The Set Up: Journey to 30

In my conference experience last week in Orlando, I was grateful to be part of a session that featured a panel of guests whom many I've had the privilege of working with and for at previous and current institutions. When I saw their names in the program lineup I knew this would be a session that would leave a mark on me and it did not disappoint. The session was titled: Midlife Reflections about Vocation and Calling. 

Context for the presentation was offered from the foundations of Richard Rohr's book Falling Upward. Rohr is a Franciscan friar and has written a few books, speaks internationally and resides in New Mexico as Founding Director for the Center for Action and Contemplation. Thanks to blogcritics.org for a greater detailed review of his book here: http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-falling-upward-by-richard/ 

Below is an excerpt of their review that helps shape the similar framework that was shared at the session.

Rohr uses the image of life’s two halves. In the first half of life, which needn’t be defined purely in terms of age, we focus on the foundations and create a container for life’s questions. From there, after we’ve taken care of these basic elements of the faith journey, then we are ready to fill the container with content. Often, in the first half of life, we live with either/or categories. But, staying put in this first stage of life means that our containers remain largely empty and ill-defined. We live in a sort of perpetual adolescence. It’s fine to be an adolescent for a while, but not forever, but unfortunately the church often does little to challenge this adolescence. As Rohr notes, many of the sermons he has heard over his long life never move beyond this first level. Indeed, if a preacher does challenge these sacred foundations, that person will likely be considered “heretical, dangerous, or ill advised” (p. 7).

If, however, we’re going to experience spiritual maturity, or what Rohr calls the second half of life (something that many people never achieve), then we must be ready to leave the comfort of the black and white and risk living with a both/and dynamic. To move into the second half of life we must be comfortable with change and willing to be stretched beyond our comfort zones. Indeed, we need to be aware of the trap of worshiping the status quo. Thus, like Abraham and Sarah, we must be willing and ready to leave home and head out for an undiscovered country.

It was deeply moving to hear the reflections and journey of the panelists as they described their 'containers' and what life events have affected them in positing how they fill their container and what values they embrace. I am blessed that in my professional field there is much worth ascribed to reflection. We build it into the classes we teach and the programs we lead for our students to engage in mindfulness and reflect to deepen their learning and grow in their self understanding. It's easy to set the stage for them. It is harder to discipline ourselves into fulfilling the same prescription. A lot of excuses get in the way, namely things surrounding how we describe time/availability/priorities. 

Well I have a birthday coming up next month. It's my golden birthday- turning 30 on April 30th! And after sitting in this session and continuing to reflect on the stories shared and questions posed still after a week, I feel challenged to engage in some deeper reflection time for myself. Not because I feel like my 30th birthday is in any way the midlife point or back half of the hill journey, but because I DO value reflection and I was moved by the authenticity and honesty shared by my colleagues. I felt challenged to push my introverted boundaries and risk sharing my thoughts with more than just my diary. (Also being influenced a lot by Brene Brown these days and her research on vulnerability- one of my fav TED videos here). 

So here is what's coming in April on the blog... 30 days of reflection leading up to my 30th birthday. I have a jump on a few topics and questions to unpack, but feel free to make suggestions. And feel free to join me in setting time apart to reflect.