Rohr believes that everyone’s lives involve two major tasks: To build an identity and pragmatic foundation, and second, to fill it with something purposeful. He argues that our culture emphasizes the first task, as everyone strives to survive and be successful, but neglects the second one. He laments that most people are just trying to survive and trying to climb ladders of success which, he thinks, can be a distraction from the sacred.

According to Rohr, as people live they share energy subconsciously. “Death energy” is spread through gossip and cynicism while “life energy” comes from being productive and energetic. Rohr wrote this book to help prepare people for their journey through midlife and beyond. While reading it cannot replace the ups and downs of the journey itself, he hopes it makes it easier.

He believes that spiritual maturity comes through walking the path, having faith, and taking risks. While people tend to focus on becoming successful, sacrifice and loss are necessary to make progress. This is seen in myths, the Bible, and other stories. Rohr believes these forms of suffering are inherent in everyone’s journey: No one can avoid sin, mistakes, or suffering in some form. He feels that modern Western perspectives on progress tend to favor upward trajectories, rather than those in which people suffer loss before making progress.

Ironically, the best people are those who can embrace imperfection, since perfection is the enemy of the good. Jesus explained this paradox many times, yet it is uncomfortable even for Christians, as the ego hates feeling imperfect. While goals and rules guide people’s striving, and rules and techniques create discipline, none of this is necessary for spiritual growth. Life itself is the real form of worship.

Rohr feels that Western culture lacks an appreciation and understanding of myths. Instead, these have been replaced with simple, moralizing tales like Honest Abe, and rags-to-riches stories. Myths have the power to heal and help people understand their own confused emotions. Such stories remind people that emotional and spiritual experiences are not irrational, but “transrational” (xxv). He argues that a decline in “mythic consciousness” is associated with the growth of religious fundamentalism, consumerism, and tyranny (xxv).

Rohr points to The Odyssey as a foundational myth which set the direction of Western philosophy. Odysseus’s journey reminds us that vulnerability and loss can be the beginning of our lives’ most important journey. For instance, during his darkest period (as he traverses Hades) he hears a divine prophecy he is meant to follow. To move forward he must leave immaturity behind. This is represented in his sacrifice of a battering ram, a bull, and a breeding boar—all images of male immaturity. Only then can he journey home to Ithaca. Rohr believes that the myth’s author, Homer, was spiritually inspired and that God communicated positive messages through myths such as these before the establishment of the Christian religion. Rohr argues that, in the story, home is used as a metaphor for the soul, which Odysseus must listen to and return to.

In Rohr’s introduction he makes big claims about the state of Western culture. His observation that people tend to focus on survival, success, and attaining perfection, while neglecting spirituality and purpose, portrays modern society as superficial and spiritually immature. He connects this with his belief that most people suffer significant losses and setbacks which can be valuable triggers for growth, lamenting that most people are not primed to expect or endure such experiences. He explains, “Such a down-and-then-up perspective does not fit into our Western philosophy of progress, nor into our desire for upward mobility, nor into our religious notions of perfection or holiness” (xix). This argument establishes his belief that embracing loss and vulnerability is an essential step in deepening one’s purpose in life.

Rohr’s claim that modern people in the West lack an appreciation for, and understanding of, myths is quite general and unsupported, especially since many families and schools continue to share these tales. His claim that people prefer simple, moralizing stories again presents Western culture as increasingly simplistic and shallow, but his habit of focusing on an American perspective means that he does not often meaningfully differentiate between different cultures within the West. His lamenting of popular focus on success and status at the expense of spiritual growth neglects to acknowledge the socioeconomic pressures that can make it increasingly difficult for people to focus on things apart from their daily necessities, such as food and housing. 

However, his analysis of how Odysseus’s journey represents a “down then up” trajectory helps to illustrate his points about the universality of imperfection and suffering, and the necessity of loss before growth (xix). His defense of myths as spiritually insightful asks the reader to consider the wisdom of their authors, whether they are part of the same religion or cultural lineage as them or not. He argues, “Such myths proceed from the deep and collective unconscious of humanity. Our myths are stories or images that are not always true in particular but entirely true in general. They are usually not historical fact, but invariably they are spiritual genius” (xxv). This passionate endorsement of myth encourages the reader to be curious about what they can learn from ancient stories. While Rohr is a Christian writing primarily for a Christian audience, his Introduction encourages open-mindedness and is general enough to appeal to readers of different backgrounds.

Chapter Lessons

• Loss and vulnerability are often necessary to make real progress
• Good people are not afraid of being imperfect
• Myths can reveal timeless wisdom about emotions, motivations, spirituality, and purpose

Reflection Questions

• Rohr claims that one of our major tasks in life is to find purpose. What activities, interpersonal relationships, and/or beliefs bring purpose and direction to your own life? 
• In Rohr’s opinion, people are too focused on being successful and neglect deeper purpose and spirituality. What do you tend to focus on or prioritize within your own life? What spiritual or emotional priorities would you like to make more room for?
• Rohr extols the value of myths in helping humans find meaning for their experiences. Which myths or stories have special meaning for you? What have they taught you?