Working with Halves

Image courtesy of piyato/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I am reading this most wonderful book in which the author talks about our lives occurring in two parts, often referred to as the first and second half of our lives. Only, the two "halves" don't have to occur exactly at a chronological half-point. Although the second half most often occurs in older individuals, it can occur in young people. What differentiates the two is some major catastrophe that forces an individual to evolve into a new way of being----the "second half" of life. A person's "first half of life" is usually filled with seeking material goods, success, achievements, and security. The second half, triggered by an unexpected crisis of some sort, is filled with the individual's search for meaning and the emergence of his or her "true self" as the individual encounters his soul and begins to live with a spiritual focus----and the new focus transforms the individual into the person he or she is meant to be (Rohr, 2011, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the two Halves of Life, Kindle Edition, Hoboken.NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc).

Rohr sees the first half of life as preparation for the second half of life and, as he so succinctly puts it, "The first half of life is discovering the script, and the second half is actually writing it and owning it" (Rohr, 2011, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, location 306 of 3008, Kindle Edition, Hoboken.NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc). In addition, Rohr believes once transformation has taken place it is each person's responsibility to allow one's soul to be returned to the "world and to God by love and service" (Rohr, 2001, location 196 of 3008).

People who have found recovery through 12 step programs don't get there by invitation. They get there as a result of what Rohr would call the "first half" of their lives. Their life experiences and choices bring them to a crisis point-----and, if they are lucky, they will, as a result, transform into the person they were meant to be as they follow their unique spiritual pathway.

This all sounds well and good, but wouldn't it just be easier to skip the hard lessons and jump right onto the "pathway?" Well, the ugly truth is the pathway has no meaning for us unless we have personally experienced crisis and suffering. It is as if we all have to have our own little "Jonah moment" when whatever whale we managed to get ourselves swallowed by spits us out and we are given the gift of a second chance. Our mistakes guide us to grace and transformation. I never thought I would be grateful for suffering; but I am more than grateful for having been on the receiving end of God's love and grace and for being snatched from more than one whale of my own making.

Please comment and share your thoughts about the stages and tasks of our lives. May God bless and keep you.