggest a more uplifting, energetic movement. I also considered the possibility that in making this adjustment I was perhaps sugar coating my words to be “gentler” on my primarily white audience. I still struggle to maintain the right balance between straight talk versus perhaps an unnecessary accommodation to inspire breakthroughs in thinking. So, I continue to adapt.
Having been raised Christian as a Catholic (including a combination of Jesuit and Franciscan traditions), I had been basically guided within a veil of religious superficiality and developed hardly any lasting inner connection with concepts such as my “true self,” the deepest identity within my soul and my unique, God given blueprint. To be sure, I have had numerous retreat and other church experiences over the years. But it was not until I walked the famous Camino de Santiago in northern Spain almost 25 years ago that I seriously encountered my inner self. Walking alone much of the time over 500 miles was well out of my comfort zone and brought me literally to my knees physically and spiritually.
As normally can happen, upon my return into everyday life, even that life-changing experience was put back on the shelf until I entered, with a focused, earnest intentionality, the racial and social justice path about 10 years ago. This new walk would become a major part of my life and eventually led to writing the memoir mentioned previously titled Understanding and Combating Racism: My Path from Oblivious American to Evolving Activist. It also includes more detail about my Camino experience.
Before I get too far ahead of my story here, I should mention that in addition to the Camino, there was a second very significant spiritual intervention around 2013, when I was introduced to the writings and teachings of the Franciscan priest, Father Richard Rohr. Up until that time, I had not heard of this famous author and teacher of spirituality. In 1987, Rohr founded the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico and is recognized as one of the most popular spirituality authors and speakers in the world by many reputable sources.
This introduction to Father Rohr provided the kindling for a personal transformation that continues to unfold and adapt. In reading his daily reflections, they consistently help move me forward toward a “change to” form of thinking versus a “change from” position, a subtle but important and more positive distinction and outlook. As you will see, his views and philosophy are referred to several times in this essay.
Shortly after my Rohr discovery, I left the paid workforce but never actually declared retirement. And then, after much reading and participating in numerous educational programs, including several with my wife, I began my racial and social activism in several ways, all outlined in my memoir. This then led me to what I am calling my Quest.
Quest: My ‘Spirituality of Change’ and its Associated Blessings
First, an AI generated* and adapted definition of “spirituality of change” that I find reasonable and useful:
The spirituality of change refers to a transformative process that encompasses the blessings of personal growth, deepened self-awareness, and the development of a more expansive worldview. It also involves moving from a focus on one’s inner self toward an appreciation of the spiritual wisdom found in other faith traditions. This journey is marked by the recognition of interconnectedness, personal responsibility, and the realization of a shared human experience. From a Christian perspective, it is grounded in Faith, Hope, and Love within the spirit of Jesus the Christ.
Let me break some of these somewhat sterile words and terms apart a bit based on my own experience and inner journey towards spiritual maturity; i.e., my true self. And I would like to introduce a couple of metaphors. I picture any transformation as evolving, always changing, and more like a churning, running river of experiences and life circumstances than a metamorphosis, or a distinct “aha” moment such as the classic portrayal of the chrysalis transformation into a butterfly.
After returning from my Camino walk, people would ask me how I was changed. This was a somewhat puzzling question for me since it assumed that such an experience would have had to have some immediate, life-altering impact. To be sure, there were many significant happenings and memories created that I have written about and will always cherish. But any transformation I was possibly experiencing was more nuanced and gradual versus eureka-like. It has taken me almost a quarter of my life to fully grasp the significance of my post-Camino walk through many feelings of unworthiness, stumbles, and failures … all while accepting the overall experience as a gift, and privilege, that continues to evolve.
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have had a spiritual experience such as the Camino, and when combined with my introduction to the spiritual philosophy of Richard Rohr, the Camino provided a powerful, experiential metaphor to my growing inner awakening as well as numerous blessings. This awakening was driven by considering each step I took on the Camino as a prayer, and then these steps led me to receive the blessings of numerous new experiences and relationships. They endure in my heart as gifts from God.
