The divisions, dichotomies, and dualisms of the world can only be overcome by a unitive consciousness at every level: personal, relational, social, political, cultural, in interreligious dialogue, and particularly in spirituality. This is the unique and central job of healthy religion (re-ligio means “re-ligament”). As Jesus put it in his great final prayer, “I pray that all may be one” (John 17:21). Or, as my favorite Christian mystic, Lady Julian of Norwich (1342–1416) wrote, “By myself I am nothing at all, but in general, I am in the oneing of love. For it is in this oneing that the life of all people exists.”
As dear Julian wrote, “The love of God creates in us such a oneing that when it is truly seen, no person can separate themselves from another person,” and “In the sight of God, all humans are oned, and one person is all people, and all people are in one person.” This is not some twenty-first-century flabby fabrication. This is not pantheism or New Age optimism. This is the whole point: it was, indeed, supposed to usher in a new age—and still will and can. This is the perennial tradition. Our job is not to discover it, but to retrieve what has been discovered—and enjoyed—again and again, in the mystics and saints of all religions.
—from the book Silent Compassion: Finding God in Contemplation
by Richard Rohr, OFM
2 thoughts on “Healing Division”
Lord Jesus Christ, it is my joy and privilege to be your disciple. Give me strength and courage to bear any hardship and suffering which may come my way in serving you and obeying your will. May I witness to others the joy of the Gospel – the good news of your kingdom of peace, joy, and righteousness. Amen.
Can all divisions be healed? Probably not. That’s why we live in a big world, thank God. There should be room for everyone. Problems occur when people feel trapped, such as in a prison. Then what? I don’t know, sorry.
Outside of being trapped in some prison somewhere, how do some people end up in difficult situations? By associating with the wrong people? So, associate with positive people and everything should be alright. Remember, “Be your own best friend,” as my dad would say. We can talk about God later. Please don’t hate yourself. There’s enough hatred in the world as it is. And God? Again, we’ll talk about that later. Please be patient. Why not talk about God right now? Because what for? Don’t you have better things to do? Besides, what is God good for anyways? No, I want to talk about God right now! What, are you spoiled? Then go for a walk and talk to God over there somewhere, lol. Leave me alone. I’ve got enough on my mind. Geez, talking about divisions!