My teacher Father Richard Rohr believes that transformation and healing occurs in three stages - “I see transformation and change occurring in three stages: order > disorder > reorder. A sense of order is the easiest and most natural way to begin; it is a needed first “container.” But this structure is dangerous if we stay in its safe confines too long. It is small and self-serving. It doesn’t know the full picture, but it thinks it does. “Order” must be deconstructed by the trials and vagaries of life. We must go through a period of “disorder” to grow up. Only in the final “reorder” stage can darkness and light coexist, can paradox be okay. We are finally at home in the only world that ever existed. This is true and contemplative knowing. Here death is a part of life, failure is a part of victory, and imperfection is included in perfection. Opposites collide and unite; everything belongs.We dare not get rid of our pain before we have learned what it has to teach us all of us must go through the pain of disorder. Most of religion gives answers too quickly, dismisses pain too easily, and seeks to be distracted—to maintain some ideal order. So we must resist the instant fix and acknowledge ourselves as beginners to be open to true transformation. In the great spiritual traditions, the wounds to our ego are our teachers and are to be welcomed. They should be paid attention to, not denied or even perfectly resolved. How can a Christian look at the Crucified One and not understand this essential point?” ~ Richard Rohr
Lectio Practice - Three readings
You begin by reading the paragraph above. During this first reading you listen carefully for any words or phrases that seem to jump out. It’s important not to force things, but wait patiently.
After the first reading you sit in silence and contemplation for 3 minutes reflecting on the words or phrases that spoke to you.
When your three minute silence is over you read the same paragraph again. This time you focus further on the points you became aware of during the first reading. This second reading is a time to reflect more deeply, more carefully on what speaks to you, if anything. Try not to analyze the passage. It’s easy to slip into “study mode” and think about interesting points rather than listening to what the written words might be saying.
Having completed the second reading you again sit in meditation/contemplation for 3 minutes allowing yourself to reflect more deeply on what you read.
At the completion of the second three minutes of silence it is time for a third and final reading.
Having completed the third and final reading it is time to respond and record your thoughts by journaling and writing down what you've experienced. Writing down my thoughts helps me because I am very prone to forgetting what I’ve learned or have had an awareness of, even by the next day!