Dear Friends and Donors,
Something in you dies when you bear the unbearable. And it is only in that dark night of the soul that you are prepared to see as God sees and to love as God loves. Ram Dass
Sooner or later, if you are on any classic “spiritual schedule”, some event, person death, idea or relationship will enter your life with which you simply cannot cope using your present skill set acquired knowledge, or willpower. Spiritually speaking, you will be led to the edge of your own private resources. At that point, you will stumble over a necessary “stumbling stone” (see Isaiah 8:14). You must “lose” at something, and then you begin to develop the art of losing. This is the only way that Life/Fate/God/Grace/Mystery can get you to change, let go of your egocentric preoccupations, and go on the further and larger journey.
We must stumble and fall, I am sorry to say. We must be out of the driver’s seat for a while, or we will never learn how to give up control to the Real Guide. It is the necessary pattern. Until we are led to the limits of our present game plan and find it to be insufficient, we will not search out of find our real Source. Alcoholics Anonymous calls it the Higher Power, Jesus calls this Ultimate Source the “living water” at the bottom of the well (see John 4:10-14).
The Gospels teach us that life is tragic but then graciously added that we can survive and will even grow from this tragedy. This is the great turnaround! It all depends on whether we are willing to see down as up or as Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) put it, “where you stumble, there lies your treasure.” Lady Julian of Norwich (1342-1416) said it even more poetically, and I paraphrase: “First there is the fall, and then we recover from the fall- and both are the mercy of God!”
Richard Rohr – Stumble and Fall – March 31, 2019
CHRISTMAS IN GUATEMALA
Thanks for partnering with us over the past years to bring food, clothing and meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor children. You have also helped us bring the good news of the love of God in Christ. We could not do it without you. These are but a few of the children that have had needs met this past year through your support.
The Lord has provided an office for A Voice for Children the last 7 years but we will be moving February 1st. Look for our new address next month!
Let your spirit be filled with His joy, the Joy He gave to the world and you and I. It is available now. And always, by His Spirit. Merry Christmas!
Cameron