#139: Sabbatical Reflections | "Love is Working"

After a year-long hiatus, The Puddcast is back with episode 139! Tryphena and I share some heartfelt reflections on my family’s six-month sabbatical to New Zealand, England, Greece, and Finland. I unpack some unexpected discoveries I made about identity, intuition, and the importance of family and cultural roots. We reflect on the diversity of global faith traditions, the impact of stepping outside the North American bubble, and the recognition of humanity's inherent goodness and love.

Jonathan PuddleOctober 22, 2024love, family, church, social justice, rest, life, hopeComment

#134-B: Exploring Dave Connis on laughter, silliness and work

Here’s the latest Puddcast B-Side, exploring themes of laughter and silliness and the value of everything, from our interview with Dave Connis. When Dave said, “Everything counts” something inside me exploded, or clarified, or whatever… it’s been big for me. Tryphena and I discuss finding joy in all things, redefining joy as a valuable part of serious work, and discerning what will and won’t bring joy. We riff on learning to see all the mundane aspects of our lives (especially as parents) not as surplus to the real work but as the real work, as much as our rest is also a valid part of the real work, because it’s all part of the whole life we’re living. We also touched on accepting our bodies, even as they age, and loads more as usual.

Jonathan PuddleFebruary 9, 2023b-side, work, rest, joy, parenting, lifeComment

#12: Survival Guide for the Soul (with Ken Shigematsu)

We’re all too busy, too stressed, too fat, and too tired… and peace and rest is the one thing we can’t seem to find. Ken Shigematsu, pastor of Tenth Church in Vancouver, has leveraged the teachings of Catholic mystics and zen masters alike and found a rich contemplative spiritual rhythm which has connected him to God and brought profound peace into his life. Join us as we practice silence together.

Jonathan PuddleAugust 9, 2018silence, mindfulness, presence, peace, rest, meditation, sabbath, contemplativeComment

#10: Living in the Moment

One of the most important lessons I learned during a season of depression was the mystery of living in the present moment. Being awake to God’s presence each and every moment. Following is a sermon I preached on the subject recently.

Jonathan PuddleJuly 26, 2018presence, soaking, mindfulness, peace, restComment