The Stillpoint

Around the Fire is an audio companion to The Compass, my Substack publication on contemplative Christian spiritual formation. Think of it this way: the weekly essays are the miles. This is the campfire at the end of the day that offers a few minutes to sit with something we’ve been carrying, go a little deeper, and let the day’s ideas settle.Today’s episode builds off of the Friday Compass “Wandering” post “When Did We Stop Seeing” by exploring an old word, “Behold!” It is asking a simple question: what might happen in our life if we regain the practice of noticing what God is up to in our hearts, in the lives of people we are with, and in our culture. New episodes drop Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, usually seven to nine minutes, long enough to matter, short enough to finish before the fire burns down.If you’re not yet part of The Compass community, I’d love for you to join us. Free subscribers get the full essay five days a week. Paid subscribers receive monthly practice tools, teaching videos, and live conversation.Pull up a chair. I’ll see you around the fire. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

Around the Fire is the audio companion to The Compass, my Substack publication on contemplative Christian spiritual formation. Think of it this way: the weekly essays are the miles. This is the campfire at the end of the day that offers a few minutes to sit with something we’ve been carrying, go a little deeper, and let the day’s ideas settle.Today’s episode builds off a question my wife asked about evil: how did these people who treat others with such inhumanness become like that? It’s a great question, one to think about, one to wonder about how a person is formed toward goodness or toward ugliness.New episodes drop Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, usually seven to nine minutes, long enough to matter, short enough to finish before the fire burns down.If you’re not yet part of The Compass community, I’d love for you to join us. Free subscribers get the full essay five days a week. Paid subscribers receive monthly practice tools, teaching videos, and live conversation.Pull up a chair. I’ll see you around the fire.IHG (In His Grip)— Gene This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

Around the Fire is a new audio companion to The Compass, my Substack publication on contemplative Christian spiritual formation. Think of it this way: the weekly essays are the miles. This is the campfire at the end of the day that offers a few minutes to sit with something we’ve been carrying, go a little deeper, and let the day’s ideas settle.Today’s episode builds off this week’s Compass essay on spiritual classics, which is anchored specifically to William Penn’s No Cross, No Crown, and follows one thread a little further into the dark. If you haven’t read the essay yet, it’s worth starting there before you pull up a chair here. It’s called “The Two-Foot Shelf.”New episodes drop Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, usually seven to nine minutes, long enough to matter, short enough to finish before the fire burns down.If you’re not yet part of The Compass community, I’d love for you to join us. Free subscribers get the full essay five days a week. Paid subscribers receive monthly practice tools, teaching videos, and live conversation.Pull up a chair. I’ll see you around the fire. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

I don't usually post on weekends, but today asked for an exception.Lorri and I drove into Glacier today with no particular agenda—just following the road as it wound along Lake McDonald. We found ourselves at a pullout and instead of checking it off the list — been to the lake and moving on — we just... stopped and wandered along the lakeshore. It took only a few moments to discover the treasure waiting to be loved:As our eyes took in the beauty, our ears began to tune into what you can hear in a natural quiet zone: small waves lapping against the shoreline, the occasional bird call, wind moving through the trees. We sat there, not talking, not capturing the perfect shot, just being present to what was already there. Three seconds of those sounds are uploaded above. With our sense filling up and our day slowing down, we made an easy choice: drive up the east side of Glacier. Rounding a sharp corner, this iconic mountain parted the clouds and seemed to whisper, “Don’t miss this.” We heard, agreed, pulled off again. The light kept changing, the clouds kept shifting, and each movement felt like a gift rather than something we'd earned or achieved.I'm sharing these images not to make you envious of our backyard (though I won't pretend it's not extraordinary), but because something about today felt important to pass along: the treasure wasn't in the destination. It was in the decision to linger.We live in a culture that's constantly asking us to do more, see more, accomplish more. Even our vacations become exhausting productions. We rush through experiences instead of inhabiting them. We're always heading somewhere else, convinced that the next thing will finally satisfy.But what if the deepest satisfaction is already here, in the simple act of pulling off the fast lane and paying attention?What if slowing down isn't about doing less, but about being present enough to receive what's right in front of us?The lake didn't perform for us today. Mount Reynolds didn't appear on schedule. The clearing skies weren't guaranteed. We simply showed up, and then we stayed long enough to notice what was already being offered.That's not just a lesson for tourists in national parks. It's a posture for life.What would it mean for you to find your own version of that pullout by the lake? Not someplace exotic you need to travel to, but the ordinary moment you could linger in today—the morning coffee you actually taste, the conversation you don't rush through, the sunset you watch all the way down instead of just glancing at?The sound of still water. The mountain emerging from clouds. The patches of blue sky breaking through gray.These aren't just Montana moments. They're invitations to a life where simple presence becomes the treasure we've been searching for all along.What's one simple thing you could linger with today?Gratefully,— Gene This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

