Today’s podcast answers a question from someone who is in a state of anguish over the disparity between his desire for healing and faith and that of his spouse.

When such a disparity exists, it can be difficult just being able to have a conversation. Today’s podcast speaks to how to find peace and to thrive, even when such disparities exist.

Today’s podcast introduces an additional fast for those on the healing path during Great and Holy Lent. This fast will not add burdens or hardships, but quite the opposite, will bring greater peace. We can use this lenten season to unlearn old habits and create new experiences and memories. This additional fast will help bring greater meaning to bright week and the space of the empty tomb.

Today’s podcast discusses how there is often a disparity between our self-perception and how others perceive us. Where we are with this is like being on a continuum. We don’t want to be at either extreme. However, sometimes our self perception is so low that we don’t quite fully function spiritually, and we end up recusing ourselves from the life that God wants us to live.

Today’s podcast discusses the parable of the prodigal son and covers concepts and processes that are not as obvious as sin, but have just as much, if not more, power to pull us away from the house of the Father. The intangible things that we pursue, crave, yearn for, and chase, are much harder to spot and to be conscious of, but can lure us far away from God and from our dignity.

Today’s podcast answers a question from someone who is trying to understand why they so often end up having the same experiences repeatedly, specifically in the area of interpersonal relationships. Today’s podcast takes a look at a topic that is not often discussed, and that is when often we inadvertently re-create old relationship patterns because we tend to gravitate to what we know and what we are familiar with. Sometimes it just feels familiar and other times we are trying to get closure or gain a sense of mastery over an old relationship pattern that was never resolved.

Today’s podcast addresses some confusion over whether it’s okay or not to pray for healing. Many have been on the receiving end of mixed messaging on this topic. Some are told to not pray for healing and to just rejoice for their suffering. While that is not wrong, we are often yearning for more, such as for hope and comfort. We are not to abandon others to their pain, especially if we are not suffering or going through the pain that they are. The podcast also covers a deeper gratitude to bring to God that buffers us from discouragement and makes us more spiritually resilient.

Today’s podcast answers a question from someone who had been through a very difficult series of health traumas and scares involving themselves, their child, their husband, and their parents. The submitter of the question is struggling to feel normal again and to feel safe. Steps that can be taken to restore that sense of safety and normalcy are covered in the podcast.

Today’s podcast speaks on a very important topic that is one of the cornerstones of our spirituality. It is essential that we be able to receive the love of God and accept and truly believe that God loves us. However, our life experiences often taint or contaminate our perception of God and His love. To make matters worse, we have shame over our struggle with our perceptions and believe that God holds this struggle against us. This struggle of perceptions is part of our ascetical life. God does not hold it against us, so we should not hold it against ourselves.

Today’s podcast focuses on how the months of January and February are actually months of critical spiritual activity even though in the world and creation, it’s a time of inactivity and hibernation. There is particular focus on a new year’s audit we can do on ourselves involving the four R’s of: Roles, Relationships, Regrets, and Resolve.

Today’s podcast covers the topic of self abandonment. We often identify abandonment as taking place within a dyad or within interpersonal relationships. However, we can abandon ourselves in various ways. These ways can range from self-doubt to more serious self abuse, with many more forms in between. When self-abandonment occurs, this opens the door to despondency and despair. When we do not abandon ourselves, and maintain self compassion, we will not down-spiral emotionally.