Both the Camino and Rohr’s influence in my life were touched upon in my memoir. As mentioned earlier, since publication I have continued to explore and examine how I could become more effective in my work or ministry. This inner questioning led me to another intense step of spiritual discovery that I internalized as my Quest. I noted that Rohr uses the metaphor of the Grail Myth to describe the challenge, opportunity, and blessings of such a Quest.
Each of the three key process steps (i.e., gifts or blessings) from the “spirituality of change” definition above, namely “personal growth, deepened self-awareness, and the development of a more expansive worldview,” have become important components of my developing and ongoing Quest. I had initially dabbled in a compilation of meditations, prayers, contemplative practices, and insights created by St. Ignatius of Loyola known as the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises but did not get too far on my own. As background, St. Ignatius was a 16th century Spanish priest, theologian, and founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Spiritual Exercises are a cornerstone of Ignatian spirituality used as a transformative spiritual practice for centuries by people of many religions.
Having (yet again!) my sense of individualism and pride challengedin thinking I could do the Spiritual Exercises my way, I talked to several people who had previously completed the Exercises. It was only then that I decided to take the prescribed approach of having an experienced Spiritual Director guide me on what turned out to be about an eight-month spiritual “walk.” Its purpose is to direct individuals in deepening their relationship with God, discerning their life’s purpose, and making decisions that align with their spiritual values. Thus, my revised Quest began in earnest in the Fall of 2023.
Discoveries … Together with Some Imagination
To quote from the book used for the Exercises – The Ignatian Adventure Experiencing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in Daily Life by Father Kevin O’Brien – “the purpose of the Exercises is very practical: to grow in union with God, who frees us to make good decisions about our lives and to help souls. Ignatius invites us into an intimate encounter with God, revealed in Jesus Christ, so that we can learn to think and act more like Christ.” (pg. 14). Note the similarities to the definition of the spirituality of change.
Like the Camino, I kept a daily journal which is one of the suggested requirements of the Exercises both during and after a daily hour of reading, prayer, and meditation. Even though I probably never referenced the exact term spirituality of change in my daily writing, in reflection this is what I was routinely experiencing in walking this eight-month path. The three elements of this change – personal growth, deepened self-awareness, and the development of a more expansive worldview – represented both the challenge as well as the anticipated outcomes of the Exercises all within the comfort and care of a deeper relationship with Jesus the Christ.
To meet the challenges posed by my search, or quest, required a deeper dive into my inner self, one that I can say I had never truly experienced previously. One tool that I quite enjoyed was writing colloquies, short conversations typically between me and Jesus and sometimes his three parents, Mary, Joesph, and God the Father. I looked forward to having these “talks” since they offered the freedom to just say (write) whatever came to my mind, ask questions of each other, and enjoy the resulting spontaneity of thought.
But what did these discoveries really mean and lead to? What was the essence of my authentic experience walking each of these 200 plus days through my own internal desert? And from O’Brien’s book, “what desires, dreams, concerns, fears, or hope does Christ’s invitation stir in me? How am I moved to respond?” (pg. 157). Here are some of my responses to this last question as written in my journal at the time:
Desires: continue my antiracism work in all aspects and to look at people I meet as Jesus-like.
Dreams: movement (of the world) to the “Beloved Community” as the Kingdom of God. (Note: The Beloved Community was frequently referenced by Dr. Martin Luther King as a dream that a community of love, justice and solidarity would eventually be actualized on earth).
Concerns: (Availability of) time and the potential to get over-extended.
Fears: my perfectionist tendencies and not being present or authentic enough.
Hope: to be able to assist in the movement to the “Beloved Community.”
These reflections are just the tip of the iceberg that hopefully provide some basic idea of where the inner journey and discovery can lead. At the time I wrote these responses, I was steeped in several aspects of my “ministry,” and writing them down helped me form some updated or new actions in this work. So, the graces are twofold: self-discovery and movement in the form of inspired, specific actions I could move towards in the present.
Around this time of initial self-discovery through the Exercises, my spiritual director suggested that I create a “myth story” incorporating these same hopes, desires, dreams, concerns, and fears. A myth is a legendary or traditional story that often concerns an event or a hero. It typically explains mysteries of nature, existence, or the universe with no true basis in fact, can include supernatural elements, and is often associated with religious beliefs.
