I read an excellent piece the other day where the author writes about her childhood dream of being an archeologist. When asked why she explained she wanted to excavate Jesus’ bones. Imagine her bitter disappointment when her mother finally told her that Jesus had risen from the dead and went to heaven to be with his Father. No bones to be found. Dang.
Dreams
We all dream. As a child, we would share with anyone prepared to listen. Little boys want to be cowboys, policemen, firefighters, fighter pilots, and more. Nothing as mundane as garbage collectors or teachers or, heaven forbid, a deacon or a priest. Well, maybe a priest. Those fancy liturgical garments do have a certain appeal.
Little girls? The sky’s the limit! Ballerina, actress, Olympic gymnast, famous pop star. The list goes on and on. There was no thought of the potential dreary life of married too young, not enough money, and three little ones tugging on your jeans.
Some dreams may come true. The little boy may well join the air force and fly those jets screaming across the sky in a fancy maneuver. That little girl might live to see her name in lights above some theatre as the principal dancer in Giselle.
But chances are they won’t. University will follow school, and work will follow university. Maybe there won’t even be a university experience. The need to provide for ourselves and eventually for our families will be foremost in our minds. These issues have a name.
The Daily Grind
Sometimes, at a Saturday afternoon barbeque with friends and in a relaxed mood, we might bring out those memories and dreams. Have a good laugh. What were we thinking?
Monday morning, it will be the rush to get ready. Kids to school. The bumper-to-bumper traffic. The difficult co-workers. The demands from an unreasonable boss.
Or maybe not. Maybe we will be fortunate enough to have a great job and a good working environment. But those childhood dreams? Only suitable for a laugh over a glass of wine.
Then, one day, we are middle-aged. We now have other dreams – enough money to retire comfortably. Travel a little. Visit family and friends.
Retirement
Then it happens. We retire. Now what? We are still young enough and, if lucky, blessed with good health. There is only so much traveling and visiting one can do. It loses its allure. Children and grandchildren have their own busy lives, treading the path we did so many years ago.
I am supremely fortunate; my spouse is also my best friend. We have reached the point in our marriage where we finish each other’s sentences. We don’t need to talk, only make eye contact, and know what the other is thinking. After that, we are content just to let life “be.”
Still, something was missing and I had no idea what. It was just a little mouse gnawing at the fringes of my conscious mind.
An early riser by nature, it finally coalesced one morning as I watched the marbled sky of grey, orange, and pink while the sun edged over the horizon. The little mouse became a giant rat taking a huge bite and I had one of those rare moments of enlightenment.
Time
I now have all that time I yearned for while on the hamster wheel of working, forging ahead, fighting to get onto that next ring in the ladder that leads to the top.
Yet, I still only go to Mass on Sundays. In fact, since Covid struck, I haven’t even been to mass in months. So yes, I have compromised lungs and maybe have good reasons for avoiding people. And I’ve been pretty good at listening to mass online.
The tiny nipping mouse was back. It didn’t come as a blinding flash, rather an awareness that I now have time to devote to Bible study. I have tried several times to join a Bible study group, and my experiences range from the hilarious to the annoying to nothing.
Thus, I’m wary of groups. The one instance where I came away enriched was after doing an 8-week course based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Even that had a rocky start, entirely due to my contrary and loner nature.
Finally, I gave up on all the groups. I simply didn’t fit anywhere.
Dawning Understanding
Understanding of the problem came slowly. I’m in a different, insular, and tailor-made place for me in my faith walk. I went hunting. What could I read, sit with, ponder over, and learn from?
I discovered the 3-minute Daily Reflections by the Jesuits. I do love those Jesuits. They pose questions that send me digging deep.
Then there was Blessed is She with the daily readings and a reflection by someone of the fairer sex. It continues to amaze me how similar all we womenfolk are.
Finally, of course, the one and only Father Richard Rohr. Okay, sometimes he’s way over my head, but when not, he feeds my soul, and my toes curl in delight.
The loner in me sends up a prayer of thanksgiving for these treasures. Then, when all is quiet and the sun is thinking about getting up, my early morning hours are now filled with the material to sit with, think about, and enjoy.
As I sit with these reflections, immersed in my blessings and grateful for my faith walk, the sadness of lost dreams and opportunities fade. I think of the lovely saying, incorrectly attributed to St. Theresa of Avila, but still marvelous –
St. Theresa’s Prayer of Daily Trust and Joy
May today there be peace within.
May I trust God that I am exactly where I am meant to be.
