The Second Half

In order to arrive at the second half of life, one has to realize there
is an incurable wound at the heart of everything. Much of the conflict
from the age of twenty-five to fifty-five is just trying to figure this
out and then to truly accept it.

A Swiss theologian, Hans Urs Von Balthasar (1905-1988), who had real
influence at Vatican II, said toward the end of his life:  ¢â‚¬Å“All great
thought springs from a conflict between two eventual insights. ¢â‚¬ 

1. The wound which we find at the heart of everything is finally
incurable.
2. Yet we still must try! And, in fact, we are driven to try!

This largely unsuccessful effort is itself the training ground for all
virtue and growth in holiness.

Amazing, eh? Pure spiritual genius, in my opinion! This  ¢â‚¬Å“wound at the
heart of life ¢â‚¬  shows itself in many ways in different lives, but your
holding and  ¢â‚¬Å“suffering ¢â‚¬  of it will make you into a wise and holy
person. It makes you patient, loving, hopeful, and compassionate. What
else do we need?!

Adapted from Loving the Two Halves of Life: The Further Journey (CD, DVD, MP3)
http://store.cacradicalgrace.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SP-C-38&Category_Code=&Store_Code=CFAAC

See also Fr. Richard’s latest book,
Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life
http://store.cacradicalgrace.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CFAAC&Product_Code=SP-B-05&Category_Code=NR&Product_Count=0

Starter Prayer:
 ¢â‚¬Å“Our hearts are restless
until they rest in You. ¢â‚¬ 
(St. Augustine of Hippo, 354 ¢â‚¬“430 AD)

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If you are inspired by Fr. Richard’s Daily Meditations,
please consider both receiving
Radical Grace, the publication of the CAC,
http://cacradicalgrace.org/resources/radicalgrace/