So, I took this as an imaginative opportunity to describe my quest in a unique way. The inspiration for my story evolved primarily from two sources: Herman Hesse’s famous book Siddartha and the Christian Bible’s New Testament. Siddartha is perhaps my favorite book, and I have read it several times, initially in college. The New Testament is the primary resource of the Exercises so I felt it was an appropriate and important resource. I merged and blended both the storyline and the character development using these resources together with a river as the primary focal point and metaphor throughout the story.
I created the role of Siddartha (Sid) for myself and together with his good friend Gov, they encounter a hypnotist who puts Sid in a trance and the story unfolds from there. They eventually connect with the “Jesus” character, who is portrayed as a ferryman on the river. Sid confides in the ferryman about his quest to discover his true self and purpose in life, and the ride down the river follows some of the Jesus stories in the New Testament in helping people attain their individual destinies. At the conclusion, Sid’s journey leads to self-awareness through the re-discovery of the profound presence of God in his life.
The following is an excerpt from my story toward its conclusion:
“The mirror (of flowing faces) had captured all those he had encountered in his life and they were each enveloped within his own reflection. Thus, the Truth and Purpose of Sid’s true self were revealed through the power of the many authentic relationships he had experienced on his journey which have resulted in his moving towards a radical solidarity with those he had met on his path many of whom who had been tragically marginalized.”
Writing a story like this allowed me the freedom to express my continuing, evolving transformation in an understandable (hopefully!) and experiential way. It portrays my movement and adaptations from the order in my life, to and through disorder or turmoil, and eventually to a place of reorder, a form of home, where I discover a deeper understanding of myself. Essentially, this river story describes my personal spirituality of change and associated graces, or blessings, primarily in the form of expanded relationships with others and most importantly with my Creator.
For the full myth story, please go to: https://www.wewynneauthor.com/2024/01/26/my-quest-in-response-to-an-invitation/.
The Creator Spirit and Infinite Change
I again reach out to Richard Rohr in continuing this narrative. I believe in his view that the spirituality of change originated with the ‘Big Bang’, estimated to have occurred almost 14 billion years ago. With it, the initial understanding of the cosmos was of an “unchanging Earth.” Today there is a different view of the Earth as “the still-unfinished result of natural processes” within a “changing environment, emerging and disappearing.”
I experienced this view in full living, and loving, color through my Camino walk and then twenty two years later with the Spiritual Exercises in my conversations with Jesus. In other words, through the raw, physical presence of the Spanish countryside complemented with the discovery of the beauty within my soul as it continues to evolve. These could be considered parts of a sort of “evolutionary emergence,” a Rohr term.
God’s creation of the universe, along with the billions of souls in His image and likeness over time, epitomizes change going back light years. It continues to move forward infinitely and wondrously portrays the birth and the roots of the spirituality of change all around us in nature and in human form.
To bring this back to earth (so to speak!), if you read my myth story in its entirety, you will observe that it concludes somewhat abruptly. So, I would like to share with you what perhaps could be called “the rest of the story” about my spiritual journey and where it has taken me.
Earlier this year as I was approaching my 77th birthday, I did a search on the spiritual significance of that number. I discovered the following: “The spiritual meaning of 77 signifies inner wisdom, intuition, awakening, and divine guidance. It indicates that you are on the right path toward spiritual growth and self-discovery.” I was gob smacked when I read this since as mentioned, I was well into the exploration of my inner self through Exercises.
Self-discovery (awareness) was brought about in many ways. Prayer and reflection for sure, but also a deeper understanding regarding the power and the miracle of relationships, or the mirror referenced in the myth story excerpt above. To a certain extent, I was simply proceeding linearly, day-to-day with my racial and social justice ministry without fully appreciating the richness and influence of what the growing number of people on my path were providing me.
In reflection, I again used my Camino experience as a metaphor, especially since it was perhaps the most profound relationship-building period of my life in that by making myself vulnerable, my survival literally depended on others. Similarly, I began to realize that the many little and big miracles of new experiences and relationships happening around me in my ministry were not coincidences. And I began to look at them with awe and amazement like I did with those that occurred on the Camino years before. This connection was inspiring.
