“In God’s reign ‘everything belongs,’ even the broken and poor parts. Until we have admitted this in our own soul, we will usually perpetuate expelling systems in the outer world of politics and class. Dualistic thinking begins in the soul and moves to the mind and eventually moves to the streets. True prayer, however, nips the lie in the bud. It is usually experienced as tears, surrender, or forgiveness.” -Fr. Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer

I am excited to start a new book by Fr. Richard Rohr called, “Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer.” This is something that is not part of my normal prayer and devotional life, but I believe that expanding my normal spirituality with other godly streams will be beneficial spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically.

A favorite part of Fr. Rohr’s ministry that is very exciting and inspirational is the part of activism that he champions. He doesn’t sit in a monastery or abbey and work on himself, but he is inward and outward focused wanting to spark change in the systems and institutions around him so that there is real lasting change in the world.

I am just about finished with his book “Simplicity: The Freedom of Letting Go,” which I have thoroughly enjoyed as it challenges my own Western thought patterns to see things more like Jesus saw them in the first century A.D.

– Jason