Mar 25, 2021
I'm excited to offer as an encore one of the earliest LDF
podcast episodes. It is one that really highlights the mission of
Latter-day Faith, which is to encourage listeners in taking their
faith journeys into new spiritual terrain. The offerings in this
episode are great reminders that we can't think our way to genuine
peace and compassion, patience and hope, nor can we rely on our own
willpower to shed the natural man and be transformed into the kind
of beings Jesus is calling us towards. I know you will enjoy
visiting (or revisiting) this episode!
As my good friend Jana Spangler and I talk in
this episode about the quality of “spiritual maturity,” we note the
difficulty involved in a subject like this because such maturity is
more of a thing that we might notice in other people and, perhaps,
ourselves, yet it is hard to explain in words (and definitely not
something someone should claim about themselves). But we pushed on
anyway! Our approach was to discuss three qualities or hallmarks
that we believe are universal across all spiritual traditions and
communities.
Jana leads us through discussions of transformational vs transactional relationships with God and others. We move next to someone’s ability to examine what ego needs are playing out with others and ourselves, leading us in our relationships and soul work to over-identify with these needs and trying to protect others and us from seeing them rather than coming to center in our highest selves. Our final topic is differentiation. How comfortable are we with expressions of genuine difference, whether they be in others’ experiences vs ours or even another’s critique? Are we able to validate the positions of and see those who differ from us as fellow travelers rather than enemies who are standing in the way of our vision becoming normative? Do we lead out always with love and compassion first? Are we comfortable enough with ourselves to be okay even in settings in which we might feel a bit like an outsider?
This episode contains many terrific insights. Jana knocks
everything out of the ballpark here. Prepare for a good and
potentially important transformative listen!
Cheers!
Dan