Information is Not Necessarily Transformation

I highlighted a couple of things from the first chapter of Rohr's Book, "Things Hidden", but finally realized that I was not going to read the second chapter until I jotted down a couple of notes here.

The title to me was interesting as I seemed to have picked up somewhere that if I am given and properly absorb the proper information from Church doctrines, then, a long-awaited transformation will take place.
Yet, Rohr wrote, "We need transformed people today, and not just people with answers." and "I do not want my too many words here to separate you from astonishment or to provide you with a substitute for your own inner experience. Theology and Bible Answers have done that for too many. This marvelous anthology of books and letters called the Bible is all for the sake of astonishment! It's for divine transformation, not intellectual or 'small-self" coziness."

Too often people assume that they need a theology degree or another type of training to serve the Lord. In certain areas, yes, degrees are helpful, but Rohr tried to make clear that believers should never become "too reliant upon external authority." Listening to educated men and women lecturing on scripture is important, but each person needs to immerse themselves into the Word as well, using their unique experiences to complete their transformation. "An invitation to a new set of eyes." so to speak. " A beginner's mind in which "genuine astonishment will rearrange everything."

Do Not Be Afraid.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light and not our darkness that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, "Who am I?
to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?"
Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people
won't feel insecure around you.

We are born to make manifest
the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

Author Unknown