Unhurried Living | Helping Christians Rest Deeper & Lead Better

We talk a lot on this podcast about God’s gift of rest. But I wonder if you’ve ever thought about the gift of restlessness. Today, I’m talking with a long-time friend of the podcast, Casey Tygrett , about his new book, The Gift of Restlessness .  In fact, Casey was among the first interviews we did when we launched the Unhurried Living podcast nearly six years ago. That was episode #16 and we talk...

Today we are pondering the idea of the heart. And, for this conversation, I’m defining the heart as the inner person, that deepest place within ourselves where we interact on the central aspects of life in connection to God. This is an important idea and I’m so glad you are engaging with me today.   I’m Gem Fadling and it’s time for ICDT. ___________________________________________________________...

There is a lot being said these days about toxic versions of masculinity. What I’ve sometimes wondered is at least some of this about men growing older without growing in grace and wisdom. It’s why I’m grateful to be talking with Chris Bruno about his book Sage: A Man’s Guide Into His Second Passage . And for the women in our listening community, I believe you’ll gain...

When we find ourselves in a hurry, one of the dynamics that grows thin is intentionality. We can find ourselves rushing from task to task, meeting to meeting in a kind of mindless autopilot. It’s not what we want, but it can be what happens.    Today, I’m sharing a recent conversation with Glenn Packiam about a book he wrote with his wife, Holly, titled The Intentional Year . In it, they share the...

When it comes to difficult circumstances, we’ve all heard the platitudes: “No pain, no gain.” “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” But if we spend our lives trying to be “the strong one,” we become exhausted, burned-out, and disconnected from our truest selves. What if it were different? Could there be a different way to be strong? Could strength mean more than pushing on and pushing throug...

We’re living at a time in which our capacity attention may be our most valuable asset. If this is true, than our great liability is distraction, and the ways in which we are training ourselves in distraction. Paying attention to the purpose of our lives, and to where God may be inviting us to give of our energy and time is a beautiful opportunity. The world around us is happy to provide us with lo...

If we were to only believe the 24-hour news cycle, we would think there is very little peace in the world. Yes, there are dramatic and traumatic things going on around the planet. But right in the middle of all that, many people are simply living their lives--loving their families, working hard and serving others.   We can choose to be people of peace right in the middle of a contentious, distract...

Here at Unhurried Living, we care about the souls of leaders. We are interested in spiritual leadership that attends to the souls of others. This is at the heart of the calling of Jesus in our lives to follow him, to let him shepherd us well, and to learn how to join him in the care of others around us.  Cultivating the spiritual growth of others has been at the heart of our work for more than 30...

We begin with a reading from 1 Thes 5:14: “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” (1 Thes. 5:14)   It would be easy to simply gloss over this, ignoring the relational nuances or to turn it into some rigid formula for the control freak within. Rather than either of those, I like to think of...

In the first two chapters of An Unhurried Life, I share a bit about my first experience with solitude and silence in a group retreat setting. That was in January 1990. It’s hard to believe that was 33 years ago. I have often shared how transformative the regular rhythm of retreat has been in my life, my marriage, and my leadership over the years.  Today, I’m so happy to be talking with Ruth Haley...

There is one place in the gospels where Jesus specifically describes himself. Remember this passage from Matthew 11? “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Jesus describes himself as gentle and humble i...

The second most listened to episodes in the nearly five years of this podcast is titled “ Working for God or Working with God,” episode #205 . A key insight there is that our work or our ministry is not so much something we do for God, and then hope for his blessing after the fact. Our work is a gracious collaboration with the God who initiates and is already at work.  Today, I’m talking with Dr....

Awhile back, during an overnight retreat, I chose to peruse the notes from my first spiritual direction training. I had two folders with worksheets, practices, and handwritten notes from multiple lectures.   My plan was to read through everything, so I could remember and glean from the spiritual wisdom contained in those pages.  I made it through only half of one handwritten notebook. I barely scr...