Yesterday's snowstorm became an unexpected spiritual director. As I walked through heavy snow with visibility down to almost nothing, I couldn't see the mountains I know are right in front of me. And in that moment of forced present-ness, I realized how much of my life I've spent living in the future—planning, strategizing, mapping out what's ahead. But what if seasons of limited visibility aren't obstacles to navigate around, but invitations to see differently? What if not being able to see far ahead actually helps us see more clearly what's right in front of us? Join me for a brief reflection on the gift of living one faithful step at a time.Subscribe to The CompassIf this reflection resonated with you, consider subscribing to The Compass. Each week, I share practices and reflections for the contemplative journey—helping you slow down, pay attention, and discover what God might be saying in the everyday moments of your life. Free subscribers receive regular encouragement, while paid subscribers gain access to deeper resources, guided practices, and our growing community of fellow travelers.Whether you’re just beginning to explore contemplative spirituality or you’ve been walking this path for years, there’s a place for you here. I’d be honored to have you join us. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

Substack writer Jeanine Joyner has a rare gift. Through her publication “Beloved, Be Loved,” she weaves storytelling and spiritual reflection in ways that invite you into the heart of what it means to be God’s beloved.A former women’s ministry leader, Jeanine now uses her writing to help readers discover their truest identity as beloved children of God. In this conversation, she shares from her own journey—growing up in rural America, navigating the complexities of women’s identity in the church, and finding her voice through writing on Substack. There were moments that stopped me in my tracks, when her words opened up something deeper than I expected.If you’re hungry for writing that nourishes your soul and draws you closer to God, I encourage you to discover Jeanine’s work. Subscribe to her Substack: https://jeaninejoyner.substack.com/.And if this conversation resonated with you, subscribe to The Compass to receive more episodes like this—conversations that help you navigate the deeper currents of faith and life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

Listen Time: 7:35 minutesAbout This EpisodeIn the wilderness, Jesus faced a fundamental test: Would he perform to meet expectations, or remain anchored in who he truly was?This Stillpoint meditation explores three moments when Jesus refused to twist himself into what others wanted—and invites you to find that same ground of unshakeable identity in the Father’s love.You don’t have to be what they expect. You don’t have to shrink to fit. You are held in the love that made you.Episode OutlineMoment 1: The Temptation to Perform The wilderness test—when performing miracles would have meant negotiating his identityMoment 2: The Temptation to Shrink The mountain withdrawal—when becoming their king would have meant becoming less than himselfMoment 3: The Ground of True Self The Gethsemane prayer—surrendering into his truest self, held in the Father’s loveCarry This With YouI don’t have to be what they expect.I don’t have to shrink to fit.I am held in the love that made me.Related ReadingThis meditation draws from the Substack post “The Gift of Knowing Yourself” — exploring how spiritual formation helps us know not just God, but ourselves. Because transformation requires awareness of the precise places where we need healing grace.Read the full post here Subscribe to StillpointThese 5-minute pauses are designed to recenter your life in the presence of God—right in the middle of your busy day.New episodes drop weekly on Substack.Subscribe for freeAlready a subscriber? Episodes appear directly in your inbox.Share This EpisodeKnow someone who’s exhausted from performing or shrinking to fit others’ expectations?Send them this episode. Sometimes permission to be yourself is the most spiritual gift you can give.About Gene MaynardGene Maynard is a pastor, spiritual director, and author of Trekking: A Guidebook for Spiritual Transformation. His forthcoming book, Living More: In a World of More, Choose Less—and Live Deeper, explores the themes at the heart of his move to Montana. He writes The Compass: Navigating the Interior Journey, a Substack exploring ancient formation practices for modern disciples, and is launching Stillpoint, a retreat ministry outside Glacier National Park for depleted pastors and missionaries..Connect: The Compass Substack | genemaynard.comSupport This WorkStillpoint is free for everyone, made possible by listeners who believe in creating space for unhurried spirituality. If these meditations have served you, consider supporting future episodes.Become a supporter “May you walk today as one who is fully known and fully loved.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Description:Seventy-five percent of pastors report extreme stress. One in three has considered quitting in the last year. Nearly one in five has contemplated suicide. How did we get here?This podcast examines both the crisis facing pastors and its root causes—tracing how the American church’s shift from formation to attraction in the 1970s created a measuring system that guarantees most pastors will be evaluated as failures. Drawing from decades of peer-reviewed research, this episode reveals why our shepherds are limping and why every congregation must care.You’ll Discover:* The staggering statistics on pastoral burnout, stress, and mental health* How the church growth movement of the 1970s changed everything* Why we traded formation for attraction—and what that cost us* The impossible standard facing the average pastor* Why burned-out pastors affect entire congregations* What a different way forward might look likeFor Pastors: You’re not alone. The exhaustion, doubt, and isolation you feel are shared by thousands of faithful shepherds. This conversation validates your experience and points toward renewal.For Church Members: When shepherds limp, flocks suffer. Understanding what your pastor carries isn’t just compassionate—it’s essential for the health of your church.Resources & Research: All statistics drawn from peer-reviewed studies by Barna Group, Fuller Institute, Francis Schaeffer Institute, and other leading research organizations spanning 1991-2024.Subscribe & Share: Help us start a conversation about the renewal of pastoral ministry. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and share with someone who needs to hear this message. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

