Looking Within - A Contemplative Podcast

This is the final episode for now of “Looking Within,” but we're very excited to be offering a new Facebook page called the “Looking Within Collective” to help you on your inner journey!

The pearls of wisdom of those who have gone before us would be many! But one pearl sure to make the list would be the reminder that life is short. Don't waste time on inner offenses, or on inner upset over unfulfilled expectations for life and others. Just get on with doing what you're meant to do!

We are not always good at waiting, are we! It can be annoying to have to wait for things or people, seemingly taking up many moments of our life. But although we don’t like waiting, it is often the most important part of the spiritual journey.

Jesus prays for you, in real time. Could there be a more comforting reality that's securely wrapped around your life? -- that you're loved and supported by wonderful people, but above all, by Jesus?

God does not primarily choose any of us for a role or task. God is really choosing us to be God’s self in the world, in our own unique situations and settings. We are each a part of uniquely being the face of God, sharing divine love in a way that no one else can or will.

Do you ever have one of those days when you just need to be loved? Do you ever doubt that who you are, or what you have to offer to the world, is really all that valuable? It’s so easy to forget our true identity as beloveds of God. You are enough. You are just right!

Today may you be encouraged in the role you play in your corner of the world. As helpless as we might feel to make even a dent in humanity’s challenges, it is a first, wonderful step to let our hearts soften in love.

Contemplation is really just another word for prayer. At its core is relationship, and not the saying of prayers or the making requests to God (which are good and important in their own right). Contemplation brings us into a life lived in constant union and relationship with God.

There is gold inside of you, longing for your attention to see new possibilities, new things to explore or to do, new ways of being that allow your wonderful light to shine as a uniquely made child of God.

It’s time to shed the dry crustiness that’s clinging to us from the winter. And if you’re feeling a little lost, weakened, and parched from the year now past, then remember the Risen Christ is always present to guide and strengthen you.

Today, we conclude our seven week series entitled, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice of being fully present to death. What do we do when we face death or when things don’t work out the way we had hoped? Gently hold this question as you enter into our guided meditation.

Today, we continue the seventh and final week of, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” In this season of Lent, we’ve observed many of the practices that formed Jesus’ story and life. This week, we consider what may be the ultimate spiritual practice that forms us and gives us our story -- our encounter with death.

Today, we begin the seventh and final week of, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” In this season of Lent, we’ve observed many of the practices that formed Jesus’ story and life. This week, we consider what may be the ultimate spiritual practice that forms us and gives us our story -- our encounter with death.

Each Friday’s bonus episode is a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice of taking the one seat: What do we do when life gives us a challenging situation and there is no way out? Gently hold this question as you enter into our guided meditation.

This week, we continue our series of Lenten podcasts, entitled, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” We are paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life. This week, we consider the practice of “taking the one seat.” Today, we observe how Jesus taught and lived out this practice with his disciples.

Today, we begin week six of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” In this season of Lent, we’ve observed the practices that formed Jesus’ story and life. This week, we consider the very challenging practice of “taking the one seat,” when we have only one option in life and it is not a good option.

Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice of “Self-Inquiry, Our Old Story has Worn Out.” As we enter into a time of silence and solitude, let’s open our hearts to letting go of a life that no longer works for us, a life based on worthiness rather than the abundant love of God.

Today, we continue our Lenten series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’re paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life. This week, we consider the practice of “Self-Inquiry, Our Old Story has Worn Out.” On Monday we heard the story of Oskar Schindler. Today we consider how Jesus practiced this in his life.

Today, we begin week five of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’re paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life. This week, we consider the practice of “Self-Inquiry, Our Old Story has Worn Out.” We tell the story of Oskar Schindler.

Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice of surrender. As we enter into a time of silence and solitude, let’s open our hearts to surrender, “not my will but yours be done, Lord.”

Today, we continue our Lenten series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” We’re paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life. This week, we consider the practice of “surrender,” in Jesus’ life and his teaching.

Today, we begin week four of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’re paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life.” This week, we consider the practice of “surrender,” as seen in a story told by Charles of his train trip to Oregon.

Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice with remembering the poor. He calls them blessed, having a different perspective on life. As we enter into a time of silence and solitude, let us open our hearts to the wisdom of the blessed poor.

Today, we continue week three of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’ll pay close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life. This week, we consider the practice of “remembering the poor.” Jesus calls them blessed. They may have much to tell us.

Today, we begin week three of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’ll pay close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life.” This week, we consider the practice of “remembering the poor.”

Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice with a beginner’s mind where we learn to let go of our wisdom, what we want, what we like, and start to understand things from God’s perspective, telling a new story and living a new life.

This week, we continue our series of Lenten podcasts, entitled, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” We are paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life. This week, we consider the practice of having “A Beginner’s Mind.” Today, we observe how Jesus taught this to the disciples, particularly to Nicodemus.

Today, we begin week two of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’ll pay close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life,giving him a new story and a new life.” This week, we consider the practice of having “A Beginner’s Mind.”

Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice with silence and solitude where he heard not only the voice of scarcity and fear, but also the voice of abundance and love. He let the second voice silence the first and learned to tell a new story and live a new life.

We are now, one year into our journey with Covid-19. Silence and solitude have been challenging for us this past year. On Monday, we talked about Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s time in prison that led to a new story. Today, we talk about Jesus in the silence and solitude of the desert, tempted by Satan, where he learns a new story and a new life.