For instance, I began to think about my relationships with two new friends, Tiffany and Alvin, in a completely different light. To contrast with a previously lived Camino example, I had thought then how great it was that a French couple that I would run into repeatedly were able to keep up my walking pace only to have it startingly revealed that it was I who was behind them and did not realize it in the patterns of the walk!
Similarly in the case of both Tiffany and Alvin, I once again initially had a primarily ego-centric view on how I was helping them in their lives on several different levels and activities. Through the Exercises, I humbly began to realize that it was more a two-way street and that their side was winning! They were in their own unique ways helping me to see and understand myself better as faces in the mirror of my white reality and the work I was doing. I could feel a growing sense of solidarity and allyship with each of them which I consider great blessings in my life. These still developing friendships have led to other blessings, or miracles, of change and discovery through the power of relationship and shared experiences.
Even writing this essay adds to my understanding of the common ground and solidarity we each can participate in, moving towards the common good through the St. Francis of Assisi giving and receiving mantra. This is at least a rediscovered and perhaps newly found dimension of the spiritual change and maturity occurring within me; i.e., moving beyond my ego and self by opening up and being vulberable.
Yet there were, and continue to be, obstacles and roadblocks on this path to understanding my inner self. Early in the Exercises, I re-encountered the issue of unworthiness and began to hear the whispers of being unworthy during my contemplation time. Let me explain this with some background regarding the writing of my memoir. I felt that the depth of needed accuracy in the book required that I must also include memories of my foibles, stumbles, and failures along the path of discovery and being active in the racial and justice space.
At times I was blinded by the persistence of my privilege as a white person and as portrayed in the book, once my words or actions were either self-identified or called out by someone, they eventually made me stronger. And this included the knowingness that I would likely stumble again by my blindness and privilege as I once again experienced just recently. However, in that moment, before any unworthiness thoughts struck, I quickly self-corrected with a general apology to my readers. I am learning!
So, what might be the source of unworthiness thinking come from? Familial memories while growing up in the form of parental rebukes come to mind. Another possibility resides within my Christian Catholic upbringing. During the Communion celebration at every Catholic Mass, the following words are said: “Lord, I am not worthy to receive You; only say the word and I will be healed.” When this is said repeatedly, how could it not become part of your psyche and reinforce a sense of being undeserving?
Now at Communion time I will silently pray: “Lord, You make me worthy to receive You; and by Your word I am healed.” Subtle word changes but it helps salve the wounds of feeling unworthy.
This movement to being worthy also brought me closer to Jesus as a friend and in my colloquies, He assisted me in identifying many other things I needed to explore at a deeper level. A short list (!) includes patience, vulnerability, empathy, compassion, listening, humility, being present, joyful, gentleness of spirit, softening, intimacy, and accepting and giving forgiveness. I asked for graces of acceptance for each of these and admittedly, many of them continue to be aspirational.
So, my own personal evolutionary emergence mentioned at the beginning of this section continues and could be pictured as a grain of sand within God’s overall creation. Each of us as human beings also are grains of sand created in His image and stand in solidarity with Him. As such, we are ‘masterpieces’ in sustaining His amazing creation in an infinite number of ways within Faith, Hope, and Love. One of God’s masterpieces who has inspired me on my evolving spiritual journey is the Black prophet and author, Howard Thurman. He spoke eloquently about perhaps the greatest impediment to embracing change: FEAR.
Howard Thurman, Fear, Silence, and ‘Life’s Working Paper’
Howard Washington Thurman (November 18, 1899 – April 10, 1981) was an American author, philosopher, theologian, Christian mystic, educator, and civil rights leader. As a prominent religious figure, he played a leading role in many social justice movements and organizations of the twentieth century. Thurman’s theology of radical nonviolence influenced and shaped a generation of civil rights activists, and he was a key mentor to leaders within the civil rights movement, including Martin Luther King Jr.
