People are lonely, and they often tend to feel adrift in the spiritual life. As such, it’s really easy to get discouraged and feel like no one else is in the trenches with you, struggling with the same things as a normal part of the spiritual life. This podcast aims to normalize the struggles and the difficulties of the spiritual life without relying on sagacious advice or strategies.
Epilogue: Going Somewhere Good
"I hope you receive everything I’ve ever said here with the heart I intend, that we learn to take our belief seriously that the Holy Spirit is everywhere present and filling all things. All things. It has been a joy to offer these reflections and to stumble on the path toward the Kingdom with you all. This has been so good, and I know it’s all going somewhere even better."
10/30/2021 • 25 minutes, 31 seconds
Chapter Thirty-Five: Good Parts in Bad Roles
As we continue the Lenten journey, Christian reflects on whether "try harder" and "just stop" approaches to our passions actually are that beneficial to our progress in the spiritual life.
3/26/2021 • 29 minutes, 39 seconds
Chapter Thirty-Four: Putting Out Fires
This week marks the year anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a national emergency. Christian Gonzalez reflects on the impact of the pandemic over the last year, particularly viewing it through the lens of trauma.
3/12/2021 • 22 minutes, 1 second
Chapter Thirty-Three: It’s a Bottle Episode!
Christian reflects a bit on the NBC Show, Community, and wonders what its implications are for our life as the community of the Church.
2/27/2021 • 23 minutes, 26 seconds
Chapter Thirty-Two: Dancing With Myself
This week, Christian Gonzalez reflects on welcoming all the parts of ourselves (including the ones we don't like) to the table as we seek to move forward in love.
1/29/2021 • 21 minutes, 34 seconds
Chapter Thirty-One: Welcome to Reality
This week, Christian Gonzalez explores how our faith is one that must exist within this world as it is, not by trying to escape it.
1/15/2021 • 18 minutes, 52 seconds
Chapter Thirty: ’Tis the Season, Part Two
In the last episode, Christian Gonzalez explored how Christ being born in us is the reason for the season. This time, he explores what this might actually look like.
12/11/2020 • 25 minutes, 4 seconds
Chapter Twenty-Nine: ’Tis the Season!
At the beginning of the Nativity Fast, Christian Gonzalez reflects on the past year and the true reason for the season.
11/20/2020 • 17 minutes, 22 seconds
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Touched by Love
Christian Gonzalez explores the aftermath of Election Day while both sides wait to see who won. Which side is God on? Or does dividing ourselves into “sides ” miss the point?
11/6/2020 • 20 minutes, 17 seconds
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Survival of the Friendliest
Christian Gonzalez reflects on some of the brighter sides of the pandemic for a change, finding that "happiness can be found in the darkest of places."
10/23/2020 • 22 minutes, 56 seconds
Chapter Twenty-Six: On Earth as it is in Heaven
This week, Christian Gonzalez reflects on the scriptural and patristic theme of living a Gospel that makes a material difference in the world.
10/9/2020 • 22 minutes, 45 seconds
Chapter Twenty-Five: You’re Bigger!
Back from the break, Christian Gonzalez reflects on the division he sees in society and urges others to rise above it.
9/25/2020 • 15 minutes, 14 seconds
Chapter Twenty-Four: We’re All in This Together
Christian Gonzalez reflects on the riots and protests following the COVID-19 Pandemic and wonders whether there are some things for us to learn.
6/8/2020 • 19 minutes, 41 seconds
Chapter Twenty-Three: Get Your House in Order
Sometimes life just feels like an unconquerable mess, but maybe part of the call of life is to get used to learning how to deal with messes when they arise.
5/25/2020 • 17 minutes, 48 seconds
Chapter Twenty-Two: He’s Not Safe
Christian Gonzalez reflects on the reopening of American life, and explores the tension he feels between faith and fear.
5/11/2020 • 18 minutes, 57 seconds
Chapter Twenty-One: Love Wins
Christian Gonzalez continues to reflect on life under quarantine and considers the ways in which love lends meaning to even the hardest of times.
5/4/2020 • 21 minutes, 19 seconds
Chapter Twenty: How Long, O Lord?
Christian Gonzalez continues to reflect on the ongoing nature of the pandemic, and wonders what God might have for us in this season.
4/27/2020 • 18 minutes, 57 seconds
Chapter Nineteen: There Are No Words
At the beginning of Holy Week, Christian Gonzalez reflects on the sheer amount of noise that has filled his waking hours and his desire to move to a more quiet contemplation.
4/13/2020 • 12 minutes, 45 seconds
Chapter Eighteen: Canceling Pascha
This week, Christian Gonzalez explores the difficulty, the need, and the call to remain joyful, even when times feel dark and difficult.
4/6/2020 • 18 minutes, 11 seconds
Chapter Seventeen: We’re All Gonna Die!
This week, Christian Gonzalez reflects on the novel coronavirus and its impact on the way we follow Jesus during this particular Great Lent.
3/30/2020 • 19 minutes, 39 seconds
Chapter Sixteen: You Gotta Want It
This week, Christian Gonzalez reflects on spiritual healing and explores some of the obstacles that may stand in the way.
3/10/2020 • 20 minutes, 25 seconds
Chapter Fifteen: Things Fall Apart
Christian Gonzalez reflects on the difficult reality of life in this world and how Jesus is our only hope.
3/2/2020 • 18 minutes, 7 seconds
Chapter Fourteen: Only Human
This week, Christian Gonzalez reflects on how hard it is to be a person, and how we are continually learning through the ins and outs of life.
2/10/2020 • 15 minutes, 56 seconds
Chapter Thirteen: Do All The Things!
This week, Christian Gonzalez reflects on the reality that admitting you have limits is a hard but necessary part of the spiritual life.
2/3/2020 • 15 minutes, 39 seconds
Chapter Twelve: Jesus Loves Me
This week, Christian Gonzalez explores the various ways that we tend to identify and how all such self-definitions must find their fulfillment in God's love.
1/20/2020 • 18 minutes, 34 seconds
Chapter Eleven: Admit It!
Christian Gonzalez reflects on the nature of shame and its corrosive effects on our lives.
1/13/2020 • 17 minutes, 57 seconds
Chapter Ten: Come Out of the Cave
Christian Gonzalez reflects on how relationships in his life bid him to come live for something other than himself.
1/6/2020 • 15 minutes, 43 seconds
Chapter Nine: A Beginning of Good
And a Happy New Year! At the turning of the year, Christian Gonzalez reflects a little on 2019 and explores the kind of New Year's Resolution he hopes to make for 2020.
12/30/2019 • 17 minutes, 9 seconds
Chapter Eight: Prepare Him Room
Merry Christmas! Christian discusses how he has experienced noisy culture getting in the way of opening the heart to the Lord.
12/23/2019 • 12 minutes, 40 seconds
Chapter Seven: These Are My Friends
Sometimes the world can feel overwhelming and dark. Christian Gonzalez discusses how stories can offer important reminders and visions of goodness, beauty, and truth.
12/17/2019 • 17 minutes, 39 seconds
Chapter Six: Kind of a Big Deal
It seems that many of us are always busy. This week, Christian Gonzalez explores some of his struggles with being over-committed.
12/9/2019 • 18 minutes, 46 seconds
Chapter Five: Beating Iron Mike
As Thanksgiving approaches, Christian Gonzalez reflects on how difficult it is to stop complaining and suggests what it might mean to do all things with Christ's strength.
11/25/2019 • 17 minutes, 48 seconds
Chapter Four: Making Minimum Payments
At the beginning of the Nativity Fast, Christian Gonzalez reflects on the difficulty (and need) to make a strong effort to reach for the Lord.
11/18/2019 • 17 minutes, 57 seconds
Chapter Three: Sometimes It Just Hurts
Christian Gonzalez discusses the inevitability of pain and how, rightly used, it can bring forth new life.
11/11/2019 • 18 minutes, 53 seconds
Chapter Two: What a Friend We Have
Christian Gonzalez discusses his struggle with loneliness and reflects on how it might be used for something other than what he wants.
11/4/2019 • 18 minutes, 9 seconds
Chapter One: Getting Started
In the first episode of Wandering the Desert, Christian discusses the purpose of this new podcast from Y2AM and describes the often arid feeling of the spiritual life while looking for some pieces of manna along the way.