We are now, one year into our journey with Covid-19. Silence and solitude have been challenging for us this past year. In the story of Jesus, these are seen as gifts. This week, as we begin the season of Lent, we explore how Jesus’ story informs our story. We see things differently: new stories, new lives.

As we begin the year 2021, we are asking the question: “How should we live? In fear and scarcity or in love and abundance?” We have a choice. We’ve told the story of the two wolves. One afraid, living in scarcity. The other full of love, living in abundance. For many, the voice of the bad wolf still dominates our thinking. Recognizing that voice is the first step to silencing it.

As we begin the year 2021, we are asking the question: “How should we live? In fear and scarcity or in love and abundance?” We have a choice. By doing nothing, we often live in fear and scarcity. But by living consciously, paying attention to our choice, we can learn to feed that part of us that can thrive even in the most challenging time.

As we begin the year 2021, we are faced with all the usual challenges and this year, we add one more: Covid-19. What is our plan? Should we live in scarcity and fear or in abundance and love? We have a choice. Last week, we heard the story of The Two Wolves. This week we consider, “Which wolf will we feed?”

As we begin the year 2021, we are faced with all the usual challenges and this year, we add one more: Covid-19. What is our plan? Will we live in scarcity and fear or in abundance and love? We have a choice. Today, let’s consider the choice that is ours in the story of the two wolves.

No one likes the uncertainty of living in a Covid-19 world. We wish to return to a time when we had more control over life. Return is not always an option. Sometimes we must push through. In the story of John Newton, we learn that in such times as these we have a unique opportunity to not merely survive but to thrive.

Travel can change us. If we pay attention, we gain new perspectives on life that are energizing. Our hearts and minds are opened to new possibilities. Recently, we’ve all been on a journey: December’s journey to our Christmas celebration, and of course, our year long journey with Covid. What changes have you noticed looking back on your journey?

This year during December we’ve told stories about people who have had challenges, disappointments, and suffering. Yet in the midst of all this, they have found hope, joy, peace and love, the “big four” of Christmas. Today, we turn to Mary, the mother of our Lord, for her story at the end of Christmas, how she might have processed Christ’s birth.

How do we celebrate Christmas in a Covid world? We’ve spent 4 weeks preparing for our celebration and now Christmas is here. So how will we do? From the stories of those who have gone before us in similarly trying times, let’s consider a new vision for our Christmas celebration.

How do we find God’s love this Christmas in a Covid world? On Monday, we introduced the theme of love as we heard the story of the Spafford family. Today we continue our theme as we consider the story of Christ’s birth, looking for the love of God in this innocent little child.

How do we experience God’s love at Christmas in a Covid world? Join us this week, as we consider the story behind a well known hymn, “It is Well with My Soul.” This hymn, though comforting to us, was written by a man deep in grief, yet somehow, he found God’s love in his suffering. His story speaks to us today in our Covid world.

How do we find peace this Christmas in a Covid world? Today, we conclude our conversations about finding peace in times of uncertainty and unrest. On Monday, we talked about the Christmas truce during World War I. Wednesday we talked about Joseph in the Christmas story. Today, Julie and Charles tell us their stories of peace.

How do we find peace this Christmas in a Covid world? On Monday, we introduced the theme of peace as we heard the story of the Christmas truce in World War I. Today we continue our theme as we consider Joseph in the nativity story. He was a man of inner peace and outer gentleness.

How do we find peace this Christmas in a Covid world? Join us this week, as we look at a Christmas miracle, soldiers on Christmas Eve stopped fighting and together celebrated Christ’s birth. Their story is a message for us on how to navigate through distressful externals of life and still maintain a peaceful inner life.

How do we find joy this Christmas in a Covid world? Today, we continue the theme we heard on Monday, God’s last tender word to us, “And all will be well.” As we watch our own lives unfold, we can be anxious about life’s uncertainties or we trust God’s tender and caring words to us: “all will be well.”

How do we find joy this Christmas in a Covid world? Today, we continue the theme we heard on Monday, God’s last tender word to us, “And all will be well.” In the story of Jesus’ birth, we see the shepherds experience a deep joy that is not influenced by any externals of life, but this joy holds firm in all circumstances.

How do we find joy this Christmas in a Covid world? Join us this week, as we consider the advice of a wonderful woman from the middle ages. She counseled many who struggled with suffering just like us. She always had the last word: “And all will be well.” What joy can her message bring to us today?

How do we celebrate Christmas in a Covid world? How do we live with both the hopelessness of Covid-19 and the hope of Christmas? Today we’ll hear how Julie and Charles practice holding this contradiction of hopelessness and hope. We invite you to share this practice in your own Christmas preparations.

How do we celebrate Christmas in a Covid world? How do we live with both the hopelessness of Covid-19 and the hope of Christmas? Today we’ll hear from Mary in the story of Jesus’ birth. She held on to this contradiction of hopelessness and hope. She has much to tell us.

How do we celebrate Christmas in a Covid world? How do we live with both the hopelessness of Covid-19 and the hope of Christmas? Listen to the wisdom of a young woman who experienced great suffering and great beauty. She held them both. She has much to tell us.

Having your heart opened for gratitude enables good and wonderful things to increasingly flow into your life, even in the midst of challenges and hard times.