No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp 252: Ronald Rolheiser: How to Grow Old Without Growing Bitter
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Mar 9, 2026 Ronald Rolheiser, a Roman Catholic priest and bestselling spiritual writer, reflects on aging as a spiritual invitation. He discusses grieving to avoid bitterness, choosing how to respond to diminishment, giving your death away as a gift, and practicing gratitude and forgiveness. Short, wise reflections on loneliness, humility, and learning to receive rather than cling.
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Spirituality Is How You Channel Your Inner Fire
- Spirituality is what you do with the fire inside you, not just church actions.
- Fr. Ronald Rolheiser contrasts Mother Teresa, Janis Joplin, and Princess Diana to show different outcomes of channeling that inner fire.
Grieve Early To Avoid Bitter Old Age
- Admit your anger and grieve old wounds so they don't calcify into bitterness.
- Fr. Ronald cites psychologist Alice Miller and says from about 45 on the task is to grieve wounds so you don't age into anger.
Metanoia Means Putting On The Above Mind
- Metanoia means putting on the "above mind"—a noble, open posture—rather than paranoid clinched-fist defensiveness.
- He contrasts two minds and points to Henry Nouwen's image of Jesus on the cross with arms open.
