Brian Johnson reflects on Richard Rohr's Falling Upward and a line attributed to Desmond Tutu: we are only lightbulbs, and our job is to stay screwed in. Johnson, raised Catholic, connects Rohr's teaching to Joseph Campbell and other spiritual guides.
Questions this episode answers
Falling Upward
Five decades
Desmond Tutu
Chapters
Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another arete plus one degree, one of 451 micro chapters from our new book Arete Activate your heroic potential. We are only the light bulbs Our job Stay screwed in Richard Rohr is one of my favorite teachers. Alexandra got me his book called Falling Upward after I told her how much I love David Brooks as his second mountain. Apparently it's recommended alongside that book on Amazon with 1400 plus reviews. Alexander thought I might like it. Not only did I like the book, I loved it. And I fell in love with Richard Rohr in the process of reading it as well. Father Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest. In fact, he's been a Franciscan priest for five decades now. This has particular resonance for me as I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic school for 12 years. At my elementary school and primary church, our priests were Franciscan. The closest I've come to studying an integrated Catholic perspective thus far has been Anthony Demello, a Jesuit priest. Matthew Kelly is phenomenal as well. So I found Father Richard's wisdom particularly resonant for a range of reasons. Now when I read a book, I use a blank note card as a bookmark. On that note card I jot down related books and ideas I want to make sure we cover in the philosopher's notes I create after reading chapters in which Rohr connected Odysseus and the hero's journey to Christianity and our modern lives. At the top of my bookmark card I wrote this description of him if Joseph Campbell was a Franciscan monk. Now, I laughed as I typed that, but it's pretty darn close to being a great microbiome. Throw in a little Ken Wilber and we have one of my all time favorite spiritual teachers in this plus one degree. I want to chat about a fantastic line from the book that comes pretty darn close to capturing the intention behind all of our work together. Here it is. I quote Father Richard Rohr, as Desmond Tutu once told me on a recent trip to Cape Town, we are only the light bulbs, Richard, and our job is just to remain screwed in. How great is that? We're only the light bulbs. Our job remain screwed in. Activate your heroic light and shine today.
