Hints and Guesses

Merton, Nietzsche, Buber and a few thoughts on the opportunities when we no longer know what we mean by God.   

I'd like to turn to Thomas Merton's writings on the True Self.  I find his mystical understanding of identity to be counter-cultural, challenging and ultimately hopeful.  I hope you hear a hint or guess from Merton, as I am, for your own descent beneath the ego's demands and stances.  Enjoy!

Some reflections and an unorthodox reading of an old parable of Jesus.  Enjoy!

What is deconstruction? Or the Dark Night for that matter?  And what is it that we are being invited into, during certain seasons of life? These are only hints and guesses.  

This week is about the sacred, the holy ordinary, trees lit from within, Annie Dillard, Moses, and a few suggested practices for deepening our quality of attention.  Enjoy!

A podcast about the golden calf, the absence of God, the center which has no center, and the nutrients left in the compost heap of our spiritual ancestors.

The first in my Monday series on ancient texts, Biblical images, and the compost heap of the wisdom tradition.  This episode is a musing on Babel, power, greed, pride, Putin, borders, invasion and the Wind.  Enjoy!

Hopefully I'll step on everyone's toes, including my own.

Excited to chat with Brie Stoner.  We chat about courage, art, motherhood, divorce, unknowing, mentors and geography.  Enjoy! 

This episode is about the mysterious relationship between our wounds and our gifts.  Perfect for the holiday season.  Enjoy!

What stories are we carrying about human purpose, or destiny, or about the how any of us are actually here, right now, in this life, in this era?  Are we mere accidents, among countless accidents? What needs to be remembered for us to really flourish, or find some sense of deeper meaning? Just a few questions I'm wrestling with on this podcast.  Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy our unscripted conversation about surprises, form and creativity, what is currently speaking to us, and finding a life-giving pace in the madness and anxiety of our age.  

In this wide-ranging chat we talk about Tony's story, being canceled, the Emergent Church, epistemic humility, not losing faith, finding wild places, hunting, contact with death, Israel, and whether or not the Jesus story still has power.  I hope you hear a few hints and guesses for your own unfolding.  Enjoy!

Abraham Heschel, unflinching awe, Yellowstone at night, sublime grandeur, and what happens when the only value system we have is the market.  Enjoy!   

More in my series, Stuff That Helps! This time, Iron John by Robert Bly.  In this episode we explore the opening of the myth Iron John and what it has to teach us about growing up.  It's very challenging right now to talk about the masculine, much more what I call the Sacred Masculine.  I hope you hear something that helps.  Enjoy!

The death of God, the unconscious, Freudian slips, why you can't find your keys, are all in this wide ranging conversation with my friend Peter Rollins.  You might have to listen more than once.  Special thanks to my Patrons for supporting this podcast.  It's great to be back after a strange and challenging month for me.  Enjoy!

How long does this whole spiritual transformation stuff take?  Shouldn't I be enlightened by now? Why is all this old stuff still getting dragged up?  Well, let's talk about it.  

Here's my Holy Week offering.  Enjoy! #hintsandguesses 

Just before the pandemic shut down the world, I recorded a conversation with two friends from Jerusalem while I was leading a tour there, both pastors at the small congregation I attended when I was a student.  We dive into what life is like in Jerusalem for Christians, our thoughts and feelings about the ongoing tensions, what it's like to raise kids in such a complex environment and more.  Our c...

Back to the origins of the podcast with Paul Moore!  Hope you enjoy another unscripted conversation, from racism, to meditation, to the nature of how the ego changes. 

What do we stand to learn from 2020?  What sort of spiritual stance is needed in 2021?  These questions keep turing over in my heart and mind.  Part of the answer seems to require some curiosity and clarity about mass movements, how they work, their intoxicating power, how the individual gets swallowed and dehumanized, and what to do about it.  I'll be turing to some Jung and T.S. Eliot for a few...

Check out my interview with the eco-depth psychologist Bill Plotkin! We discuss his new book, The Journey of Soul Initiation, and the challenges of growing into a true adult.  I'm so grateful for his books and the time I've spent in wild places with him and other Animas Valley Institute guides.  Enjoy!

The Forum is a place for conversations with inspiring people. Ryan Meeks is a friend, guide, and a former Mega Church pastor (just like me)!  We talk about what threads we started following later in life, and what the current edge of our sense of calling and spirituality is right now.  I hope you here a hint or guess for your own story.  I'll occasionally be dropping these conversations as part of...

Join me in starting off the New Year with some needed self examination.  Enjoy (perhaps)! 

The final advent reflection, based on the traditional scripture readings.  Merry Christmas and happy Solstice.