The grandson of formerly enslaved people, one of Thurman’s greatest books is Jesus and the Disinherited. Reading it has inspired, challenged, and informed my spiritual journey as well as cultivated a deeper inner awareness within me and my writing. The second chapter is titled “Fear” and one quote is as follows: “The fear that segregation (which is obviously still very present in this country today) inspires among the weak, in turn breeds fear among the strong and dominant. This fear insulates the conscience against a sense of wrongdoing in carrying out a policy of segregation.” An example of segregation today is the modern version of Black and white separation brought about by the mindless indifference of many whites and the tragic persistence of wrongful policies such as redlining.
The chapter primarily portrays the systemic and centuries old fears that Blacks have been forced to endure that today now include other people of color and immigrants. And it contrasts dramatically with the much different white fear manifested by resistance to change things for the common good, and even more sinister, through the silent acceptance and indifference of white voices.
Waiting or sitting in prayerful silence was (and is) one of the skills Blacks used (and still use) in seeking much inner comfort in dealing with their prevailing fears and pain. In stark and revealing contrast, silence is one of the defensive tactics that white people use when challenged racially, and in these divisive times, also when encountering so-called political issues such as women’s reproductive rights or climate change. And in so doing, discussions that could introduce possible changes for the common good are stifled thus preventing any meaningful dialogue or movement toward change. I steadfastly believe this positioning is induced primarily by whites’ fear of change.
By exposing ourselves to the transformative power of the spirituality of change, we are offered hope to counter fear and overcome our individual and collective silence. In my own life, I attempt to embrace change and speak about it in all its unpredictability and ambiguity. This then leads to the freedom to explore the opportunities and challenges waiting to be discovered. And as I have mentioned, my guideposts are the relationships (mirrors) I encounter that inform any transformation such as those I met on the Camino as well as Tiffany and Alvin. Just thinking about them and seeing them in my mind alleviates any fear I may encounter and reinforces my resolve to continue the path I am on. They are true mirrors of Jesus for me.
Fear of change can be manifested in many ways, but the one that frustrates me the most is silence, whether my own or by others. It takes courage to speak out and I began writing and presenting about the associated costs and risks of silence early in my ministry shortly after my book was published. In the epilogue of Thurman’s book, he presents a very useful concept he identifies as “life’s working paper” for every individual. He says that the working paper is “made up of a creative synthesis of what the man is in all his parts and how he reacts to the living process.” In reflection, through my work I was actively participating in my own working paper.
He continues:“It can never be determined just what a man will fashion. Two men may be born of the same parents, grow up in the same environment, be steeped in the same culture and inspired by the same faith. Close or even cursory observation may reveal that each has fashioned a life working paper so unique that they take to different roads, each day bringing them farther and farther apart. Or it may be that they move along precisely parallel paths that never meet.”Note that Thurman’s masculine-oriented wording was common for his time.
Whether the working paper is written down at any point in life, as I am somewhat doing in this essay, we each have one. Thurman then goes on to discuss the working paper of Jesus as he ends the book: “In (Jesus) the miracle of the working paper is writ large, for what He did all men may do. Thus interpreted, He belongs to no age, no race, no creed. When men look into His face, they see etched the glory of their own possibilities, and their hearts whisper, ‘Thank You and thank God!’”
In my view, Thurman presents a powerful model of the spirituality of change and how it can transform lives. I know my own story and spiritual journey continues to evolve, and I keep updating my personal ‘life working paper’ along the way!
The Recent Presidential Election: Significant “Change” Challenges and Abundant Opportunities
As I approach the end of this essay, I would be remiss and thought it appropriate to ground my own “spirituality of change” within some personal reflections about the dramatic upheaval within our country soon to be brought about by the recent presidential election outcome.
The tsunami of changes to unfold are projected to be stark and darkly impactful. This outlook is not based on opinion, but simply on Trump’s own words and those of other key figures in his electoral orbit. Yet there is hope.
Trump has promised to look sideways at our Constitution and democratic principles which will impact virtually every component of daily life. Millions of people and families could be ripped apart by his promised mass deportation. Women’s reproductive rights and associated health care have been threatened as there have been many examples of preventable deaths among pregnant women since 2022. This situation could worsen on his watch. Our world-class economy and cost of living could incur shock waves never seen before and exacerbate our already horrible income inequalities, especially through his promised tax cuts for the wealthy and proposed tariffs. Many of our current foreign allies and associated international relationships could be lost to waiting autocracies. His promise of using the Justice Department to satisfy his appetite for retribution also threatens and impinges freedom of speech. The existential threat of climate change will worsen through his Project 2025 agenda and many more predictable inevitabilities as outlined in that plan. Yet I believe wholeheartedly that there is hope.