May I not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May I use those gifts that I have received, and pass on the love that has been given to I.
May I be content knowing I am a child of God.
Let this presence settle into my bones, and allow my soul the freedom to sing,
Dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
I know God delights in me just as I am. I don’t need to read endless Bible verses or learned theological articles; I just need to sit with Him. Walk with Him. Talk to Him. Listen to Him.
Confirmation of my feelings come when I read the Holy Father’s Daily post of “His Words, Our Journey.”
The practice of meditation has received a great deal of attention in recent years. It is not only Christians who talk about it: the practice of meditation exists in almost all the world’s religions… We all need to meditate, to reflect, to discover ourselves, it is a human dynamic… Here, then, is the image of young people and adults sitting in recollection, in silence, with eyes half closed… It is a phenomenon to be looked on favourably. Indeed, we are not made for rushing all the time, we have an inner life that cannot always be trampled on. Meditating is therefore a need for everyone. Meditating, so to speak, is like stopping and taking a breath in life.” Pope Francis 5/6/2-21
I go hunting to affirm my feeling that I’m enough as I am and find it, as I so often do, in the Psalms.
“He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.” Psalm 18:19 (KJV)
As the dogs and I enjoy another late afternoon walk, I find myself humming:
And he walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own..”
My deepest dreams, subconscious dreams which I only articulated as I grew older, are gradually becoming a reality.
8 thoughts on “What Dreams May Come”
Hi there Annemarie!
Thank you for taking the time to read and reply. I understand your concerns.
Take care and stay safe.
I will add my voice to other concerns reflected in the comments.
Ida – I love the lyrical and uplifting tone of your article. But Richard Rohr, in particular, is problematic. Much of what he says is fine, but then there’s that other 10%. You can have a gourmet dinner made from the best ingredients and lovingly crafted by artisans – but if it’s sprinkled with a little strychnine, well… Just so, Rohr’s devotion to “Centering Prayer” and a new age sentimentality is spiritually damaging (the Enneagram stuff isn’t much better).
Anything from Fr. Thomas Dubay or Fr. Jacques Phillippe has the accessibility and gentleness of Richard Rohr (you refer to him as “Father” but he generally does not – funny how he distances himself from the priesthood) without sacrificing the truth and power of authentic Catholic spirituality.
I understand your article isn’t advocating centering prayer – and you may be able to separate the wheat from the chaff in what Richard Rohr offers – but I caution against recommending Rohr to others.
In addition to the Bryan Mercier reference – both Susan Brinkmann and Connie Rossini have good books refuting mindfulness and centering prayer.
As for Rohr’s general reflections, here are some recent (but classic) Rorh-isms:
“Jesus came to give us the courage to trust and allow our inherent union with God, and he modeled it for us in this world. Union is not merely a place we go to later—as long as we are good. Union is the place we come from, the place we’re called to live from now. ”
– OK – but how do we do our part? Do you ever find Richard Rohr explaining fundamental Catholic sacramental theology (Reconciliation and the Eucharist), moral theology, and how they relate to the indwelling of the Spirit?
And one more:
“The Gospel is simply the wisdom of those who agree to carry their part of the infinite suffering of God. It must be recognized that many non-Christians fully accept this vocation with greater freedom than many Christians.”
– The first sentence is classic – us-focused – it’s “our wisdom”. And as for the second sentence – yes, there are many bad Catholics and Christians, and some non-Christians who do a very good job of living out the natural law. But, what does “fully accept” and “with greater freedom” even mean? Can we learn something from the examples of non-Christians? Sure. But there is a consistent subcurrent of belligerence to authentic Catholic spirituality that runs through Rohr’s writing.
Handle with care.
Offered in love for both you and Fr. Rohr.
What lovely and informative feedback! Thank you for reading and responding. As you probably know, I’m a convert (1994) and was raised with three non-negotiable laws.
The Ten Commandments; The Our Father and The Apostles Creed. There is so much wealth and richness in the Catholic Faith. It also follows that there are huge gaps in my knowledge and I will never catch up with cradle Catholics.
Richard Rohr – I think I can separate the wheat from the chaff – it’s when he loses me that I believe it’s the chaff. His short prayers at the end of his daily posts are lovely and simple. And he has introduced me to people I didn’t know. For example –
Tuesday
Oh, Lord, let me feel at one with myself. Let me perform a thousand daily tasks with love, but let everyone spring from a greater central core of devotion and love.
Etty Hillesum
Wednesday
Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.
