Richard Rohr. Breathing Under Water - Step Eleven.

All right, so you wanted to explore the power of prayer, and we're going deep with this one, diving into an alternative mind by Richard Rohr. Oh, yeah, this is a good one. It's not your typical prayer guide, let me tell you. Right from the start, he's challenging us. He throws down this line. Prayer is a code word for an entirely different way of processing life. Whoa, it makes you stop and think, doesn't it? It does. So I'm curious, what are your initial thoughts on that statement? It's fascinating. I think Rohr, he challenges right away our preconceived ideas about prayer. He's essentially saying, we're going on a journey here. Get ready to rethink everything you thought you knew about connecting with the divine. I love that. And he does that by introducing this idea of moving beyond what he calls the calculating mind. Right, towards a more contemplative mind. And that's key to understanding his whole approach. OK, so break that down for me. What does he mean by the calculating mind? Well, you know how we all get stuck in that constant loop. It's like to-dos and worries, right? It's like our brains are stuck on overdrive. Totally. And it's exhausting. It is. And it's like trying to run some super complex app on an old, outdated operating system. Like, it just can't handle it. OK, that analogy makes total sense. So then, how does Rohr see prayer fitting into all of this? So Rohr argues that true prayer, it's about shifting our perspective. And accessing this contemplative state. Almost like we're tapping into a different operating system within ourselves. Exactly. And it's not about bombarding some cosmic vending machine with a list of our requests. But it's about transformation, clarity. Depth. Yeah, depth. Rohr uses this analogy of moving from standard definition to high definition. Suddenly, boom, you see all these details you never even knew were there. Right. It's about expanding how we see things, expanding our perception. OK, I like that. So how do we actually do that? How do we make that shift? So it takes practice. Like, any skill, right? Rohr, he draws a parallel to the kind of discipline that's cultivated in Buddhist meditation. It's about learning to quiet the mind, that analytical mind. And connecting with something much, much deeper. He also talks about how the disciples actually asked Jesus to teach them to pray. It's as if they knew there was more to it than met the eye. Right, like they were onto something. And Rohr argues that often, our approach to prayer, it's still so self-centered. What do you mean? We come at it like, God, fix this problem in my life. Oh, I see, yeah. Instead of maybe a more open stance of, God, how might your will, like, how might it work through this situation? Even if it's not what I'm expecting. It's subtle, but it's such a powerful distinction. I mean, how often do we go into prayer already having the solution all figured out? All the time. Right. It's like we're just asking for a rubber stamp from God. Exactly. It's like, hey, God, I've got this. Can you just sign off on it? But Rohr is suggesting that maybe, just maybe, God might have a different perspective. Maybe the real answer to our prayer lies in our willingness to let go of our preconceived notions and be open to something different. So it's not about us having all the answers, then. Right. It's about being open to God, changing our understanding of what the solution could be. Exactly. It's about surrendering to something bigger than ourselves, to a wisdom that surpasses our own limited understanding. OK. So that's a pretty radical shift in perspective. How do we even begin to embrace that? Well, Rohr suggests that the very desire to align with God's will is, in itself, a prayer. Wow. It's a shift from demanding to surrendering, from saying, I know best, to saying, I'm open to your guidance, even if it's not what I initially envisioned. That's powerful. But honestly, it's a little scary, too, right? I mean, how do we reconcile that with our very human desire to have some control over our lives? You hit the nail on the head. Surrendering control is scary, like really scary. It requires a lot of courage. You're confronting your fears, your insecurities, that deep-seated need we all have to be in the driver's seat, to be in control. But what Rohr is saying is that it's in those vulnerable places, those scary places, that the most profound work can happen. So how do we even begin to let go? One of the things Rohr talks about is how often we approach prayer with this calculating mind, like we're trying to, I don't know, negotiate a business deal with God or something. Instead of approaching it as a relationship. Yes, exactly. It's not a transaction. It's not, if I do this, will you do that? It's about saying, God, show me where you're at work in my life, in this world, and help me get on board with that. Okay, so it's a more collaborative approach. Exactly, like we're moving from being passive consumers of divine grace to active participants in this incredible creative partnership with the divine. And that's a game changer. It is a game changer. Yeah. But it's a big shift, for sure. Absolutely, it's a total paradigm shift. And while it might seem daunting, maybe even a little overwhelming at first, it's also incredibly liberating. Because when we can release that need