Theme: Quiet outside, noise insideScripture: Luke 10:38–42; Practice: Breath prayer — “Lord Jesus / quiet my noisy heart.”One Question: Where is your inner speed exceeding the speed of your surroundings?If you’re new: I’m writing and podcasting about attention, spiritual depth, and a simpler, rooted life with God.* Subscribe to The Compass for weekly reflections.* Share this episode with someone who’s carrying too many “many things.”Want a deeper dive? See this week’s Compass series on attention & noise and the companion idea of natural quiet zones—how exterior stillness can tutor interior stillness. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

Show NotesIn this short reflection, Gene turns to the underground life—the roots that hold when weather changes. We chase branches and fruit; Jesus starts deeper. Roots form in hidden places: quiet, Scripture that’s actually ingested, Sabbath that teaches us to receive. Depth before display. Being with God before doing for God.SubscribeGet weekly reflections and practical tools for the interior journey at The Compass.SharePass this episode to someone who’s feeling scattered and could use a quiet, doable way to begin again. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

Show NotesIn this short reflection, Gene shares a lesson he first learned from Quaker writer Elton Trueblood—what he called Quaker midnight. It’s a simple but radical reordering of time: beginning each day in rest rather than work.This rhythm of rest is more than recovery; it’s the starting point of a simpler, more centered life with God.Want to go deeper?Read Gene’s Thursday reflection on The Compass, where he explores how this rhythm shapes the Waymarker life of simplicity and trust.Subscribe to The Compass for weekly reflections and resources for the interior journey.Share this episode with someone who could use a quieter way to begin their day. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

The StillpointA brief pause in the middle of your day to be still… and to remember that—whatever today holds—God is with you. The Stillpoint is an audio companion of The Compass, which provides resources, encouragement, and community to help you find and navigate the way to a deeper life with Jesus.Today’s Episode:A quiet pause to remember the masterclass Jesus provided in the power of listening: “Consider carefully how you listen…” (Luke 8:18). In this short Stillpoint episode, Gene invites us to pause and recover the posture Jesus carried into every village: the gift of an attentive ear. Listening to God. Listening to our own hearts. Listening to one another. Sometimes the smallest pause of attention opens the deepest space for love. It ends with portable questions to carry into your day.Today’s Still Point:The soul that learns to listen—really listen—will find life.Credits* Music: SigmaMusicArt, “Prelude” (public-domain composition: pixabay)* Logo: Miriam RemingtonWant More Resources for the Interior Journey?Subscribe to The Compass for weekly reflections on the deeper life, spiritual practice tools, and stories that help you find the way to a deeper life with God This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

The StillpointA brief pause in the middle of your day to be still… and to remember that—whatever today holds—God is with you. The Stillpoint is an audio companion of The Compass, which provides resources, encouragement, and community to help you find and navigate the way to a deeper life with Jesus.Today’s Episode:A quiet four-minute pause to remember a simple truth: light is coming into the world, and darkness can’t stop it (John 1:5). In this short reflection, Gene invites you to breathe, listen, and notice where you need God’s light today—personally and in our world. It ends with one portable question to carry into your day.Today’s QuestionWhere do you most need the light of Christ to reach you today?Credits* Music: Claude Debussy, “Clair de Lune” (public-domain composition: Abydos Music)* Logo: Miriam RemingtonWant More Resources for the Interior Journey?Subscribe to The Compass for weekly reflections on the deeper life, spiritual practice tools, and stories that help you find the way to a deeper life with God. Share the pauseIf this helped, share with a friend who could use a moment of light.To receive companion practices, simple tools, and bonus stillness episodes—and to support The Stillpoint—consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

An audio podcast for The Compass Center exploring the discipleship deficit in contemporary Christianity and how to restore discipleship to where it belongs: the very center of Christian faith.This is part one of a week-long series on discipleship. Subscribe so you get every one of these conversations about the discipleship mission of the movement begun by Jesus 2,000 years ago. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

What if worship is bigger than we imagine?What if it is larger than what we are used to experiencing?What if what we call worship is actually smaller than what worship truly is?In this episode of The Trailhead, we step into the experience of Isaiah and the witness of John Woolman to ask a deeper question: what can worship really be?The answer might surprise you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Substack I’m writing and thinking about scripture. I’m doing that to tether Christian spiritual formation—at least the way I view spiritual formatio—is tethered to scripture. Today’s conversation is a story, a testimony, a lament, and a blessing all in one about the beauty of taking scripture seriously — and the ways I struggle to live the words and ideas of scripture. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

In this short, guided time of stillness, we reflect on the words of Jesus in John 10:27:“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”Long before you thought to seek God, the Shepherd was already seeking you.Today’s Presence invites you to rest in the reality that you are fully known and deeply loved — and to carry that truth with you into the rest of your day.In this episode:* Listening for the Shepherd’s voice* Resting in God’s knowledge of you (Ephesians 1)* A line from Thomas Kelly on the Shepherd seeking His sheep* A guided moment of stillness and blessingIf this episode encourages you:* Try the practice again tomorrow — anywhere, anytime.* Share it with someone who might need to hear the Shepherd’s voice today.* Subscribe to The Compass on Substack for weekly reflections and spiritual formation tools. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

