Big Fish, Little Pod

Is God personal or impersonal? Is God a dynamic, specific person that we can form a relationship with or is God more of a universal power that permeates all things? Different spiritual traditions present God in different forms with different characteristics and even different pastimes. Is one of these traditions right? Do they contradict each other? Can we believe in more than one without seeming hypocritical ourselves?

How are we supposed to lean into the Bible when it seems full of ancient stories that don't always translate easily to modern ears. How is the story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son Isaac supposed to speak to our day to day life as spiritual seekers in 2020? Is there any way to find meaning in a story we can't relate to?

When something in our life goes wrong, feels off, causes a disturbance, we often find ourselves reaching for our spiritual practice. This is great news - except why did it take a disruption to serve as the catalyst? Why does the inspiration for growth come when something has gone wrong? Why don't we feel as motivated to engage in our practice when things are going smoothly?

Reflecting on the unlikely friendship between Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia, Bob and Amy discuss our current culture of divisiveness in this country. How do you foster friendship with someone whose beliefs offend you? Does offering a hand in friendship somehow condone their behavior? Aren't we, as spiritually-minded people, supposed to offer friendship even to our enemies?

As we grow older, many of us go through a deconstruction of our childhood faith. Do I still believe? Does this practice make sense in my current life? As we navigate this process, there is a temptation to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Yet, just because some practices and beliefs don't work for you doesn't mean you have to forfeit the ones that do. Spirituality is not all or nothing. "People have been crafting their faith since the very beginning and you have always had permission to do the same."

Sometimes, after decades of struggling, we wake up one morning and the issue that has been tormenting us is suddenly gone. How does that happen? Is it a miracle? A paradigm shift? Our life will forever be split into two parts: before and after this one life-altering day. Bob describes a day like that, brought on by a simple prayer from a friend.

What is sin? Is it an archaic social construct used as a tool to control the masses? Can it be reframed as a set of guardrails that can actually help guide us towards our goals? Is it even worth talking about? This week, reluctantly, Bob talks about his ideas of sin.

Do the stories we learned in Sunday School have any relevance in our lives today? Filled with clearly defined heroes and villains, these Bible stories seem to reflect childish cartoons more than the messy, nuanced challenges of real life. Is this the fault of the stories themselves, the teachers, or our own interpretation? Bob and Amy discuss how easy it is to lose faith in our childhood religion when the answers it offers no longer seem relevant.

Sometimes it feels like the only thing we can see at the end of our path is a dead-end. But what if that same roadblock looks like a shortcut to someone else? This week, Amy shares a simple story that gave her big insights.

Why do we find it easy to appreciate diversity in nature, but uncomfortable to embrace diversity in people? When we picture ourselves in the Good Samaritan parable, it's usually as the Samaritan, overcoming bias in order to help someone in need. Yet, many of us are now being confronted by the truth that we have watched our black brothers and sisters suffer as we walked by on the other side of the road. How do we embrace this new and uncomfortable understanding about ourselves and our society?

Today's episode is a bit different than normal: it's an imperfect, unedited conversation about the murder of George Floyd. As we talked today, Amy and I definitely didn't have all the answers, but we shared our thoughts and challenged each other's perspectives. We hope that while clearly imperfect, our conversation shows how important it is to not remain silent. If you listen, we encourage you to listen through to the end.

What some of us thought was going to be a quarantine sprint has turned into a quarantine marathon. Without access to our usual self-care routines and stress-relievers, tensions are running high and we're beginning to tire out. Rather than becoming frustrated with ourselves and critical of others, this is the perfect opportunity for a little grace. Grace for the situation, grace for those around us, and most importantly grace for ourselves.

So many of us walk around feeling as if we don't belong, like we're the exception, like we're the impostor. This is especially prevalent in spiritual circles where people are afraid of being shamed for not toeing the line. So what happens when we pull back the curtain and see that we're actually one of many who feel this exact same way? Amy and Bob discuss how that has been for them over these past few weeks.

This week Bob and Amy welcome another guest to Big Fish, Little Pod: Rebecca Green! Becca was living and working in Colorado when Covid-19 hit, causing her to change jobs from a substitute teacher to a caregiver at an assisted living facility that is experiencing a Coronavirus outbreak. Becca shares that experience as well as her inspiring journey of faith.

In times of stress, we often have strong knee-jerk reactions to things that hurt or upset us. But if instead we stop, take a breath, and respond from a place of right-mindedness, we can remain neutral and usually create a better result. Amy and Bob discuss how this seems simple in principle, but can be challenging in practice.

