Overview

When we're journeying through the first half of life, we often think it will end when we have achieved our goals or climbed as high as we can. With this cultural assumption in our heads, we may arrive at middle age believing there is nowhere to go but down. Falling Upward challenges us to rethink this perspective, shining light on the idea that the end of our first path is not an ending, but a new beginning. As we transition into the second half of life, we are confronted by our challenges, mistakes, losses and other forms of suffering. Little do most of us realize that these sufferings are in fact enormous gifts, opportunities to step outside our comfort zones and broaden our horizons. Drawing on the wisdom from time-honored myths, heroic poems, great thinkers, and sacred religious texts, Rohr explores the two halves of life to show that the heartbreaks and disappointments of the first half are actually stepping-stones to the joys that the second has in store. This revised edition of his beloved book includes many updates that make the content more relevant to today's readers. Among these is a focus, in practical terms, on how we can live meaningful lives in a world of suffering and conflict, as Rohr emphasizes how 'getting it wrong' can lead us directly to the spiritual answers we seek.

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9780281092338

Table of Contents

Reviews

This is Richard Rohr at his vintage best: prophetic, pastoral, practical. A book I will gratefully share with my children and grandchildren. -- Cynthia Bourgeault, Episcopal priest, retreat leader and author of The Meaning of Mary Magdalene The value of this book lies in the way Richard Rohr shares his own aging process with us in ways that help us be less afraid . . . We begin to see that, as we grow older, we are being awakened to deep, simple, and mysterious things we simply could not see when we were younger. -- Jim Finley, retreat leader, Merton scholar, and author of The Contemplative Heart Falling Upward . . . is a great and gracious gift for all of us longing for lanterns on the perilous path to psychospiritual maturity, a path that reveals secrets of personal destiny only after falling into the swamps of failure, woundedness, and personal demons. An uncommon, true elder in these fractured times, Richard Rohr shows us the way into the rarely reached 'second half of life' and the encounter with our souls-our authentic and unique way of participating in and joyously contributing to our miraculous world. -- Bill Plotkin, Ph.D., author of Soulcraft and Nature and the Human Soul Richard Rohr has been a mentor to so many of us over the years, teaching us new ways to read Scripture, giving us tools to better understand ourselves, showing us new approaches to prayer and suffering, and even helping us see and practice a new kind of seeing. Now, in Falling Upward, Richard offers a simple but deeply helpful framework for seeing the whole spiritual life - one that will help both beginners on the path as they look ahead and long-term pilgrims as they look back over their journey so far. -- Brian McLaren, author of A New Kind of Christianity and Naked Spirituality (brianmclaren.net) In Falling Upward, Fr. Richard Rohr's wisdom illuminates the purpose and direction of our life journey. It turns out that our souls are engaged in a sacred dance that leads 'beyond the strong opinions, needs, preferences, and demands of the first half of life' toward the True Self and the 'serene discipleship' of the second half of life. -- The Rev. Dr Barbara A. Holmes, author of Joy Unspeakable, Crisis Contemplation, and Race and the Cosmos

Author Information

Richard Rohr is a globally recognized Franciscan friar and ecumenical teacher whose work bears witness to the deep wisdom of Christian mysticism. He is the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, an educational nonprofit that introduces seekers to the contemplative Christian path of transformation. He is the author of many books, most recently, the New York Times bestseller THE TEARS OF THINGS. His work has been featured on Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday, Krista Tippett’s On Being, and in The New Yorker and Harper’s magazine.

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