I began reading Richard Rohr's "The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage" in the days following my latest Tenderness Tour event. For a little over a week, I wheeled along the trails of Indiana in my wheelchair, over 150 miles total, raising money to eliminate medical debt for Hoosiers. Along the way, I encountered those who were hopeful and those who experienced despair. I encountered anger and I encountered joy. I encountered those filled with gratitude and those praying for a miracle.

In short, it felt like I was experiencing a world that would prepare me for reading "The Tears of Things," a book that easily becomes my favorite Rohr work because of its wild intelligence, absolute heart, immense hope, and incredible accessibility.

"The Tears of Things" is grounded within the timeless wisdom of the Hebrew prophets and explores a world in which we are called to somehow figure out how to live compassionately while being surrounded with violence and despair and anger and injustice. Rohr, with extensive research and remarkable insight, reveals how some of the lesser-read books of the Bible offer us a crucial, surprisingly clear path forward.

Rohr doesn't do this blindly. He vividly portrays the strengths and weaknesses of these prophets and realistically portrays their spectrum of human maturity. What he captures, and what nearly brought me to tears quite often, was how human beings evolved and grew into their spiritual maturity and abilities to serve.

For Rohr, these prophets exemplify the ability to practice what he calls "sacred criticism" - a distinct approach to confronting evil and justice that acknowledges the fullness of history, our interconnectedness, and the reality of a divine, universal love. Rohr offers inside into these prophets, an insight presented with such wonderful clarity that it feels as if they come to life within his pages. I found myself learning from and loving his words.

I must confess that I have not always found Rohr's writings accessible. While I adore his lectures and teachings, I've often struggled with his writings. Yet, there's been no struggle here - nothing but sacred learning and spiritual enchantment. While Rohr always writes with a pastoral voice, there's a warmth in this writing that perfectly complements his extensive and engaging biblical scholarship.

As I prepare for my next Tenderness Tour event, "The Tears of Things" prepares me to better engage in a compassionate way with a hurting world.

For this, I give thanks.