The Eternal Current Podcast

Fr Michael Sparough, SJ, returns to guide a two part prayer of imagination on the Two Standards by St Ignatius. Together with an original score by Aaron Niequist, we invite you into a fully immersive prayer experience for your heart, mind, imagination, and body. Join us? (Part 1 of 2)

Rich Villodas lives and pastors in Queens, NY.  After sharing about life near the center of the pandemic, he guides us in a Lectio Divina experience of Christ’s assuring words: "Take courage, it is I. Don’t be afraid."

Jonathan Merritt guides us in a practice for contemplative activists in the time of pandemic. He helps us anchor our souls deeply in God, and then open to the ways we can participate in loving action—both during the crisis and beyond. May our doing always flow from our being.

Dr Cheryl Bridges Johns reflects theologically and practically on the ways Creation simultaneously centers and expands our souls. And she offers a few concrete practices, whether we live in an urban apartment, a suburban subdivision, or in the middle of Yellowstone National Park. The Creation is inviting us to rememberer our created-ness.

Fr Michael Sparough, SJ, offers dramatic readings of two brilliant prayers: "Thoughts in Solitude" by Thomas Merton and "I Thirst" by St Mother Teresa.  May these words and sounds create holy space for us in these tumultuous days.

Unless we find concrete ways to weep over the brokenness, we will often use the brokenness to break others. Or ourselves. Lament provides a healing third way to engage the sorrow without exporting it. In this episode, Aaron Niequist invites us into this historic spiritual practice. Carried by Jenna Perinne's nine steps of lament, David Gungor's singing, and a whole team of collaborators, you will experience a liturgy of lament, and you'll be empowered to create your own. For such a time as this.

Spiritual director and retreat leader Phileena Heuertz reflects on the ways that stress and fear affect our whole bodies. And she invites us to learn to honor a nervous system that is working hard for our safety, while engaging practices that remind it we are okay. Phileena concludes with a guided time of breath work, silence, and reflection. Deep and profoundly restful.

This episode begins a new series of meditations and practices to help anchor our hearts in something deeper than the news cycle. In this fear-soaked time of sickness and quarantine, a few wise guides will help us create holy space that makes room for our Creator to do what only Love can do.  Episode one shares the heart of this journey, and invites us into Fr Michael Sparough's inspired "Sign of the Cross Meditation".

Author and spiritual director Ruth Haley Barton joins Aaron for a deep dive into the central role our desires play in the spiritual life. Rather than repressing or shaming, Ruth invites us to follow Jesus’ example of uncovering and embracing our true, God-given desires. May this conversation stretch and heal you in surprising ways. 

How can we actively engage the very real issues of our world without simply adding to the ugliness? Can a Christian be involved in culture, politics, and real life, or must we only focus on “spiritual matters”? Pastor, writer, and theologian David Fitch invites us into the themes and concrete practices of his subversive and inspiring new book “The Church of Us Vs Them”.