We were so happy to welcome Neil Slader, a longtime family friend, to the podcast this week! Neil shares his spiritual journey with us, going from a fourth generation New England Baptist to a spiritual seeker connecting in his own way.

Many spiritual traditions emphasize the importance of inner strength and balance, but is it really possible to create a feeling of ease during life's most stressful moments? Bob and Amy discuss how searching for moments of calm could help us through this challenging time.

As we settle into this strange new reality, we are experiencing the painful challenges alongside the relieving moments of connection. As a new shelter-in-place habit of Amy's reminds us, it's always darkest before the dawn. As we move into what may be the darkest weeks of this pandemic, we hope to remind each other that the dawn will eventually come, even when we can't yet see the light.

This week, Bob and Amy welcome their first guest ever: Andrew Hollis! Bob's son Andrew shares the evolution of spirituality in his own life and where it has lead him to today.

Because of the coronavirus outbreak, many of us now find ourselves home from school and work, self-isolating and social distancing. We can use this time to spiral into fear, lounge on the couch in our sweats, or bicker with our isolation crew. Or, as Bob proposes, we can see this time as a sabbath: a chance to refresh, reflect, and renew as we take advantage of this opportunity to grow creatively and spiritually.

Is it important to identify ourselves with one spiritual designation or is it an advantage to have our practice composed of multiple traditions? This week, we explore Amy's spiritual journey, including growing up in the church, attending a Jesuit university, meditating with Buddhist monks, chanting with yogis, studying Science of Mind, and attending ministerial school.

This week, we explore Bob's spiritual upbringing, the influence his parents' faith had on his own, and the natural relationship with God he had since childhood. Amy inquires how Bob's original vocational goal of helping people make good choices in their leisure time transitioned to something more spiritually focused as the years went on.

Performing at our best can be a daily challenge, especially when it comes to spiritual practice. Sometimes its the small, simple, yet spiritually nourishing activities that can really support us on our journey: a walk in nature, warm cup of tea, or drive to the ocean. Bob and Amy discuss the spiritual supports in their own lives and how they have contributed to their spiritual progression.

Are we capable of shifting from frustrated and discouraged to inspired and productive? Is God's presence in our lives just as potent as it was in the lives of the disciples? These and other questions that Bob and Amy disagree on during this week's episode of Big Fish, Little Pod!

Criticism and gossip may not be habits we hope to increase in our lives, but they don't seem as detrimental as lying, cheating, and stealing either. So why then do so many spiritual traditions emphasize the negative effects criticism and gossip can have on our spiritual progress? Bob and Amy discuss the strange temptation to participate in criticism even when they know it does only harm.

This week, Amy and Bob continue their conversation about the church and its role in our modern life. According to the Pew Research Center, millennials in America are less likely to identify as religious, believe in God, or attend church as the older generation. But does this mean they are less happy or even less spiritual?

According to the Pew Research Center, millennials in America are less likely to identify as religious, believe in God, or attend church as the older generation. But does this mean they are less happy or even less spiritual? What happens when a millenial, raised in the church, no longer relates to the tradition they were brought up in? How should their parents and the church, itself, respond?

Usually, we feel that the things we choose to include or exclude in our lives are done so for good reason. But are those preferences based on some universal truth or just our own conditioning? This week, Bob and Amy discuss how challenging it can be to check your own biases when you have believed them for so long.

During the holiday season, hope is a recurring theme central to many traditions. Is hope an unrealistic wish for an unlikely outcome or is it a tangible strength that supports through life's difficulties? This week, Bob and Amy discuss the true meaning of hope.

The burdens of life can sometimes feel heavy and challenging to carry on our own. Some Christians feel this points to the fact that we are broken and in need of a Savior. Is this true or are we capable of handling life's difficulties on our own? This week, Bob and Amy discuss their differing views.

The ups and downs of life make it clear that we do not live in paradise, but is this world a classroom or a prison? Are we here to learn and grow, make mistakes and make improvements? Or are we stuck here in a place we don't belong, hoping to be liberated? This week, Bob and Amy discuss these two opposing arguments and what inspires each of them most.

This week, Bob shares a heart-warming story about the power of compassion. While these types of stories can be inspiring, Amy and Bob question whether they may also tie us further to this world. Are we meant to spend our time here caring for others or remaining focused on Heaven? Are the two mutually exclusive?

