To be truly listened to is a gift of hospitality for your soul. Our conversation on listening revolves around this idea that to be truly present and listen means we may have to slow down and set aside our own agenda for the conversation. Inspired by the book, The Listening Life (by Adam S. McHugh), we review what kinds of listening may not be so helpful and contrast that with the idea of being fully present to another.

"To be present to you means that I must be prepared, temporarily, to be absent to me." - Sacred Companions by David G. Benner

It's about halfway thru Lent and we're checking-in with how things are going.

Reframing Lent as 'creating space for God' has had a deep impact on why and how we are (or are not!) practicing a 40 day fast. Through wondering, "what is my motivation?", we have been discovering different ways to observe this season of reflection. Listen to our interviews with K.C. Ireton "Lent: Creating Space for God" & "Insights to Understanding Lent" Get her book!: "The Circle of Seasons: Meeting God in the Church Year" https://a.co/d/auQfU4qLent: Creating Space for God

P.I.E.S. is personal check-in method to notice and name how your really doing at any given moment. It's a short practice you can do at any time and one you may find you want to do on a regular basis. In this episode, we invite you to try-it-on as Lexie guides you through the question: how am I doing Physically Intellectually Emotionally and Spiritually. Listen to our last episode for a more indepth conversation about P.I.E.S.: "How Am I Doing Right Now.... for real? " S4 E136

It can be hard to recognize how you're REALLY doing. And there are so many reasons we choose to ignore how we're showing up. But if we practice with bravery, then naming how we're doing (on all levels) it is empowering. P.I.E.S. is a way to invite the question (and get the real answers) to: "how am I doing... for real?" Listen in to learn more!

We continue our conversation with Kimberlee (KC Ireton) about Lent. In this episode she answers questions about the history and origins of this church season leading up to Easter. Her knowledge is enlightening and we're excited to share these insights with you! We encourage you to learn more from her book: "The Circle of Seasons: Meeting God in the Church Year"The Circle of Seasons: Meeting God in the Church Year https://a.co/d/auQfU4q; read her fiction novels on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kcireton; sign up for her free newsletter: https://kcireton.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e6a8e3ff948d1844d9a8941e2&id=09a4aa3043

Bonus episode - a guided Lectio Divina from Psalm 103:8-14

Listen with the ear of your heart - pray & reflect. Perhaps journal too. The ashes of Ash Wednesday are symbolic of repentance. To repent simply means to return, or turn back to God.

Turn to God: orient heart, mind, & life to the Holy One.

Reflect, return, rest. 3 Recorded reflections are only $10: www.breatheandbe.net/store

Do you celebrate the Lenton Season? Do you have questions about what it is and why you might observe Lent? Is your understanding limited to thinking of these 40 days as sacrifice and repentance?

We interview someone K.C. Ireton, who has a superb grasp on the implications of this special time within the Church Year. She frames Lent in such a way that both excites and inspires us to participate in "creating space for God". K.C. Ireton is the author of The Circle of Seasons: Meeting God in the Church Year, as well as a novelist, essayist, and sometime poet. Her most recent novel, This Gladsome Light, is a romantic comedy and is available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kcireton/posts You can find her online and subscribe to her (free) email newsletter: kcireton.com

In this episode we interview an amazing lady, Marie Fulmer. Marie is the woman behind the camera of our lovely new photos, she is someone we admire, and we really think you'll want to hear about what's she's up to.

As a single mom she's been on the receiving end of good things: support, compassion, and gifts. But Marie experienced a gap that was relational, communal, and in being understood. So this creative caregiver formed a special group to fill in what had been missing! Strong Like Mom is now a thriving (and growing) dynamic bunch of single moms who support each other AND the community around them. We want you to hear all about what this group is, where they're headed next, and how you can join in this impactful work.

Support, connect, join Marie: [email protected]

IG:

https://instagram.com/mariefulmerphotography?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y FB: https://www.facebook.com/curleemarie?mibextid=ZbWKwL

We have mentioned this practice before. We've led you through this practice in past episodes. Yet we've not chatted about what it is and why we love it. It is one of our favorite ways to tune into the activity of God in our lives. The questions guide our awareness, highlighting where the Spirit of God is active in our daily life; mind, body, and soul. Listen in to our conversation about The Examen AND try-it-on by getting our FREE compilation of Examen questions pfd: www.breatheandbe.net/podcast; 

our Honeycomb Journals 11+ with Examen: honeycombjournal.com; 

Re-listen: "Exploring the Examen" S1 E27; 

Book mentioned: "Spiritual Rhythms for the Ennegram" by Calhoun & Loughrige

We interview Trisha Wilkerson, a health & wellness coach and certified nutritionist. Her approach is a mindset-challenge for us, one we wholeheartedly welcome! We talk body image, dieting, and anxiety around food all in the context of self-acceptance. Can we relearn what it means to nourish ourselves? It's a wonderful conversation that we found enlightening and edifying. Connect with Trisha: https://instagram.com/trisharwilkerson?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=