Falling Upward

Bob Buford introduced me to this book at the Halftime Institute in 2013.

I found this book when I was going through a difficult season - a “falling". This book has helped me understand that much of what we judge as challenges or “falling” is the raw material for personal and spiritual growth. 

And that through the wisdom and insights of these challenges, the second half can be a time of great joy and excitement. I re-read it annually.

“We grow more from our failures than our successes” is not a concept that younger me found particularly convincing.

I suspect I’m not alone in this regard—after all, who wouldn’t prefer to learn from others’ mistakes than their own? However, the older I get, the more this book rings true to me.

It’s an especially effective medium for Rohr’s message because he writes with such grace and care: as a reader, you get the sense that he actually cares about your well-being, which is a deeply meaningful gift when you’re going through a rough patch of life. 

Father Richard Rohr explores the paradox of how midlife losses can lead to relational and spiritual riches. His premise is that the second half of life should strengthen, mature, and lead us into deeper spirituality. Rohr believes that humility and an ever-deepening faith are both crucial components during this phase of life. Though I don't necessarily agree with all his theological constructs, I appreciate many of his insights.

If you’re somewhere in midlife, feeling that life hasn’t quite delivered as expected, run and grab a copy of Falling Upward. Rohr explores the tasks of the two halves of life: first, the building of ego strengths, career, and relational skills, followed by the inevitable unraveling of some of these. Then, the second half – facing disappointment, recognizing how the simplistic, dualistic lens through which we’d viewed life has ultimately failed us. Rohr celebrates the humility that can be transformative if we have the eyes to see. This was a pivotal book for me when my 25-year marriage drew… show more.