The signals for each of these were all there during the election and are not breaking news. They serve as a dramatic backdrop to the resiliency and fortitude that is going to be required to limit these “strong man” impulses. Collective and individual courage, and change, will lessen the impact of what today seems like a plethora of inevitabilities and that slightly less half the electorate supports by their recent winning vote.
Said another way, the electorate through its voting voice has now determined a dramatically different direction for our country. “We are what we eat” and as a country we are now fully ‘Trump’ to the world. Amazing yet not without hope and we must consider becoming united in better understanding our differences and find the abundant common ground that surrounds us as best represented in the Constitution.
Those who represent the almost half the country who voted to preserve our democracy and freedoms, and lost, I believe have been presented a tremendous opportunity; i.e., to finally attempt inspired conversations to bridge the divide that has separated us for the past nine years from each other. This includes friends, colleagues, relatives, neighbors, and perhaps even those who sit next to us in church pews. We should consider all possible channels to move from fear to hope, from injustice to justice, from hate to compassion, from racism to love, from violence to peace, from cruelty to mercy, from chaos to order, from retribution to reconciliation, and from darkness to light. There is much fertile ground here for mutually beneficial conversations in exploring our abundant commonness with dignity and respect.
If such dialogues could begin to happen, either as part of our own individual “life working papers” or perhaps collectively, I believe they could set the stage for new beginnings, reimagining our country, and creating the positive steps required to truly make America great. In talking with each other with authentic listening, we rebuild relationships and become mutually informed to both what divides us and the many things we have in common.
Bottomline, we need to work together, forge working and loving relationships, and understand each other better to preserve our freedoms and the other principles of our democracy that we all cherish but many of us fear could soon be under siege. Let the reconciliation begin.
The end-result could be breakthroughs of enormous proportions by building new communications bridges so needed in our immediate post-election world and the next four years. Taking such steps also provides insights into the main theme of this essay, the spirituality of change. Let me explain how by once again quoting Richard Rohr in his 11.8.24 reflection, three days after the election:
“God’s love is infinite, a concept the human mind cannot form. The divine notion of perfection isn’t the exclusion of imperfection, but the inclusion of imperfection. That’s divine love. Human love thinks we have to exclude imperfection to love a person. But I’m old enough to know there’s no perfect people around. They don’t exist. We’ve all learned to keep hidden our little secret or shadow self. But divine love includes imperfection, which is what makes it divine love. Without the grace of God, we cannot do that. We pay attention to the imperfection: ‘I saw him do that. I heard her say that.’ Then we have identified our reason not to love and we can feel superior and even ‘damn’ the other person. That’s what I mean when I say Jesus became a scapegoat because he knew that the human pattern of scapegoating always makes someone else the problem instead of ourselves. Christianity is not about changing other people—it isn’t! It’s nice if people do change, but that’s God’s work. It’s about changing ourselves, and that never stops. I’m 80 years old and I’m still trying to change myself.”
Hopefully you can see that this inspiring passage is more than just a Christian reflection and is aspirational in offering much needed hope and guidance for all citizens of this country, especially given the profound change environment we are embroiled in.
For me personally, I recently forwarded the following Father Richard Rohr reflection (10.28.24) to some members of my family with the hope of beginning a conversation just about having a conversation. Here are some excerpts:
“For many people, politics and religion are so personal that neither topic is deemed appropriate to discuss publicly. While separation of church and state is an important protection for all religions, it doesn’t mean we as people of faith should not engage in our civic duties and the political process. The idea of ‘staying out of politics’ doesn’t come from God. My sense is that it arises from our egoic, dualistic thinking that has a hard time hearing a different perspective or learning something new.
“I am not talking about partisan politics here. We have allowed the word partisan to be the first and sometimes only meaning of the word political, and so people don’t even allow us to preach a purely gospel message from the pulpit … as it might sound ‘political!’
