TO LEARN THE ART OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER

This is 'radical grace'...it is crucial to allow God, and at least one other trusted person to see us in our imperfection and even our nakedness, as we are—rather than as we would ideally wish to be. -- Fr  Richard Rohr, "Daily Meditation," April 11, 2021

There it is. To me, that is the foundational secret to living happy, joyous and free...or, living "free of me" in a me-first world.

As I look back,  it seems to me we begin through despair unconsciously allowing God to know us by  our barefaced imperfection...face it, our imperfection is why we so desperately seek him in the first place, ofttimes why we so desperately seek him today. 

It is through the inward movement of our heart and Soul that, comforted, we realize the God of our own understanding already lives within us. That realization opens us to our need for another person with whom to share that "radical grace." 

Comes the birthing revolution: In trusting one other person, our trust grows, and we know we can find another person to trust. And we do...and s/he does...and they do...and faith is born. 

I am convinced that only by willingly (or unwillingly but honestly) allowing another to see us in our imperfection and even our nakedness, as we are do we shed the self-centered fear of showing our self, our vulnerability. We begin to learn the art of laughter.

Only then can we welcome a thousand others knowing our insides. Ah, but it must be recognized, while we may welcome that recognition of others, we also must allow for their rejection...without our  personalizing either. We begin to learn the art of love and laughter.

There. There's the proof that God lives within us/without us.

Thank you.