I suppose there is no more counterintuitive spiritual idea than the possibility that God might actually use and find necessary what we fear, avoid, deny, and deem unworthy. This is what I mean by the “integration of the negative.” Yet I believe this is the core of Jesus’ revolutionary good news. --Fr Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation, January 19, 2025
I remember when I first read that...it was akin to an unseen hand, righting me, lifting me. There it was spelled out...that which it had taken me years to fully accept about myself; namely, that I get my spiritual growth from the negative view of life events
My spiritual mantra has long been: If my incurable disease can be a good thing, and it is to me today, then so can this be. "This" of course being whatever I am fearing and trying to pretty up.
That Fr Richard told us its name, the “integration of the negative,” filled me not only with hope but with courage...the courage to accept that if my "negative" way was acceptable to Fr Richard, it must be good enough...period. The pearl beyond price was his affirming that this is the core of Jesus’ revolutionary good news.
If my ancient legs would allow it, I'd be jumping up and down while singing Hallelujah...but writing it out, owning it, is close enough to perfect for me.
God is so good to us.
Thank you.
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