We’re full swing into the opposite of spring, which is fall. Richard Rohr is an interesting thinker and a skilled writer that has painted the realities of the spiritual into simultaneous complexities and simplicities. I’d like to spend this month digging a little into one of his works whose namesake suits our present season.
The name of the book is Falling Upward, A Spirituality of the Two Halves of Life. The premise is that there is a deeper level of living that moves beyond the superficial, the surface, the flesh, and the temporary which most people never experience. The tension is that while it is completely necessary to embrace and fully realize the first half of life, there is a more meaningful perspective and a second layer to discover.
Rohr suggests that the majority of all of humanity, lives entirety of their lives in the first half. This revolves around the elements of self. He says it like this: “…most people’s concerns remain those of establishing their personal (or superior) identity, creating various boundary markers for themselves, seeking security, and perhaps linking to what seem like significant people or projects.”
In other words, the first half of life (most people’s whole life) is spent trying to make a name for themselves, feel safe, discover where and how to live within the order of the world, and connect to others that add to one’s own personal value. Rohr adds that most of history has been “involved in the creation and maintenance of first half of life issues: identity, security, and sexuality/gender.”
And living in this life leads to us ask the question: Is that all there is? Sound familiar?
What about this: Have you ever had plans fall through? I have.
With everything planned, details penned, itinerary placed, our honeymoon was all set. Jamaica, here we come! We were so pumped.
The wedding went flawlessly and the reception was unforgettable! After a beautiful night, we headed to the airport the next morning. Upon arriving, and before we could even get felt up by TSA, we got thwarted at the ticket counter. Despite Ashly’s tears, my best schmoozing, and the matrimonious circumstances, we were met with defeat, and a seat on the struggle bus.
See, our passports didn’t come in, like they were supposed to, but they told us just to show that we applied along with our IDs and it should work. Well, turns out we needed birth certificates as well!!! OH CRAP! Mine was in Guymon, OK, (4.5 hrs away). With a phone call and a miraculous turn of events, Ashly’s mom’s friend, who works in state records at the capitol, was able to get a copy of mine (ON A SATURDAY), and we still got to go.
Needless to say, it was a rather awkward yet delightful surprise to see not one, but BOTH of our moms come walking into Will Rogers that Saturday! Although we missed our first and connecting flights, we got a few perks and eventually made it Jamaica for a perfect island getaway to enjoy the best jerk chicken in the world!!!
It really is imperative that we need an ego built early on in life otherwise we will spend the rest of life chasing this value. But if we aren’t careful, with any amount of pressure or the right misstep, the floor to our plans collapses and we FALL THROUGH (along with our plans)! Success, security, and sexuality become a sick cycle of climbing up only to have the bottom drop out again. If we build our life on shaky and unstable ground, we’re doomed to fail. (Remember, the foolish man built his house on sand, but the wise man built his on a solid foundation. Matthew 7:24-27)
On what are you building your life?
So, the next time life seems to be crumbling around you, your world seems to be shattering, you may want to take a look at your floor, at the place in which you’re standing. It might just be that you’re stuck in the first half of life and have started stacking way too much of earthly success, security, and identity on a volatile foundation.
And remember, sometimes, falling through, is the best place to be so you can restart with a solid base.
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