If we say something that may inadvertently offend others, is it better to just remain quiet instead? Truly living together in this world can lead to messy situations and hurt feelings. Should we speak our mind, be shown our blindspots, and move forward with more awareness? Or is better to not speak at all if what we say may be offensive? This week, Bob and Amy discuss a gracious listener who spoke up when he felt misunderstood.

This week, Bob and Amy respond to a comment made from a listener on the October 6th episode about prayer. When we speak about the power of prayer, do we really mean literally moving mountains, or is that hyperbole for effect? If we mean it literally, why don't we hear more about such visible acts of power happening today?

At the end of our lives, even if we've tried our very best, can we really say we've made a difference in the world? Could it be argued that even Jesus, Himself, left this world just as messy as He found it? This week, Amy opens the podcast retelling an unexpected and thought-provoking encounter she had with an arborist on this very topic.

When things don't go the way we want them to, we have a tendency to look around and find fault in the people and situations around us. But sometimes, even though it may not seem like it, the situation is perfectly arranged for our own growth and healing. This week, Bob shares how Elijah learned this lesson and how his story can serve us in our own lives.

It's easy to tuck our bad-feeling things safely away in a box, seemingly hidden from view. Unfortunately, these hidden past deeds usually flare up in unexpected and challenging ways. This week, Bob shares a literal example of a forgotten relic from the past flaring up in the worst way.

Many of us experience anxiety in our everyday lives and the scriptures have a lot to say about it! Amy and Bob discuss their own anxieties and how we can use the ancient stories from the scriptures to create practical steps towards peace in our own lives.

When you pray for someone, are you simply sending warm wishes or are you expecting tangible results? This week, Amy and Bob discuss the power of prayer and how it can transform our lives when we truly believe in its impact.

Some of us easily find a fitting spiritual path that is perfect for us, while others feel inspired by different aspects of multiple paths. It can be challenging to be a member of one spiritual community while secretly feeling drawn to other traditions' practices or points of view. This week, Bob and Amy discuss the challenges and joys of being a seeker who colors outside the lines of spiritual tradition.

Sometimes it feels like building our life is like building a castle in the sand. We create an intricately designed castle as the wave of time creeps ever closer, inevitably washing all of our hard work away. Does that mean we should give up building, feel anxious about the impending crash, or enjoy the sandcastle while we can? In this week's episode, Bob and Amy share their perspectives and explore what Jesus had to say about building houses out of sand.

Many spiritual traditions call for a balance between the stillness of contemplation and the activity of devotional practice. In the Christian scriptures, we see how Jesus taught his followers the importance of both on different occasions. This week, Bob and Amy discuss how they strive (and struggle) to find this balance in their own lives.

When you see a person in need, do you stop and help or do you cross the street? How do we resist conforming to the patterns of this world when that resistance feels uncomfortable? This week, Bob recalls an incident where he wishes he had resisted more strongly.

In the scriptures, Jesus repeatedly asked people what he could do for them. If God asked you today, what would you say? This week, Bob and Amy discuss how various people answered Jesus and how we might answer this question today.

One of the most common questions asked of spiritual leaders is "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Bob explores how he has answered that question over the past four decades of his work in ministry and how we can move forward in life through the good and the bad.

For many people, the presence of God is more easily found on a nature hike than in a church pew. Many spiritual traditions, including the teachings of Jesus, emphasize nature as a means of connecting with the Divine. This week, Bob shares how the crashing waves and rising sun always seem to bring him back to center.

How do the lives and legacies of those around us affect the choices we make in our own lives? We hear about Bob’s two grandfathers, the effect they had on his life, and the effect their end-of-life choices have on him today.

Some Bible verses seem more like sayings that should be embroidered on pillows than relevant tools to be used during life's challenges. In this episode, Bob explains how one seemingly feel-good passage may actually be a confronting list of guidelines to live by.

Sometimes when we see a person or situation in need, we would rather continue on our own path than be sidetracked by a service opportunity. In today's episode we talk about what it means to be inconvenienced for others and Bob explains how he doesn't find these acts of service to be inconvenient at all.

Sometimes the lives we live can be more powerful than the words we say. This week, Bob and Amy talk about influential people in their lives who have taught them to resist the urge to always speak up.

Exploring spiritual identity within a Christian setting can be challenging to navigate as we often fall on different parts of the theological spectrum. This week, Amy and Bob share a bit of their personal spiritual backgrounds and how they sometimes struggle to honestly present their beliefs to others.