Viktor Frankl
Thursday
The choice to accept myself as I am: human, imperfect. To be useful, to be used up, to survive and to thrive so I can use every moment to make the world a better place.
Edith Eger
Friday
In the gospel we are shown that real power is not the power of domination but rather the power of love. And that looking at life from the vantage point of love, we see our being and our joy increase to an extent that we give it away.
Adam Bucko
I am truly grateful that you took the time and trouble to respond. And for the manner in which it was done plus the advice and words of wisdom. Thank you!
Oh yes, I wouldn’t dream of recommending any of my exploratory reading to anyone. Except for The Jesuits. I’ll try to “sell” them to anyone that will listen.
Hi Ida – apologies for the slow response. Thank you for receiving my post as you did. What a world it would if everyone were raised with those three non-negotiables and took them to heart has you have. Thank you for doing you part to move the world in that direction. God bless – Steve
Hello there C-Marie and first of all, thanks so much for reading and responding. Much appreciated.
I guess I have to clarify this faith journey I’m on. Did you open and read the links in my story? I do read and study, “translated,” I do take a look and see.
The Blessed is She website is run by Catholic women. Every morning the day’s readings are given with a reflection. Often in those readings, I find something that has me dig deeper. This morning it was the responsorial Psalm 103:1 – 2. Off I went to find some music with those words and found a lovely recording by Matt Redman which I shared on my Facebook page. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwIT8JjddM
And then, those lovely Jesuits. They pick a verse, write a short reflection, and then pose two simple questions. I have practically filled my new journal in answering those questions! Once again, the link would have made this more clear.
As for Father Richard Rohr – he makes me think and his prayers are gold. That’s why I gave a link to the Center for Action and Contemplation.
So no, I don’t only “feel” but I will confess to feeling too much and too deep.
I could write a more detailed article instead of including links but find it becomes so wordy. I’m a fast reader and prefer to be directed to the source. I believe, maybe erroneously, that others are the same.
I get up early, around 5.00 am so I can have two hours or so before the household wakes. Those hours are mine. To dwell with my Lord, the various reflections I read and follow and try to get in a little writing myself.
Thanks again, and God Bless.
Ida
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Floating through life on “feelings” as so emphasized in this article, leaves one open to seeing God’s Word as “endless bible verses”, instead of receiving them as the Staff of Life. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and His words in the New Testament, which often enough reflect the Old Testament, are absolutely life-giving. And when received, one’s food has become Him rather than feelings, which go this way and that way, which are without stability, which are blown with the wind.
Francis’ “new humanism”, which he labeled, plus his signing of “The Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” in which he has yet to have the sentence re-stated, says :
“Freedom is a right of every person: each individual enjoys the freedom of belief, thought, expression and action. The pluralism and the diversity of religions, color, sex, race and language are willed by God in His wisdom, through which He created human beings. This divine wisdom is the source from which the right to freedom of belief and the freedom to be different derives. Therefore, the fact that people are forced to adhere to a certain religion or culture must be rejected, as too the imposition of a cultural way of life that others do not accept;”
and so, has given PAPAL approval to the above, much to the consternation of the faithful Catholics.
So, perhaps take a look and see, rather than feel.
God bless, C-Marie
I feel called by the Holy Spirit to reach out with some information for the author and others to use to discern the truth. (Please see below).
I think the spiritual corona virus of our time is the ‘new age’.
Writers like Richard Rohr and practices like centering prayer are infecting the minds and hearts of unsuspecting Catholics.
The real danger of ‘new age’ ideas is that they subtly get close to authentic Catholic theology and this is one of the oldest tricks in Satan’s book. I fell victim to this ploy myself at one time until by the grace of the Holy Spirit, I was shown the truth.
We should want only what is pure and true, from the teachings of Jesus, authenticated by His Church, His Word, Tradition and the Magisterium to enter my heart, mind and soul and the souls of those I care about…
I recommend ‘spiritual distancing’ from all things ‘new age’ because this virus can be far more deadly…
I hope you all have the chance to read the following reflection about Richard Rohr by well-known Catholic writer and author, Leila Miller and listen to the recent talk below (15 minutes) by Bryan Mercier of Catholic Truth. He’s a a Catholic author, speaker and apologist from CT:
https://www.leilamiller.net/blog/2019/7/16/warning-new-ager-fr-richard-rohr-is-making-a-comeback?format=amp
Bryan Mercier:
https://youtu.be/R3Pk2LhrkN8