Episode #18 feat. Tom Melancon

What happens when a man is told by Father Richard Rohr that he isn't "old enough" to have a profound spiritual experience, only to realize exactly what he meant thirty years later?

In this eighteenth episode of Follow Me to the M-R-O-P!, host Brian Mueller sits down with Tom Melancon for a fascinating look at his lifelong spiritual journey. Tom, a recently retired federal mediator from Seattle, first attended retreats with Richard Rohr in the early 1990s, but it wasn't until he made his official rites at Sky Camp in Oregon at age 64 that he fully experienced the deep transformation he had been seeking.

Tom speaks openly about his 24-year journey in 12-step recovery and the beautiful parallels between recovery mentorship and the open spirituality of Illuman. Whether you are navigating the transition into retirement or looking for a healthier path for the young men in your life, Tom's story is a brilliant testament to trusting the long arc of your own spiritual growth.

Episode Highlights

• "You're Not Old Enough": A breakfast conversation with Richard Rohr in the 90s that finally made sense three decades later.
• Jumping Off the Tower: Embracing the metaphor of building a career of accomplishments and then finding the courage to jump.
• The Posse: How volunteering for a ritual on the very first day led to a deep bond with a group of brothers.
• A State of Grace: Walking in a "liminal space" for months after the rites, where the world simply looked and sounded different.

Links & Resources

• Choosing Presence (Sponsor): https://choosingpresence.org
• Practicing Presence App: https://choosingpresence.org/app
• Illuman MROP page: https://illuman.org/mrop
• Adam's Return by Richard Rohr: https://amzn.to/3PzVESH
• Falling Upward by Richard Rohr: https://amzn.to/4uUM64P
• Breathing Under Water by Richard Rohr: https://amzn.to/47qLNVp
• From Wild Man to Wise Man by Richard Rohr: https://amzn.to/3PKkHmj
• Brian Mueller (Host): https://brianmueller.com

Credits

• First and foremost, thank you to Tom Melancon for sharing his journey and his heart with us today.
• Thank you to Fr. Richard Rohr and the men of Illuman who have stewarded the Men’s Rites of Passage since 1996.
• Thank you to Jim Heaney and Jim Taylor for their dedication to Choosing Presence.

Music Credits:

• Slow Mo Dreams by Soundroll
• Becoming a Legend by Vens Adams