A Happy Run Downward With James Finley

How can we live in solidarity with the pain of the world without being overwhelmed by it?

In this episode, we’re joined once again by CAC Faculty member James Finley and an additional co-host from the CAC, Director of Mission Integration Drew Jackson. Together, we continue our chapter-by-chapter exploration of Eager to Love with Chapter 2: “A Happy Run Downward: The Inner Authority of Those Who Have Suffered.” This episode explores the themes of suffering as a path to compassion, the transformative power of mystical union, and the importance of finding solace in belovedness. Before Drew and Paul dive into the interview with Jim, Mike and Paul catch up with Richard at his hermitage to hear his reflections on the second chapter of Eager to Love.

James Finley, a clinical psychologist and spiritual director, is one of the core faculty members of the Center for Action and Contemplation and is the host of our sister podcast on the CAC network, Turning to the Mystics. A former novice under Thomas Merton at the Abbey of Gethsemani, he is the author of the classic book Merton's Palace of Nowhere: A Search for God through Awareness of the True Self, The Contemplative Heart, and most recently, The Healing Path.

Hosted by CAC Staff: Mike Petrow, Paul Swanson, and Drew Jackson

Resources:

• A PDF of the transcript for this episode is available here.
• Grab a copy of Eager to Love here.
• To learn more about James Finley, visit his CAC Faculty website here.
• Jim's latest book, The Healing Path, can be found here.