Falling Upward

We grow more spiritually by doing it wrong than by doing it right.In Falling Upward, Fr Richard Rohr offers a new understanding of one of life's most profound mysteries: how our failing can be the foundation for our ongoing spiritual growth. Drawing on the wisdom from time-honoured myths, heroic poems, great thinkers and sacred religious texts, the author explores the two halves of life to show that those who have fallen, failed, or 'gone down' are the only ones who understand 'up'. The heartbreaks, disappointments and loves of the first half of life are actually stepping stones to the spiritual joys that the second half has in store for us.'I thank God for Richard Rohr's sage-like presence in our culture: I honestly don't know where I'd be without it.'Brian Draper'Richard Rohr at his vintage best: prophetic, pastoral, practical.'Cynthia Bourgeault'A voyage into the mystery and beauty of healthy spiritual maturity.'Mehmet Oz, MD, host of the Dr Oz Show

Understanding the spiritual aspects of aging is as important as appreciating the systems and biological processes that age us. Richard Rohr has given us a perfect guide to what he calls the "further journey," a voyage into the mystery and beauty of healthy spiritual maturity., Offers a refreshing critique of culture – and sometimes church-based values so often imprisoned in a ‘first life’ sensibility . . . Rohr sees the arc of ageing as bewilderingly complex, shifting, unquantifiable and tragic in the truest sense of the word: the art of dying becomes the crowning glory of human life itself, the only route, it seems, to our eternal home., Franciscan priest Rohr is a big–picture kind of thinker when it comes to characterizing the human journey. This small, provocative book will make a particularly good gift for a thoughtful, spiritually open man., The value of this book lies in the way Richard Rohr shares his own aging process with us in ways that help us be less afraid. We begin to see that, as we grow older, we are being awakened to deep, simple, and mysterious things we simply could not see when we were younger., [On THE DIVINE DANCE]: Finding the sweet spot where contemporary science meets ancient mysticism, and theology meets poetry, The Divine Dance sketches a beautiful choreography for a life well-lived. In our joy or our pain, true life is always relational, a flow, a dance. (And was always meant to be.)

FR RICHARD ROHR is a Franciscan priest of the New Mexico Province. He founded the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1986, where he presently serves as Founding Director. An internationally known speaker, he teaches on such themes as adult Christian spirituality, men’s spirituality, and politics and spirituality, and has published many books, including Falling Upward and Immortal Diamond (SPCK, 2012 and 2013 respectively).