“Here is my major point: There is no such thing as being nonpolitical. Everything we say or do either affirms or critiques the status quo. Even to say nothing is to say something: The status quo – even if it is massively unjust and deceitful – is apparently okay. This ‘nonpolitical’ stance is an illusion we must overcome.”
It will not be easy to have this conversation and no doubt may be messy. But hopefully this message provides a starting point especially if presented in a humble, caring spirit.
The same goes for the post-election transition and the Trump presidency which I am taking a momentary deep breath and assessing possible opportunities for deeper-dive dialogues. So, my “life working paper” and transformation continues to evolve, guided by the Spirit within a spirituality of change. As portrayed in my myth story, I believe the solutions to the divisions among us lie in seeing each person, family or otherwise, as mirrors into our souls through sharing our life stories with love where mutual commonness can be discovered. In this way we can move from fear, anger, and hate to faith, hope, love, truth, and trust no matter which side of the bridge we are on. Change enriches us with many blessings and is inevitable anyway so enjoy the ride!
To summarize and within a spirit of humility and an appeal for sustaining and enduring hope, there was a fair election which is the bedrock of our democracy. And I commit to work with others, regardless of political views, for justice, peace, and the common good.
We are Surrounded by ‘Messengers” of Change!
A famous Simon and Garfunkel song of the ‘60s, “The Sounds of Silence”, includes the phrase “the words of the prophet are written on the subway walls”. The song was also part of the musical score in the famous movie, “The Graduate”, when Dustin Hoffman was moving in silence passing by words of graffiti “written on the subway wall.”
These simple words and classic imagery provide a metaphor for me regarding the simplicity as well as the complexities of a spirituality of change. Hoffman’s character is “graduating” into life, is contemplating his next steps, and surrounded by the silent words of invisible messengers. Coincidentally I graduated from college in 1968, around the time this movie was released, so I can relate to the significant changes occurring in my own life, if not the spirituality parts which would be more fully revealed much later.
So, who are the visible and invisible prophets or messengers, in my life who could possibly be considered “spirituality of change” influencers? They may not even be people … but things, circumstances, or events that provide conscious and subconscious messaging and whispers.
For example, this essay portrays my own cadre of messengers. They include the Camino, Father Richard Rohr, my memoir, the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, the myth story, my journals, the “Life Working Paper” inspired by Howard Thurman, and very importantly, building relationships through each of these thus creating an enduring and expanding coterie of human messengers.
One could call it my spiritual toolbox for the soul with each tool or resource available for reflection, nurturing my continuing transformation and with new tools always possible to be added. Thus, the power, beauty, and magic of the spirituality of change is released and blessings flow in the many ways described in this essay, especially those related to building relationships.
As I conclude, I would like to focus on a specific blessing, or grace from God, that is future oriented but can be written about now since it is premised on my life experiences that will obviously conclude at some yet-to-be-determined point.
That blessing is that the totality of my life to date has provided me a hope that the seeds I have sown could reach and hopefully inform future generations of what is possible in their own lives by listening to the whispers of messengers that reach their souls. In essence and humbly stated, if the words of my writings are a part of those whispers, I would be tremendously blessed.
In closing, here’s a last Rohr passage as a final whisper (11.11.24): “Nor are we separate from anyone else. Whatever separates us from one another—nationality, religion, ethnicity, economics, language—are all just accidentals that will all pass away. We are one in God, with Christ, and with one another. ‘I am the vine and you are the branches’ (John 15:5). If only we could live that way every hour!”
We are each a masterpiece within God’s design and creation … so it is possible to live that way!
Godspeed!
*See the asterisk on page 3 …. Disclaimer and caveats: “AI” technology, despite the possibility of plagiarism and invention, is a time saver in gathering useful information. I attempt to reconcile the issues with technology generated information based on reasonability checks and the feedback I have received demonstrates to me that it is providing value.
Photo acknowledgement: Jenna Keiper, Untitled (detail), 2020, photo, New Mexico. God inhabits the rainbow of our being(s). We are all in God and God is represented in all of us: plant, human, animal, earth, star, light, dark.
