Big Fish, Little Pod

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.