Around the Fire is the audio companion to The Compass, my Substack publication on contemplative Christian spiritual formation. Think of it this way: the weekly essays are the miles. This is the campfire at the end of the day that offers a few minutes to sit with something we’ve been carrying, go a little deeper, and let the day’s ideas settle.

Today’s episode builds off a question my wife asked about evil: how did these people who treat others with such inhumanness become like that? It’s a great question, one to think about, one to wonder about how a person is formed toward goodness or toward ugliness.

New episodes drop Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, usually seven to nine minutes, long enough to matter, short enough to finish before the fire burns down.

If you’re not yet part of The Compass community, I’d love for you to join us. Free subscribers get the full essay five days a week. Paid subscribers receive monthly practice tools, teaching videos, and live conversation.

Pull up a chair. I’ll see you around the fire.

IHG (In His Grip)

— Gene

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe