Each year we hear about New Year's Resolutions – we make plans to lose weight, become more organized, be on time more. All great goals, but how many times have those goals been forgotten in February? (I raised my hand too!)

In today's podcast we discuss "The Great Annual Examen," a simple question and answer exercise to help you reflect on the past year and anticipate the year to come.

There are several different categories given for you to reflect on:

• My Physical Health.

• My Emotional Health.

• My Relational Health.

• My Vocational Health.

• My Spiritual Health.

As you reflect upon this past year, it's our hope that it will give you a clearer GPS—a sort of marker that will help you discern where you are and how you are and where you want to go this next year.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN PODCAST

• The Great Annual Examen - DOWNLOAD this PDF with more details on the exercise.

• The Space Between Us by John O'Donahue

• Moment to Breathe

  For a New Beginning by Stephen W. Smith

  • Text

  • Audio

  SUPPORT THE PODCAST

  Donate Here for an individual contribution or on Patreon to set up monthly support.

  CONTACT US

  podcast@pottersinn.com

  INTERESTED IN MORE SOUL CARE RESOURCES?

  Check out our recommended reading, books on spiritual growth, and our soul care blog. Want to experience soul care in person? Learn more about our soul care intensives and retreats.

Leave a comment below or send our co-host team a message at podcast@pottersinn.com

In this episode we are treated to a special preview of the Potter's Inn Soul Care Institute where Gwen Smith teaches on Sabbath Keeping: God's Design For Our Dilemma. The discussion includes the origin of Sabbath, why we feel so much guilt concerning Sabbath, and why God gave us Sabbath in the first place. Gwen also introduces her 4 Pillars of Sabbath:

1. Rhythm - Sabbath is God's built-in way of giving us rhythm in our lives instead of just running full-steam continuously.

2. Protection - In a sense, Sabbath protects us from ourselves and the violence that we inflict on ourselves, driving ourselves to work harder and harder. Sabbath gives us rest.

3. Joy, Delight, and Celebration - Sabbath is a blessed and holy day, when God rests in His creation and He delights and celebrates in you.

4. Belovedness - Taken altogether, Sabbath is a reminder that we are beloved by a good and gracious God who truly cares for us and our well-being.

Soul Care Institute program information

The 4 Pillars of Sabbath Drawing

"Trough" poem by Judy Sorum Brown View here.

The Sea Accepts All Rivers and Other Poems by Judy Sorum Brown

For more on Judy Sorum Brown, her poems, books and other work, please see https://www.judysorumbrown.com/books

Article by Parker Palmer, The Self inflicted Violence of Over-Work

Free Resource for Download: The Sabbath Reader

Support the Podcast: Donate Here for an individual contribution or on Patreon to set up monthly support.

Sign up to receive email notifications as future episodes are available: Sign Up Here

In our heads, we know that being is more important than doing. But the reality of our day-to-day life is that we easily drift into a performance-based relationship with God and others. Jesus modeled a different way to live. In today's episode, we learn how Jesus lived a life that began with acceptance by his Heavenly Father and ended by achieving more than any human being ever has. He has shown us the way---living as the beloved of God.

• The Sacred Cycle Summary – Free Download

• Moment to Breathe: Belovedness

• Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World by Henri J.M. Nouwen

• Clinical Theology, a Theological And Psychiatric Basis to Clinical Pastoral Care by Frank Lake

• The Cycle of Grace: Living In Sacred Balance by Trevor Hudson and Jerry P Haas

Support the Podcast: Donate Here for an individual contribution or on Patreon to set up monthly support.

Sign up to receive email notifications as future episodes are available: Sign Up Here

This cool breeze by the river bank.

A great blue heron feeding in the shallows.

The pilated woodpecker serenading the forest with its haunting song.

I think I need one hundred days like this!

Slowly, ever so slowly. Here. Now. This!

Bit by bit and little by little, I feel a twinge of what may be life.

A steady erosion has happened in me.

It's taken time to do this damage.

It will take more time to regain what's been lost.

The locust have ravaged much I feel now.

Sad stories, and far too many of them, have layered my heart with deep grief.

I think I need one hundred days like this.

But today, I just may have felt my heart again.

As I let this breeze wash over me, is this a baptism of love?

And as silence does what only the deep quiet does,

I sit here and stay here for a while this beautiful morn.

Soaking. Marinating. Feasting . Healing.