We’ve talked often here about the continual challenge of how our devices tend to train us in hurry and distraction. In episode 103, “Managing our Omnipresent Smartphones,” I shared the story of an eight-day retreat where I found myself wrestling with how attached to my smartphone I’d become. You might enjoy going back to that episode after you’ve finished listening to this one.  Today, I’m talking...

We live in a world where limits are seen as curses, but maybe good limits are God-given gifts. Only God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere. It’s good news that I don’t have to try to be any of these things because I simply can’t. Today's Unhurried Living Podcast episode is an interview with Kelly Kapic, author of " You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Go...

Today I’m talking with Dr. Kristi Gaultiere and we’ll be discussing our journey toward emotional and spiritual growth. I’ve known Kristi for many years. She and her husband have a ministry called Soul Shepherding and their mission is similar to Unhurried Living. They care for and train Christian leaders with a focus on pastors and spiritual directors. Kristi and her husband are both therapists and...

Near the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020, I spoke with Jay Kim about his book Analog Church . It was a great conversation that you can go back and listen to-- episode 131 . In his follow-up book, Analog Christian , Jay continues to address how we relate to technology, our devices, and our apps. He talks about how we think we’re using our devices, but don’t realize that our devices are also...

As the 2023 Unhurried Living Podcast season begins, I’m pleased to be talking with Jen Pollock Michel about her latest book, In Good Time . As I read it in preparation for today’s conversation, I had so many “Amen” moments. I’m grateful for Jen’s deep-rooted and wise message about unhurried time.  Jen Pollock Michel is a writer, speaker, coach, and podcast host. She is the author of five books: A...

Most of us have no idea how others see or process their experiences. And that can make relationships difficult.  Understanding the motivations and dynamics of our different personality types can be the key that unlocks sometimes mystifying behavior in others―and in ourselves.     Suzanne Stabile ’s book, The Path Between Us looks at the nine Enneagram types and how they behave and experience relat...

As was typical of a season long ago, there was a pile of little boys in the back of my red minivan. We were driving down the street toward our home when I noticed some unusual dark grey storm clouds in the sky. Behind the clouds was a glowing blue sky, with splashes of pink and gold. It was the beginning of sunset, and, evidently, my then 4-year-old son had never seen a sky exactly like that befor...

As a part of my living room décor, I have two bowls of rocks. Of course this is lovelier than it sounds. The bowls are glass antiques from my Aunt Ruth’s collection and the rocks are all polished and colorful. But these aren’t just rocks. They represent a bowlful of treasured memories created with my dad. Markers of time spent together. I’m Gem Fadling and it’s time for ICDT.     Connect with Gem...

In our book,  What Does Your Soul Love? , I shared a few nuggets of wisdom from one of my mentors, Abbot David Geraets. But there’s one nugget I didn’t put into the book, and I’d like to offer it to you today.  A nugget about silence.   Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website Learn about her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads D...

Last week, I shared some of the origin story of my latest book with InterVarsity Press, A Year of Slowing Down: Daily Devotions for Unhurried Living . In this episode, I’m going to share the essence of three of the daily readings from A Year of Slowing Down. I want to give you a feel for the resource.  In this episode, I’m going to share the essence of three of the daily readings from A Year of Sl...

In today’s and next Monday’s episode, I’ll be sharing more about my latest book with InterVarsity Press, A Year of Slowing Down: Daily Devotions for Unhurried Living .  A Year of Slowing Down is designed to help you take the formational journey my first two books, An Unhurried Life and An Unhurried Leader , describe.  These devotionals had their beginnings in my personal journal. I’ve been practic...

Today I’m talking with my sweetheart and husband of 37 years, Alan Fadling , and we’ll be discussing unhurried spiritual leadership. This is Alan’s expertise and I want you to learn from the best. Alan’s message has been forming over decades. And I’m sure you’ll hear echoes of things I’ve shared with you before. That’s because we’ve taken this journey together, and I count this as a great grace.  ...