After a short break from the podcast, I’m beginning something new here on The Compass podcast feed. This new rhythm, called Presence, is a short, guided time to help you pause, listen, and renew your awareness of God’s nearness in the middle of an ordinary day.Each episode draws from the ancient Christian way of praying the Scriptures—listening deeply to God’s Word, letting it settle into your heart, and carrying it with you into whatever comes next.Today’s episode is a little longer than the usual five minutes. I’ll explain the heart behind this new series and then walk you through a simple practice from Psalm 46:10:“Be still, and know that I am God.”This isn’t an escape from the chaos of life. It’s an invitation to be still within it—to restore the awareness that God is still God, still for you, and still with you.In This Episode:* A brief introduction to Presence* A five-step, Scripture-centered practice for renewing your awareness of God* A blessing to carry with you into the rest of your dayAfter listening, try the practice anywhere, anytime* Share it with a friend who might need a quiet space with God today* Subscribe to The Compass for more reflections and spiritual formation tools each week This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s Formation Dig, we begin laying the foundation for next week’s series on Being the Beloved. At the center of that identity is this truth: you don’t earn belovedness—you receive it.We explore the parable of two men in the temple, a posture of humility, and the mercy that anchors us before we ever prove a thing.🛤 If you’ve ever felt like you don’t measure up, this one’s for you.→ Subscribe to The Compass for weekly reflections and practice tools that help you walk more slowly, more deeply, and more honestly with God.→ Share this episode with someone who needs a word of mercy.💧 Want to go deeper in listening, guidance, and soul care?Yesterday’s The Compass post invites you to explore spiritual direction—and the quiet transformation it makes possible:👉 Read the post here This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we explore joy not as a fleeting emotion but as a deep, deliberate practice. Drawing from the wisdom of Henri Nouwen, we consider his profound insight:“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.”What does it mean to choose joy in a world marked by pressure, grief, and noise? And how might Christian spiritual formation help us recover joy—not as escape, but as resistance, hope, and trust in God's goodness?📬 Get the Companion Practice ToolEvery Wednesday, paid subscribers to The Compass receive a beautifully designed 1–2 page formation tool to help anchor these themes in real life. This week’s tool explores how to cultivate a daily posture of joy, even in hard seasons.👉 Subscribe now to receive the weekly spiritual practice tool💬 Share This EpisodeIf this conversation encouraged you, consider forwarding it to a friend or sharing it on social media. Your kind words and shares help more people discover The Compass. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

What if we’ve misunderstood joy—not just as a culture, but even as the church? What if joy isn’t the reward for a life finally in order, but the defiant practice of those choosing trust in the middle of the mess?In this short reflection, we’ll explore how joy might be less about emotion and more about formation. And why this rebel virtue might just be what our soul—and our world—needs most.👉 If this stirs something in you, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Each week, I share a thoughtful spiritual formation tool to help you live these truths more deeply.📤 And if this dig helps you, send it to a friend. Joy is meant to be shared. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

About This Episode:Joy isn’t something we chase—it’s something we wake up to.In this first episode of Formation Digs, we explore how spiritual practice helps us hold space for the soul to notice God—even in the middle of ordinary life. Joy often begins when we stop rushing, pay attention, and open our hearts to grace already present.This short reflection offers a simple daily practice to help you do just that.Call to Action (CTAs):👉 Subscribe to The Compass for weekly reflections, spiritual formation tools, and resources for living a deeper life with God: Click here to subscribe.🎧 Share this episode with a friend who might need encouragement today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

What happens when trust stops being a spiritual concept—and starts becoming your daily lifeline?In this Formation Dig, we explore what it means to trust God when life doesn’t resolve on schedule. No tidy answers. No spiritual shortcuts. Just real life, real waiting, and real hope.Along the way, we’ll draw wisdom from the saints who’ve gone before us—Julian of Norwich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Augustine, Corrie ten Boom, and others—voices forged in seasons where trust wasn’t easy, but necessary.If you’re in one of those seasons right now, this reflection is for you.📬 Stay ConnectedAt The Compass, we explore spiritual formation for real life—not just the polished moments, but the messy ones too.If this reflection resonates, consider subscribing or sharing it with someone who needs it today.👉 Click here to subscribe or give a gift subscription to support this work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

In this short reflection, we explore 2 Corinthians 3:18 and the practice of contemplative seeing.Paul uses the word katoptrizomenoi—“to behold as in a mirror”—reminding us that spiritual transformation happens when we set our attention fully on Christ.Key Takeaways:* We become what we behold.* Transformation is not about striving harder, but gazing longer.* In Christ, the veil is removed. We now have direct, open access to God’s glory—and that changes us.Reflection Question:What are you gazing at most in your daily life?Is it shaping you into the person you long to become?💬 Stay ConnectedIf this episode was meaningful to you, consider subscribing to The Compass on Substack. Every week, I share spiritual formation tools, reflections, and practices like this one.👉 Subscribe here🎧 Share the JourneyShare this podcast with a friend who could use a pause for reflection this week.You can find past episodes and practice tools at The Compass. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Formation Digs, I’m sharing a personal story from the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage—a moment that revealed more than just a stumble on the trail. It exposed a deeper spiritual issue:I had become—we’ve become people—someone who walked while reading, led while distracted, and lived without truly seeing.I now call this Gazing-Deficit Disorder—not a medical condition, but a spiritual one.We live in a world that has rewired our attention. The result? We’re skimming life instead of gazing at the Presence of God.This reflection invites us to pause, look up, and recover the ancient practice of spiritual attentiveness.Key Themes:* The danger of leading while distracted* How the digital world reshapes our interior life* The contemplative tradition’s reminder: What we contemplate, we become* Why recovering the practice of gazing at God is vital—for pastors, leaders, and anyone longing for deeper formationReflection Question:What’s right in front of you right now that you’ve been too distracted to notice?The face of someone you love?The ache of your own soul?The gentle whisper of God?💬 Stay ConnectedIf this episode stirred something in you, consider subscribing to The Compass on Substack. Each week, I’ll provide spiritual formation tools, reflections, and guided practices to help us slow down and live more deeply with God.👉 Subscribe here🎧 Share the JourneyKnow someone who’s living while distracted?Send them this episode as an invitation to slow down and look up. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

What if 88% of the people in your church were still in the earliest stages of spiritual growth?That’s what recent research tells us. And yet—there’s hope. Because while spiritual maturity is stalled, spiritual hunger is rising. People are longing for depth. The question is: who will help guide them?In this episode, I share:* Startling data from Grey Matter and Barna Research* Why the church’s current models often fall short* The quiet wisdom of Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century kitchen helper who found God in the ordinary* Why his story still matters—and what it says about the future of spiritual direction* How we can form a new wave of everyday spiritual companions—people who walk with others toward the presence of GodThis is the heartbeat behind our Certificate in Spiritual Direction: not louder voices, but deeper guides.Ordinary people. Quiet presence. Life-changing depth.🧭 Want In?Enrollment is now open for the Fall 2025 cohort of our 9-month Certificate in Spiritual Direction.Learn more or request an application:Not sure if it’s the right fit?Download our free one-page reflection tool to help you discern:👉 Click Here for Spiritual Direction Tool💬 Like this episode?Share it with someone who’s hungry for more than surface-level faith.Tag us or send a message—let us know what stirred something in you.And if you’re new to The Compass community, subscribe to get weekly spiritual formation tools and reflections:Closing Word:Whether you’re peeling potatoes or pastoring a church, the invitation still stands:You don’t need to be profound.You don’t need to be polished.You just need to be present.Thanks for listening.— Gene This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

7 minutes | Hosted by Gene MaynardIntro (Show Notes Preview):Welcome to Formation Dig, a few quiet minutes each week to excavate the deeper layers of faith. In today’s episode, I’m reflecting on two practices that have been quietly shaping me: gathered worship and slow-motion Sabbath. These may seem like separate rhythms—but they meet at the intersection of formation.Come along as we explore the cross-shaped axis of worship and a Monday mountain hike with my grandson.💬 What’s Inside This Episode:* Worship when it feels ordinary: Why it’s okay if Sundays don’t feel electric* The holy surprise of staying rooted in one church for 20 years* Sabbath as resistance: A mountain trail as a form of protest* How to practice presence in a world obsessed with productivity* Two invitations for the week: one for gathered worship, one for slow walking✍️ Practice for the WeekVertical–Horizontal Check-In* What to do during worship: Whisper“Lord, fill my heart with You.”* After church, speak one encouraging sentence to someone you barely know.Mini-Sabbath Walk* Set aside 1 hour for an unhurried walk—no phone, no earbuds.* Let this prayer guide your steps: “Breathe in grace, breathe out hurry.”* Write down one thing you noticed about God, and one thing you noticed about someone or someplace.📜 Scripture Blessing“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…You will find rest for your souls.” — Matthew 11:28–29🔔 Subscribe & Dig DeeperIf this episode stirred something in you, consider subscribing to The Compass—where every week we share soul-forming reflections, spiritual practice tools, and a gentle path for living deeply with God.👉 Subscribe to The Compass for free or become a paid subscriber to access weekly spiritual formation tools.🎓 Interested in going deeper?Enrollment is now open for the Certificate in Spiritual Direction through The Compass Center. If you feel called to accompany others in their journey with God, this 9-month program may be the next step.👉 Learn more by reaching out to meFormation Dig is written and hosted by Gene Maynard.Thanks for listening—and may grace and joy meet you in your steps this week. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to today’s Formation Dig.I want to tell you a story—one that starts on a rugged mountain trail and ends with a hidden bench carved by time. I’d passed it dozens of times without seeing it. But the moment I noticed it, everything changed.That bench? It became a picture of what spiritual direction is all about: helping someone see what they’ve never noticed before. Not by giving answers—but by offering presence, patience, and the quiet gift of attention.In this short episode, we’ll explore why spiritual direction isn’t about advice or fixing. It’s about learning how to notice what grace has placed right in front of us—often in places we’ve overlooked.And if something stirs in you as you listen—if you wonder whether you might be called to offer that kind of presence for others—I’ve created a simple, reflective tool to help you explore that.👉 Free Discernment Tool:Is There a Spiritual Director in You?A gentle, prayerful guide to help you listen for your next step.→ Open the Tool Now 🔔 Call to Action:If this episode speaks to you:✅ Subscribe to The Compass on Substack for weekly formation posts and resources🌿 Become a Paid Subscriber to receive beautiful weekly practice tools📤 Share this episode with someone who might need it today🧭 Explore the Certificate in Spiritual Direction — Cohort 2 opens Sept 1→ Explore the Program This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

What can a rickety wooden roller coaster teach us about the sacred work of spiritual direction?In this episode, I share a story from years ago—when a challenge from my sons, a belly full of junk food, and one unexpected seat partner led to a moment I’ve never forgotten. Through it, I discovered something essential about the quiet gift of presence and the heart of spiritual companionship.Spiritual direction isn’t about fixing others—it’s about walking with them, listening deeply, and gently helping them notice God’s presence in the middle of life’s ups, downs, and hairpin turns.🧭 Mentioned in This Episode:The Compass Center’s Certificate in Spiritual DirectionCohort 2 opens September 1, 2025→ Explore the Program→ Or message me directly—I’d love to hear your story.🔍 Want to Discern if This Path Is for You?Download the free tool in tomorrow’s Formation Dig episode:“Is There a Spiritual Director in You?”A gentle guide to help you listen for your next step.💬 Let’s Stay ConnectedIf this episode stirred something in you:✅ Subscribe to the podcast and never miss a reflection📬 Join The Compass on Substack for weekly posts + tools🌿 Become a Paid Subscriber and receive weekly spiritual formation practices📤 Share this episode with a friend who might need some quiet encouragement today🎙️ Reflection Question:When was the last time someone simply sat with you, without trying to fix you?And how might you offer that gift to someone else this week? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”—Matthew 11:28In this 15-minute Formation Dig, Gene shares a personal reflection on the practice of spiritual direction—how it changed his life, what it really is (and isn’t), and why this quiet work may be one of the most powerful gifts you can offer another soul.Whether you’re walking through a foggy season or longing to learn how to walk alongside others with clarity and grace, this episode will ground you in what matters most.🪷 Reflection Question for the DayWhere in your life right now do you need someone simply to be with you rather than fix you?Could God be inviting you to offer that same quiet presence to someone else?📚 Mentioned in Today’s Episode🎓 Learn more or apply for the upcoming cohort:👉 Explore the Certificate in Spiritual Direction📬 Want to talk with Gene about whether this program is right for you?🧭 Learn more about The Compass Center💛 Support This WorkIf this episode encouraged you, consider becoming a paid subscriber to The Compass. Paid subscribers receive a weekly formation tool every Wednesday—designed to anchor these themes in daily life.👉 Click here to subscribeYou can also share this post or give a gift subscription to a friend, pastor, or spiritual seeker who needs encouragement.Thanks for listening—and for walking with others in a world that needs more soul.—Gene This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

It’s one thing to believe the truth. It’s another to let it reshape your life. In today’s formation dig, we explore what happens when truth moves from belief to embodiment—from something we know to something we live. The Spirit doesn’t just inform us. He walks the road with us.Call to Action:📖 For more on the Spirit as our Guide, read the Thursday deep dive post at The Compass.🧭 Want weekly formation tools to help you walk this out? Join as a paid subscriber to access each week’s downloadable guide.📣 Know someone in a truth-tug-of-war? Share this episode as an encouragement. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

Show Notes Intro:In a culture that rewards noise and spin, the Spirit invites us into something quieter, richer, and far more satisfying—truth you can taste. In today’s reflection, we begin to recover our appetite for what’s truly real. This isn’t just about believing the right things—it’s about hungering for the good, the beautiful, and the deeply true.Call to Action:💬 For more on this theme, check out the full post: What If That’s Actually True? at The Compass.👉 Want to go deeper? Paid subscribers receive a printable practice tool each Wednesday to help anchor these truths in real life.📤 Share this podcast with someone hungry for more than curated certainty. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s Formation Dig, we return to one powerful verse—John 16:13—and sit with Jesus’ words about the Spirit of Truth.This isn’t just a verse to understand. It’s a doorway into something deeper.If you’ve ever felt pulled between what’s real and what’s performative, today’s reflection is for you.Let this short episode re-center your day and reawaken your hunger for what’s truly true.🎧 Listen now: 8 minutes of Scripture, reflection, and quiet courage for the journey.📣 CTAs👉 If this helps you slow down and re-center:Share today’s Formation Dig with a friend who’s trying to live more honestly and walk more deeply with God.📬 Want more like this?👉Subscribe here for a free or paid subscription. Paid subscribers receive companion practice tools every Wednesday—crafted to help you live what you’re learning and root spiritual truth in real life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

This short 7-minute reflection centers on Jesus’ invitation in John 15: “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you.”In a world of noise, drift, and distraction, what does it look like to remain? To stay close? To let the dust of the Rabbi mark your life again—not just on Sunday, but every day? This episode is a gentle call to return to nearness.🎧 Love these short digs?Subscribe for free to The Compass for weekly spiritual reflections + podcast linksSupport the mission as a paid subscriber to access full formation tools and bonus resources🙏 If this was meaningful to you, consider sharing it with a friend who’s longing for more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

Inspired by Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s now-famous line—“If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction”—this Formation Dig invites us to reflect on the subtle compromises we sometimes make.What trains have we boarded that Jesus never invited us onto? And what would it look like to get off?This isn’t a call to panic or passivity. It’s a call to realignment.➕ If this helps you walk more faithfully, become a paid subscriber. Every week, you’ll receive a new formation tool designed to guide your interior life with God.👉 Subscribe here to support the work and receive your weekly resource.📤 Share this episode with someone discerning how to follow Jesus in noisy, complicated times. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

What did it really mean to follow a rabbi in the first century? This Formation Dig explores what discipleship looked like in Jesus' world—and why it still matters for us today.We’re not called to just learn about Jesus. We’re called to walk closely behind Him. Close enough to be covered in His dust.Listen in, reflect, and carry today’s question with you.➕ If this encourages you, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Every Wednesday, I offer a downloadable, ready-to-use spiritual formation tool to help deepen your life with God. (The tool for this two-week series will be available next Wednesday.)👉 Click here to subscribe and receive your weekly tool.📤 Know someone trying to walk closer with Jesus? Share this episode with them. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Formation Dig: “Will You Leave Too?”Text: John 6:66–68After a hard teaching, many walked away from Jesus. And then he turned to the Twelve with a question that still pierces today:“Do you also want to leave?”Peter’s reply?“Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.”In today’s Formation Dig, we explore what it means to value Christ—not just for what he gives, but for who he is. If you’ve drifted or grown distracted, this may be the invitation you need to return.🔹 Includes one simple action to re-center your life around Jesus.🔹 Designed to help you walk more closely with the Rabbi who still speaks life today.—📥 Subscribe for free to get every Dig in your inbox🌿 Paid subscribers receive Wednesday tools and bonus reflections👉 Subscribe or share The Compass#FormationDig #John6 #SpiritualFormation #JesusIsEnough This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Formation Digs | The Spirit of Truth (John 16:13)In today’s Formation Dig, we reflect on Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth—not just to inform us, but to form us. In a world of noise, distortion, and pressure to conform, how do we listen for the Spirit’s voice and walk in what’s real?We’ll explore the meaning of the word truth in the Greek (ἀλήθεια), the relational nature of how Jesus defines truth, and a simple prayer practice you can carry with you this week.💬 Want more reflections like this?Each week on The Compass, I offer free written reflections and audio Formation Digs to help you stay anchored in God’s presence.👉 Subscribe for free to The Compass on Substack🛠 Want weekly spiritual formation tools?Paid subscribers receive a beautiful downloadable tool on Wednesdays to help anchor your interior life in practice—not just theory. (Because this is a two-week series, the practice tool will be available next Wednesday, June 25.)👉 Become a paid subscriber and receive next week’s tool: Practicing Discernment in a Culture of NoiseThank you for listening—and for walking the slower, quieter way with me. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

🔵 Formation Dig: Sabbath for the Whole HouseholdExodus 20:10 – “But the seventh day is a sabbath... On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter...”The Sabbath command wasn’t just about rest—it was a radical act of liberation. In a world that ran on nonstop labor, God told His people to stop… together.Today’s 7–8 minute Formation Dig reflects on how Sabbath was designed not as a private spiritual habit, but as a family rhythm—a weekly act of resistance that formed a slower, freer people.If you're wondering how your home can practice something deeper than exhaustion and screens, this short reflection is for you.🎧 Listen now to: Sabbath for the Whole Household💬 If this resonates...Subscribe to The Compass for weekly tools and reflections to help you form a quieter, more grounded life with God—right where you are.Every Wednesday, paid subscribers receive a downloadable formation tool to support this journey. This week’s resource? A Family Rule of Life template to help you reclaim your rhythm at home.👉 Subscribe here📣 Share the DigKnow a parent, grandparent, or leader longing for more rest and less chaos? Forward this episode. It might be the permission they need.Let’s build Sabbath-shaped homes—together.—Gene This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

🟢 Bible Dig: Train Up a Child…Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”We often quote this verse like it’s a formula. But Proverbs are not formulas—they’re invitations to wisdom.Today’s 10 minute Bible Dig explores what this ancient line really meant in its original Hebrew context—and how formation happens far more through rhythm, tone, and example than through lecture.It’s a short reflection you can take with you into your day—especially if you’re a parent, grandparent, mentor, or soul-guide of any kind.🎧 Listen now to today’s reflection: Train Up a Child…💬 If this speaks to you...Would you consider subscribing to The Compass?Every week, I share thoughtful reflections, spiritual formation tools, and now short audio Digs to help you raise simpler souls in a world that pushes us toward speed, performance, and noise.👉 Subscribe here📣 Share this DigKnow a parent or teacher who’s walking this road? Send them this short episode. It may be the encouragement they didn’t know they needed today.Let’s raise simpler souls—together.—Gene This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

🟢 About This Bible DigIn today’s reflection, we step into the home of Martha and Mary in Luke 10—and into the tension between distraction and presence. Jesus' gentle words to Martha still speak to our overextended lives: “You are worried about many things… but only one thing is needed.”This short episode invites you to consider how your family rhythm—or your personal rhythm—might become more centered in what truly matters.If this reflection grounds or encourages you, would you consider subscribing to The Compass?📬 Subscribe for free—or go deeper as a paid supporterEvery Wednesday, paid subscribers receive a beautifully designed formation tool. This week’s resource helps you begin crafting a family rule of life—an easy and ready-made way to shape a quieter, more intentional home.👉 Subscribe here📣 Share this episodeKnow someone who’s feeling overwhelmed by life’s many demands? Send this episode their way.Thanks for listening—and for being part of a growing community that’s learning to walk more slowly, simply, and deeply with God. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

In this Formation Dig, we reflect on Deuteronomy 6 and what it means to cultivate a quiet, intentional family rhythm of faith. Every household already has a rule of life—even if it’s unspoken. This short episode invites you to notice the habits, phrases, and patterns shaping your home—and consider one small shift that might re-center your life around what matters most.💡 Subscribe & Go DeeperEach week, I release audio reflections and written posts to help you live more slowly, intentionally, and deeply with God.* Free subscribers receive weekly reflections and spiritual encouragement* Paid subscribers receive exclusive formation tools and bonus content each week👉 Click here to subscribe and choose the option that fits your rhythm.📬 Share with Someone Who’d Be NourishedIf this episode speaks to your soul, consider forwarding it to a friend or sharing the public link. These reflections grow best through quiet circles of trust. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

"Unless you change and become like little children…"There’s something Jesus wants us to unlearn—some posture of self-sufficiency or performance that stands in the way of deeper life with God.In this brief centering Bible Dig, we reflect on Matthew 18:3 and the surprising strength of childlike faith. It’s not about immaturity or naïveté. It’s about openness, trust, and the humility to receive rather than achieve.👉 If this short Scripture-centered podcast helps you slow down and re-center, would you consider subscribing to The Compass and sharing this post with a friend? Every share helps thoughtful, spiritually hungry people discover this growing community.Let’s keep learning to live more simply, more deeply—with Jesus at the center. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

📩 Subscribe & Share: The Gift of SabbathIf this reflection helped you reimagine Sabbath as more than rest—as resistance, as renewal—would you share it?🕯️ Subscribe to receive two short formation Digs each week—gentle invitations to live more rooted, more awake.🌿 Share this with someone who longs for margin but doesn’t know where to begin.Your simple act of sharing might be the invitation someone else needs to finally exhale.🕊️ A Sabbath BlessingMay you lay down what cannot be finished.May you trust that the world will keep turning without your striving.And may you taste the joy of Sabbath—not as a duty, but as a doorway back to delight. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

🛑 Why Does Slowing Down Feel So Strange?If today’s Bible Dig helped you name the awkwardness—and still take a breath—would you help spread that grace?📩 Subscribe to receive three Bible Digs each week—short, Scripture-centered reflections to re-center your soul.🔗 Share this episode with someone who’s trying to resist the rush but feels a little lost in the quiet.🕊️ A Blessing for the One Who’s Slowing DownMay you have the courage to linger where others rush.May the awkward silence become holy ground.And may you discover that in the stillness—God has been waiting for you all along. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

💬 Want more like this?Every Tuesday and Thursday, The Trailhead offers short, reflective practices to help you slow down, listen well, and live deeply. If today’s Dig helped you recalibrate, consider becoming a paid subscriber to support this work—and receive weekly tools for your own spiritual formation.👉 Click here to subscribe and grow with us.📤 Share This DigIf today’s reflection helped you breathe a little deeper or walk a little slower, would you consider sharing it with someone else? A quiet life is contagious—and someone you know may need the invitation to relearn silence, too.🕊️ A Blessing for the QuietMay you hear the hush beneath the noise.May silence become your teacher, not your enemy.And may you come to know God again—not in the whirlwind,but in the still, small voice that’s been waiting all along.— Gene This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

🙏 Enjoying Bible Digs?If this short reflection helped re-center your day, would you consider two simple ways to support it?1️⃣ Subscribe to get each Dig delivered to your inbox—three times a week, always free. 2️⃣ Share it with a friend who might need a quiet, grounding word today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

💬 If this reflection steadied your soul…Consider subscribing for more. Every week, I share short, Scripture-centered audio reflections to help anchor your life with God in the middle of real-world pressure. If you want usable, downloadable tools to help you put into practice what we’re discussing, you can get those ever Wednesday with a paid subscription.📬 Click here to subscribe for a free or paid subscription.📤 And if someone you love is walking through stress or uncertainty, send this their way. Quiet encouragement matters.🙏 A Blessing for the Day Ahead:May peace guard your heart like armor.May gratitude rise like breath.And may you remember—you are not alone in the pressure.—Gene This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

🙏 Let this be your posture today:Take a breath, lift your eyes, and join the ancient voice of the Psalms:“Bless the Lord, O my soul.”If this reflection helped center your heart, share it with someone who could use a moment of quiet joy.➡️ New Bible Digs drop every week—short, 7–8 minute audio reflections designed to anchor your day in the Word.📬 Subscribe for free or become a paid supporter at:genemaynard.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe

🙏 Was this Bible Dig meaningful to you?Subscribe to The Compass for weekly reflections rooted in Scripture, plus spiritual formation tools to help you live more simply and walk more closely with God.🧭 New posts every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.🛠️ Paid subscribers receive a new spiritual formation practice or tool every Wednesday.💌 Share this Dig with a friend who might need help turning back to gratitude today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit genemaynard.substack.com/subscribe