to control everything, to orchestrate every single outcome, we open ourselves up to a whole new realm of possibilities. I'm thinking about those times when life throws us a curve ball. Despite our best laid plans, something unexpected happens. What if, instead of resisting, or trying to force our will on the situation, we just leaned into that surrender, that trust that something bigger is at play? That's where the real growth happens. That's where we discover our true strength. And Rohr talks about Jesus, even in his perfect alignment with God, he still sought out solitude and prayer. Right. It's a powerful reminder for us that even in our humanness, even amidst the chaos and uncertainty of life, we have this incredible capacity to access that quiet space within. So important, especially in our world today. Everything's so fast-paced, so noisy, so demanding of our attention, it's hard to find that quiet, that stillness. It is, but it's not impossible. It's about finding those pockets of quiet, even if it's just for a few minutes each day. So how do we do that? Like, practically speaking, how do we cultivate that inner stillness in the midst of all the noise? Well, it might look different for everyone, right? For some, it might be meditation. For others, it might be a walk in nature. Or even just taking a few deep breaths when you're feeling overwhelmed. It's about creating that sacred space within, regardless of what's going on around you. It's about intentionally disconnecting from the external chaos and reconnecting with that inner sanctuary. Exactly. Rohr also talks about the importance of intentionality in our prayer life. Yeah. It's not enough to just go through the motions, right? Exactly. He compares it to actors in a play. They might deliver the same lines night after night, but it's the depth of their presence, their commitment to the story, that truly moves the audience. It's like we need to bring that same level of authenticity, that same heartfelt engagement to our prayer life. Otherwise, it risks becoming just a hollow ritual, devoid of any real connection. It's about moving beyond those rote prayers, those formulas, and accessing that raw, authentic space within where we truly encounter the divine. And that, as you were saying earlier, that can be uncomfortable. It can. It can be messy, raw, even painful to confront those deeper parts of ourselves. But I get the sense that that's where the real transformation happens. Absolutely. It's in those vulnerable places that we often experience the most profound growth and healing. It's about showing up as we are, imperfections and all, and trusting that we're met with love and acceptance. It's interesting. We often think of prayer as something kind of, I don't know, complex, mystical even. But Rohr suggests it might be much simpler than we realize. Simpler yet more profound. Right. He says, the heartfelt desire to do the will of God is, in fact, the truest will of God. That really struck me. It's profound. A real paradox, isn't it? Like, we think we need to earn God's favor. Right. Through elaborate rituals or the perfect words. Exactly. But Rohr's saying that sincere desire, that yearning for alignment, that's the real deal. So the prayer's already answered in that moment of seeking. In essence, yes. It's about surrendering the need to control, to bargain. Which, let's be honest, is a pretty scary thought for a lot of us, right? Absolutely. It takes immense courage to truly let go. Because we're so used to being in control, calling the shots. We cling to outcomes, strategize, try to bend the world to our will. We become micromanagers of our own lives. Precisely. But when we cultivate that contemplative space within, we begin to loosen our grip. We allow for the possibility that, hey, maybe we don't have it all figured out. Right. And that maybe, just maybe, there's a wisdom beyond our own limited understanding that's guiding the way. Which requires a lot of trust. It does. It requires us to confront our fears, our insecurities, that deep-seated need to orchestrate every single outcome. But Rohr suggests that it's in those vulnerable places, those places where we feel most out of control, that the most profound work can occur. He talks about how we often go into prayer with this calculating mind. Yeah. Like we're negotiating a business deal with God. Yes. And that's just not how it works. So instead of approaching prayer as this transaction, if I do this, will you do that? We shift to a more relational approach. What would that look like? It's about saying, God, show me where you're at work in my life, in the world. And help me to align myself with that. It's more of a conversation, a collaboration. Exactly. We're moving from passive consumers of divine grace to active participants in a creative partnership with the divine. That's a totally different way of looking at it. It's a paradigm shift, but it's also incredibly freeing. Because it takes the pressure off of us to have all the answers, to control everything. And it opens us up to a whole new realm of possibilities. We're no longer limited by our own limited perspective. I love that. So how do we start to make that shift? How do we move from that place of control to that place of surrender? Well, it's a process. And it looks different for everyone, but I think it starts with awareness. Awareness of