The Pocket Contemplative

On the last Journey On, Dave Schmelzer talked about classic spiritual approaches that were discovered during pandemics and offer happiness even during such stressful times. Here he'll look at how understanding a few, particular things about God has also proven encouraging and useful even when things are most challenging.  Mentioned on this podcast: The Unity of the Bible, by Daniel P. Fuller Weekly online Journey On groups. Email: [email protected] 

Perhaps the richest spirituality in the Christian tradition was forged during a pandemic, of all things. Dave Schmelzer will look at what Julian of Norwich and some modern spiritual masters have to tell us about thriving during such a time. And, who knew?, they start by urging us that happiness, even in such times, is the goal and is possible. Mentioned on this podcast:  Julian of Norwich Acts 26:14; James 1:5-8; James 1:1-4 Bridge of Spies Sonya Lyubomirsky The Book of Joy, by Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama An online Journey On spiritual community. [email protected] 

It turns out that there's a powerful, unexpected bright spot to our suffering and disappointment. Join Dave Schmelzer for a look at how spiritual masters from around the world--including Mother Teresa and John of the Cross--tell us about how our dark nights might not be as bad as they appear. In his preface, Dave offers some contemplative reflections on the threat of the coronavirus. Mentioned on this podcast: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics, by Dan Harris and Jeff Warren Journey to the Heart, edited by Kim Nataraja Radical Acceptance, by Tara Brach Isaiah 43:18-19; Isaiah 50:10,11; Romans 8:14-17; John 12:24 Online groups on journeying spirituality. Email [email protected] for information

On the previous Journey On, we talked about how growing spiritual people might lead all of us out of our current deep cultural divisions. Here we'll look at how much smaller choices that lead to our own continued astonishment at the world are in themselves a profound start that direction. You'll hear from a legendary peace activist who also, delightfully, is one of our most profound teachers about a life of sustained wonder and joy.Mentioned on this podcast:Psalm 45:7, Hebrews 1:9 Thich Nhat Hanh: Essential Writings 

Our world is so divided, politically, culturally, and religiously--even among people who claim the same religion as our own. Perhaps a certain sort of growing spirituality can help us not only personally thrive but also help lead the way through this moment to a better future. Join Dave Schmelzer as he looks at thoughts from great spiritual masters and philosophers and, of course, the Bible, about how to find unexpected joy, grace and compassion right when the world around us can seem the most bleak. Mentioned on this podcast: Ken Wilber's book A Brief History of Everything Jeremiah 29:7; Romans 12:14,18; Ephesians 2:14; Matthew 5:22 John Oliver talking with the Dalai Lama 

20th Century America was a golden era for optimistic teaching about how to succeed. While the advice was great from point to point, as a whole it often left people less happy than they were before learning it. But the great spiritual teachers have their own take on how to succeed that takes us to a very different place. With lots of storytelling and the occasional cultural allusion, Dave Schmelzer walks us through both takes, with some concrete suggestions about what might come next for us.

We all hit problems in our lives that don't have easy answers and so, in the absence of obvious ways to solve them, we obsess over them. Many great spiritual teachers talk about what this is like and they have both a surprising way through these problems and a surprising upshot that will lead us to a solution we couldn't have seen coming. Join Dave Schmelzer for a look at this powerful advice with wisdom from theologians and Zen teachers and C.S. Lewis and the Bible and a classic movie or two.Mentioned in this podcast It's a Wonderful LifeIsaiah 30:15-16, Proverbs 3:5-6; 28:26, 23:4, Psalm 125:1, John 12:24The Unity of the Bible, by Daniel P. FullerTill We Have Faces, by C.S. LewisEveryday Zen, by Charlotte Joko Beck A weekly online group. Contact [email protected]. 

Many great spiritual teachers (looking to the Bible) agree that there's one straightforward spiritual thing you can do that is basically a joy guarantee...and yet it's, strangely, rarely done! Dave Schmelzer details the one-stop joy hack while offering inspiration from the Desert Fathers and Mothers, Pentecostals, and his own recent past.Mentioned on this podcast: The Wisdom of the Desert, by Thomas Merton Transformations, by the Sentinel Group Psalm 22:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, 2 Chronicles 20, John 10:10 A weekly online group: [email protected]   

Loneliness is hard--and boldly following God into uncharted territory can risk its own kind of loneliness. The good news is that the great spiritual teachers--and even some scholars--have a lot of thoughts on how to find the kind of connection and relationship that our hearts crave.Mentioned on this podcast: Theology of Joy: Lisa Miller and Matt Croasmun from the Yale Center for Faith and Culture James 1:5-8 Desert Fathers and Mothers

We've all heard about or experienced occasional unexplainable stories--was it an angel? a ghost? an alien? a praying friend? Of course they might have rational explanations in the end, but the spiritual masters nonetheless encourage us to lean into how those uncanny stories feel and what they might mean, telling us that those things are important clues to our happiness and fulfillment. Join Dave Schmelzer for thoughts from Mother Teresa, G.K. Chesterton, Stephen Spielberg and more about how the untamed universe is good news for you and those you love. Mentioned on this podcast: Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Hamlet Mother Teresa, No Greater Love G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy Daniel 3:17-18, Psalm 27:4