Ep 2: Practices to Prevent a Civil War (with Rev Stephanie Spellers)

Four questions for our souls and for the neighbor we don't understand...

Dr Rev Canon Stephanie Spellers is a life-giving and formative force in the Pastors, Priests and Guides community. She helped plan, co-lead, and energize the retreats in NYC 2022, NYC 2023, and Philly 2023. In fact, her phenomenal book The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for the Beloved Community was the central content for the first retreat. We love Rev Steph. And it's worth noting that while she is a brilliant theologian, writer, speaker, she's an even better Karaoke Master. You'd have to see it to believe it. Amen.

Episode 2

Stephanie begins this episode by sharing her patriotic love for America...and her ache for the ways we don't live up to our ideals. Rather than angrily lashing out, she names the reality and offers some of her vulnerable grief. What a gift. All creation groans, indeed.

After naming the tension of living in the fall of 2024, she guides a simple but powerful practice on four questions:

(1) What do you love?

(2) What have you lost?

(3) Where does it hurt?

(4) What do you dream?

Today, this weekend, and beyond, we invite you into these four questions in three, unfolding ways.

Practice.

First, spend some time with this part of the podcast. Rev Stephanie guides in a tender, contemplative way. Let her lead you into thoughtful and honest reflection.

Second, notice if any particular question jumps out at you. Did one resonate deeply...or create resistance? Or both? Stay with it! Don't move on too quickly. Instead, carve out space to journal on what you felt and why you felt that way. Let the Spirit speak as you keep reflecting and processing.

Third, bring these four questions into conversation with someone—especially someone with whom you disagree or don't always see eye to eye. How might God open up new lines of understanding, empathy, and connection? How could you see with new eyes, and be seen with new eyes? What might get born in this kind of humble, holy space?

Benediction.

At the very end, Rev Stephanie shares a blessing written by Henri-Frédéric Amiel, a Swiss moral philosopher and poet. He writes “Life is short. We don't have much time to gladden the hearts of those who walk this way with us. So, be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”

Amen and amen.

Grace and peace,
Aaron and the PP&G Team

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