Episode 27: "An Advocate for Well-Being"

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In the 14th Chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus says that God will give us..."another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you."

In this episode, Scott explores what it means to think of God as an Advocate for our well-being and then how in turn we are called to be advocates for the well-being of others.  

Episode 26: "Less is More"

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Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe said, "Less is more," as he taught his students about minimalism.  In this episode, Scott talks about how "less is more" is good wisdom for our emotional, spiritual, and relational wellness.  

Episode 25: "Letting Go as a Way to Practice Resurrection"

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In this episode, Scott talks about moving to a new town and joining a new church and all the opportunities this provides for him to practice letting go. In order to make room for new life, we have first to be willing to let go of the old.

Episode 24: "Practicing Resurrection by Practicing Listening"

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Listening is one of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves and others. In this episode, Scott talks about the connection between listening to the Holy as a contemplative practice and intentionally listening to one another in a way that we encounter the Holy in our conversations with each other. 

Episode 23: "Practicing Resurrection by Practicing Reconciliation"

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Reconciliation is something we can practice not just when there are major conflicts or divisions, but in lots of little ways when we feel that we are out of sync with someone we care about. 

Episode 22: "Practicing Resurrection by Practicing Forgiveness,"

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Another way we can practice resurrection is by practicing forgiveness.  In this episode, Scott distinguishes between forgiveness and reconciliation.   

Episode 21: "Practicing Resurrection by Practicing Presence"

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To give someone our undivided attention is one of the greatest gifts we can give. In this episode, Scott Stoner talks about practicing presence--with ourselves, with others, and with God.  

Episode 20: Practicing Resurrection by Practicing Gratitude

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In this post-Easter show focussing on concrete ways we can practice resurrection, Scott Stoner talks about one way we can raise the spirits of others is by expressing honest and heartfelt gratitude. It is also one way we can raise our own spiritual well-being.

Episode 19: Believing is Seeing

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In this post-Easter show focussing on concrete ways we can practice resurrection, Scott Stoner talks about “believing is seeing,” rather than “seeing is believing.”

Episode 18: Rising Above: One Way to Practice Resurrection

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In this post-Easter show focussing on concrete ways we can practice resurrection, Scott Stoner talks about how rising above our smaller selves is a choice we can make to put our spiritual beliefs into action. For example, when someone says or does something hurtful to us, we have a choice of how we wish to respond. We can react and hurt them back or rise above our initial hurt and seek to create a greater good.

This is not easy, but no one said that practicing resurrection is easy!

Episode 17: Practicing Resurrection

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Happy Easter!

In this Easter episode, Scott talks about not just believing in resurrection, but practicing resurrection.

Episode 16: Compassion, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday

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Maundy Thursday and Good Friday have so much to say to us about practicing compassion.

You can download a free PDF of the Lent booklet at www.livingcompass.org/lent 

Episode 15: A Humble Entrance

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In this Palm Sunday episode, Scott talks about how the actions of Jesus speak as powerfully as his words. He then goes on to connect this to how we can take this wisdom and apply it to how we show up in our important relationships.  

You can download a free PDF of the Lent booklet at www.livingcompass.org/lent 

Episode 14: Be an Encourager

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Encouraging others is one way we can express compassion. In this episode, Scott talks about the power that the simple act of encouragement can have on others.  

You can download a free PDF of theLent booklet at www.livingcompass.org/lent 

Episode 13: Self-Compassion and Well-Being

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Some people think that self-compassion is self-centered. In this episode, Scott explains how this is not true at all and that, in fact, self-compassion is an integral part of well-being. 

You can download a free PDF of theLent booklet at www.livingcompass.org/lent 

Episode 12: Forgiveness, Compassion, Mercy, and the Ego

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The ego, another name for our smaller selves, is often a barrier that gets in the way of us offering forgiveness and compassion to others--and even to ourselves. In this episode, Scott talks about how we can recognize when our ego is getting in the way and what we can do to rise above it and act more out of our higher selves.  

You can download a free PDF of theLent booklet at www.livingcompass.org/lent 

Episode 11: Compassion and Mercy, Closer to Home

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This episode talks about how it is often easier to be compassionate "in general" for people that are far removed from our daily lives. And it is often hard to practice compassion with those we are closest to and who we interact with on a regular basis.  

Scott also talks about how if we only rely on the limits of our own ego to practice compassion, we will often come up short.

You can download a free PDF of theLent booklet at www.livingcompass.org/lent 

Episode 10: It Is In Giving, That We Receive

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Scott Stoner expands on the beautiful reflection from Chris Yaw for March 19 in the Living Compass Lent booklet on Practicing Compassion and talks about how "it is in giving that we receive."

To read Chris Yaw's reflection, you can download a free PDF of the booklet at www.livingcompass.org/lent 

Episode 9: Prayer and Compassion

(Click the player above to listen!)Quakers have a saying when they pray for someone: "I will hold you in the Light."

In this episode Scott explores the connection between prayer and compassion and shares one of his favorite prayers, the Prayer for Presence, from John Philip Newell.  

Download our Living Well Through Lent, 2023: Practicing Compassion daily readings devotional at www.LivingCompass.org/Lent

Episode 8: Come Unto Me All You Who Are Weary

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In this episode, Scott reflects on self-compassion through the lens of the scripture, where Jesus invites all who are weary and heavy burdened to come to him for rest.

Get a free copy of our Lent booklet on Practicing Compassion at www.LivingCompass.org/Lent