Liminal Spaces: Introduction

Season 2 of The Wild Way Podcast

Welcome back to The Wild Way Podcast! After completing our year-long journey through the Gospel of John, we're excited to introduce our next series: A Slow Journey Through Lent: Liminal Spaces.

What Is This Series?

A seven-week contemplative journey through the season of Lent, beginning Ash Wednesday (February 18) and ending Easter Sunday. The theme explores liminal spaces, those threshold places between two seasons where transformation often takes place.

Why Liminal Spaces?

Lent occurs as winter turns to spring. At some point in our lives, we all enter spiritual seasons that feel like winter, where everything looks unfamiliar and signs of life are hard to find.

Sometimes we enter these seasons by choice (leaving a job, relationship, city, or church community). Other time's it's through circumstances beyond our control (illness, job loss, kids leaving home, someone leaving us). Either way, we cross a threshold into unfamiliar territory.

A liminal space is that place between the old and the new. We've lost the comforts of what was and haven't yet found what will be. It can feel like wilderness, and the temptation is to turn back.

But these spaces are temporary. And they're often exactly where God meets us, because liminal spaces are where transformation happens.

Liminal Spaces in Scripture

• The Israelites spent forty years in the desert between Egypt and the Promised Land
• Elijah fled to the wilderness in despair and met God in the silence
• Jesus was led into the desert for forty days before beginning his ministry

The church built this pattern right into the Christian calendar. Lent is designed to be a liminal space: a season of separation and intentional wilderness that begins with ashes and ends with resurrection.

What to Expect

• Five weekday meditations (10-12 minutes each)
• Time to abide in God's love through spiritual practices
• Learn from and reflect deeply on Scripture
• Go with the intention of being a person of love in the world

This series does not offer quick fixes or easy answers. Instead, we invite you to stop fighting the wilderness and let this season do its sacred work in you.

Resources

Personal Journal & Small Group Discussion Guide. Available free on our website starting Sunday, February 15. We strongly encourage walking through this series with a friend, group, or church community. The journal includes templates for both individual reflection and group discussion.

Liminal Spaces Playlist. Coming soon on our Spotify account.

Connect With Us

If you're planning to walk with us through Lent, reach out and let us know!

Join us for A Slow Journey Through Lent and find pathways through your own wilderness. See you February 18th.

Music credits:

Intro and outro produced by Nick Osborne

Other music by Maksym Dudchyk and White Records on Pixabay. Used with permission.

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY:

Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources to help people abide in Jesus, learn deeply from the Scriptures, and go with the intention to be a person of love in the world.

WEEK 49.7: Discussion questions below.

Show Notes

In this final episode of A Slow Journey Through John, Nick and Jamie celebrate completing 345 episodes and reflect on the incredible year-long journey. They share statistics, read heartfelt listener testimonials about transformation and healing, and discuss their own profound takeaways from immersing themselves in John's Gospel for an entire year. The episode concludes by rereading John's prologue, inviting listeners to hear its themes with fresh ears after their year-long journey, and by looking ahead with anticipation (but no concrete plans yet) for what comes next.

Key Points:

• Listener testimonials revealed common themes: the podcast provided comfort during traumatic times, helped people learn to rest in Jesus's presence rather than skim scripture, offered healing from performance-based Christianity, and created space for those wounded by church to stay connected to Jesus.

• Jamie's main takeaway: Abiding in Christ isn't about quiet time checklists or spiritual performance. It means resting in the truth of who we are in Christ (temples of God's Spirit) and cultivating a lifestyle that matches Jesus's example of loving neighbours, strangers, marginalized people, and even enemies. This flows from the Spirit transforming us, not from striving to be good.

• Nick's main takeaway: The year deepened his confidence in God's love for the world and the extent Jesus will go to gather his sheep. The bottom line is simple: love every person who crosses your path. Loving others is Jesus's love language, and our love for Jesus is demonstrated not primarily through Bible reading, prayer, or church attendance (though these matter), but by loving our neighbour. Loving others awakens them to Jesus's reality and makes space for the Holy Spirit to work.

• The prologue of John contains every major theme of the gospel. After a year of study, these opening verses resonate with profound depth and richness, revealing how the Word became flesh, made his home among us, and continues to offer grace upon grace.

• What's next remains prayerfully undecided. Nick and Jamie are taking time to rest before discerning their next project. They invite listeners to share ideas and stay connected through their newsletter and Instagram for announcements coming in 2026.

Discussion Questions:

• As you finish this year-long journey, what is the one main point that God was speaking to you about through the Gospel of John? What will you do about that in the weeks and years to come?

• How has your understanding of "abiding in Christ" changed over this year? Has it shifted from performance-based spirituality?

• Jamie talks about how loving our neighbour means genuine care, not just conversion attempts. How does this reframe your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus in your daily life?

• Nick says our primary call is simply "to love the person in front of us." What would change in your life if you adopted this as your single focus rather than trying to convert people or prove your faith?

• Now that you've completed this journey, how does rereading the prologue of John feel different? What themes stand out to you with new richness after immersing yourself in the full gospel?

Connect With Us

• Email: podcast@thewildway.ca
• Social Media: @GoTheWildWay on Instagram and Facebook
• Website: thewildway.ca

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠. Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.

WEEK 49.6: The Prayer of Examen helps us reflect on the week that was in our Slow Journey Through John.

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways.

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world.

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John.

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠. Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.

Bibliography

Visit our website

RESOURCE: Rhythms of Life spiritual formation course now available as digital download from our website or print version on Amazon.

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

WEEK 49.5: SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways.

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world.

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John.

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠. Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.

Bibliography

Visit our website

RESOURCE: Rhythms of Life spiritual formation course now available as digital download from our website or print version on Amazon.

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

WEEK 49.4: SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways.

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world.

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John.

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠. Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.

Bibliography

Visit our website

RESOURCE: Rhythms of Life spiritual formation course now available as digital download from our website or print version on Amazon.

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

WEEK 49.3: SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways.

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world.

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John.

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠. Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.

Bibliography

Visit our website

RESOURCE: Rhythms of Life spiritual formation course now available as digital download from our website or print version on Amazon.

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

WEEK 49.2: SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways.

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world.

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John.

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠. Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.

Bibliography

Visit our website

RESOURCE: Rhythms of Life spiritual formation course now available as digital download from our website or print version on Amazon.

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

WEEK 49.1: SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways.

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world.

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John.

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠. Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.

Bibliography

Visit our website

RESOURCE: Rhythms of Life spiritual formation course now available as digital download from our website or print version on Amazon.

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne