Richard Rohr

If our love of God does not directly influence, and even change, how we engage in the issues of our time on this earth, I wonder what good religion is.

In my opinion, most organized religion does neither agentic service nor relational nurturance very well.

Nature is the one song of praise that never stops singing.

The theological virtue of hope is the patient and trustful willingness to live without closure, without resolution, and still be content and even happy because our Satisfaction is now at another level, and our Source is beyond ourselves.

When 'happiness' eludes us - as, eventually, it always will - we have the invitation to examine our programmed responses and to exercise our power to choose again.

God created us for love, for union, for forgiveness and compassion and, yet, that has not been our storyline. That has not been our history.

Your heart has to be prepared ahead of time through faith and prayer and grace and mercy and love and forgiveness so you can keep your heart open in hell, when hell happens.

This life journey has led me to love mystery and not feel the need to change it or make it un-mysterious. This has put me at odds with many other believers I know who seem to need explanations for everything.