The Best of You 176: My Reflections on Love in an Age of Violence · Plus Dr. Stephen Macchia on Intimacy with God in a Noisy World
Sep 18, 2025
Dr. Stephen Macchia, founder of Leadership Transformations and a seasoned spiritual director, joins the discussion about finding rest in God amidst a chaotic world. They delve into the importance of choosing love over outrage and emphasize the healing power of deep listening and embodied conversation. Macchia shares insights on overcoming distractions to forge intimacy with God through practices like silence and contemplative prayer. Together, they explore how a well-crafted rule of life can nurture spiritual growth and community.
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Love Begins Inside The Soul
- Alison Cook argues that becoming people of love begins inside our own souls by inviting God's love into anger and resentment.
- She says this inner hospitality to God's love enables us to love those we find offensive or threatening.
Prioritize Embodied Conversation Over Outrage
- Alison Cook urges prioritizing embodied, real-life conversations over online outrage and processing events with people face-to-face.
- She advises working with your kids to limit social media and cultivating local relationships with those who think differently.
Distraction Steals Intimacy
- Dr. Stephen Macchia identifies distraction as the primary barrier to intimacy with God and others.
- He explains distraction pulls our eyes elsewhere, preventing focused attention and true presence.