what? Awareness of those times when we're clinging to control, when we're approaching prayer with that calculating mind. And then, gently, we can start to let go. Easier said than done, right? Oh, absolutely. But with practice, it does get easier. And I think it's also important to remember that we're not in this alone. Right, we have God's grace. Exactly, and that grace is always available to us, even when we don't feel it. Even when we feel lost and afraid, and very much in control. So it's about surrendering to that grace, to that love that's always there. Yes. And trusting that even though we might not understand it, even though it might not look the way we expect it to, that love is always guiding us towards our highest good. So we've talked a lot about this idea of surrender, of letting go of control, and how that can open us up to a deeper experience of prayer. But how do we actually know if we're making that shift? Like, what are some signs that we're moving from that calculating mindset to a more contemplative one? How does that actually show up in our daily lives? That's a great question. And, you know, it's tricky, isn't it? Because there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Everyone's journey is so unique. But I think one of the biggest signs is a change in our relationship with control itself. Okay, I can see that. The calculating mind, it's always clinging to outcomes, right? Always strategizing, manipulating, trying to bend the world to its will. We become like micromanagers of our own lives. Exactly. But as we cultivate that contemplative space within, we start to loosen our grip a little bit. We become more at ease with uncertainty, more open to the possibility that life might unfold in ways we hadn't planned, hadn't even imagined. So it's not about becoming passive or giving up. No, not at all. It's about surrendering to something bigger, trusting that there's a wisdom beyond our limited understanding that's guiding the way. And that takes a lot of faith. It does. It takes courage, too. Because surrender often requires us to step outside of our comfort zones, to face our fears, to let go of the illusion of control. But within that surrender, we often find this incredible sense of peace. Even when life is hard, when things aren't going our way. Especially then. It's like we're finally putting down this heavy baggage we've been carrying around for who knows how long and allowing ourselves to be carried by a force greater than ourselves. That's a beautiful image. So we're not trying to force things to go our way. We're surrendering to a greater wisdom, a greater plan. Yes. And within that surrender, we find this deep sense of peace and even joy, regardless of our circumstances. Like we're finally tuning in to that inner GPS that's always been there, guiding us towards our true purpose. I love that analogy. So as we become more attuned to that inner guidance system, more aligned with that greater purpose, how does that manifest in our lives? Like what are some tangible signs that we're on the right track? Well, we might notice our actions becoming more aligned with our values. Our relationships might become more authentic, more meaningful. We might start to feel a greater sense of purpose, a sense of belonging in the world. Our external world starts to reflect that internal transformation. We're shifting from a self-centered perspective to a more expansive heart-centered way of being, and that changes everything. That's powerful. But I imagine it's not always easy. I mean, old habits die hard, right? Oh, absolutely. It's not always a linear progression. There will be times when we fall back into old patterns, when those default settings of control and fear resurface. So what do we do then? We acknowledge it. We don't jet ourselves. We just gently guide ourselves back to that place of surrender, back to that connection with that loving presence that's always there for us. It's like building a muscle. The more we exercise it, the stronger it becomes. So the key is consistency, just like with any spiritual practice. Exactly. And over time, as we continue to cultivate that contemplative space within, those moments of surrender, of peace, of deep inner knowing, they become more frequent, more spontaneous. They become our new normal. And that's really what Roar is inviting us into, isn't it? This transformative journey of aligning ourselves with a love far greater than ourselves, a love that has the power to heal, to transform, to create a more just and compassionate world. Beautifully said. It's a journey that requires courage, surrender, and a willingness to let go of our old limiting beliefs about ourselves and the world around us. But the rewards are immeasurable. They are indeed. Well, this has been a truly enlightening deep dive into Richard Roar's an alternative mind. I know it's given me a lot to think about and more importantly, a lot to put into practice. Me too. It's a reminder that true prayer, it's not about reciting memorized words or performing elaborate rituals. It's about cultivating a way of being in the world, a way of being in relationship with ourselves, with each other and with divine. And to you, our listener, thank you for joining us on this journey. We encourage you to explore these ideas further and to discover that transformative power that resides within your own heart.