Well Dwellers Podcast

There’s something about stories—especially the ones that stay with us long after the credits roll.In this episode of the Well Dwellers Podcast, Erik Freiburger sits down once again with Dr. Ty Ragan for a conversation that moves through galaxies far, far away… and lands squarely in the heart of our own spiritual lives.Together, they explore Star Wars not just as entertainment, but as theology in motion—a living parable of good and evil, fear and love, belonging and redemption. As Erik reflects early in the conversation, “stories shape us long before doctrines do.” And perhaps that’s exactly why stories like these matter so much.What unfolds is a deeply imaginative and provocative dialogue around APEST—the apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, shepherding, and teaching gifts of the church—and how these missional expressions might already be hiding in the characters and narratives we know so well.At The Bottom Of The Well is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.“What if the characters and worlds of Star Wars help us imagine what APEST looks like in real life?”From Luke Skywalker’s journey through the gray spaces of identity, to Leia’s apostolic leadership, to the shepherding presence of unlikely characters like Chewbacca and the Mandalorian, this episode invites listeners to see the gospel not as static doctrine—but as a dynamic, unfolding story.Ty brings psychological depth to the conversation, drawing on thinkers like Jung and Campbell, reminding us that:“You are the main character of your own story, while at the same time you’re playing a supporting cast member to other stories.”And perhaps that’s where this episode really begins to press in—on the tension between empire and rebellion, between control and community, between rigid religious systems and the wild, relational movement of the Spirit.There are moments here that challenge the church directly:“Are we here to serve the empire of the church… or is there something dynamically different?”And others that reimagine what spiritual formation could look like if we dared to take story seriously:“What if you treated a film like you would a piece of scripture… and let it speak to the community as they are gathered?”This is a conversation about imagination—about reclaiming it, trusting it, and allowing it to reawaken something within us that doctrine alone sometimes cannot reach.It’s about disability, belonging, and the prophetic call to reshape our communities.It’s about the dark side within us—and the hope that redemption is never entirely out of reach.And maybe most of all, it’s about learning to see again.So whether you’re a lifelong Star Wars fan, a theologian, a skeptic, or someone simply searching for meaning in the middle of your own story—this episode invites you to step into the myth… and discover what it might be saying about your life, your faith, and the world we’re all trying to build together.Thanks for listening to the Well Dwellers Podcast! This post is public so feel free to share it.Chapters:00:32 Opening Scenes04:20 The Truth In Sci Fi12:41 Roles Star Wars Plays In Shaping Good & Evil19:25 The Story Of A Rebellious Movement25:37 The Force & The Gifts Of APEST34:08 Apostolic46:29 Prophetic54:03 Evangelism1:05:04 Shepherding1:11:27 Teaching1:14:00 Psychology Of The Dark Side1:20:10 Closing ScenesResources: Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

There are conversations that feel like moving onto steady ground—comforting, relaxed, and affirming. Then there are conversations that feel more like moving onto sacred ground—holy, creative, and life altering.This is one of those.In this episode of the Well Dwellers Podcast, I sit down with Keith Dow for a dialogue that moves us beyond tidy theology and into the messy, beautiful, and often disruptive realities of being human together. This is not a conversation about disability from a distance. It is a conversation shaped by proximity—by shared life, mutual care, and what Keith calls the undeniable truth that “we were shaped and changed by each other… they represented God to me… and I represented God to them.”Together, we wrestle with what it means to be made in the image of God—not as an abstract doctrine, but as something encountered in hospital rooms, in moments of fear and vulnerability, and in relationships that refuse to fit our categories. Keith names this tension honestly: “We often don’t understand ourselves… let alone those around us… so what is the ethical disposition?”And maybe that’s where this conversation begins—not with certainty, but with posture.A posture of curiosity.A posture of mutuality.A posture that dares to believe, as we explore together, that “true care is mutual care.”Throughout this episode, we explore:* How disability disrupts the “norms that govern recognition” and reveals deeper truths about humanity* Why the church’s obsession with efficiency, productivity, and cognitive ability may be silencing the very voices we need most* How art, culture, and embodied experience open new ways of encountering God beyond words* And what it might look like to become communities where, in my own words, “dignity is not conditional… and interdependence is holy.”There are moments in this conversation that feel like wrestling—like Jacob in the night—where theology is no longer clean or controlled, but lived, felt, and risked. Keith describes one such moment as “this picture of wrestling… trying to protect… and trying to understand… a desire to connect… to make sense of the world together.”And maybe that’s the invitation for all of us.To move beyond theology as information…Into theology as encounter.Into lives where vulnerability is not weakness—but wisdom.So wherever you find yourself today—whether in certainty or in questions, in strength or in limitation—I invite you to lean in.Because this conversation might just change how you see others……and how you see God.Welcome to the bottom of the well.Thanks for listening & watching the Well Dwellers Podcast! This post is public so feel free to share it.Chapters:00:31 An Invitation Into Sacred Ground10:12 Discovering A Heart Of Mutual Care21:17 Disrupting Postures Of Holiness27:17 Disrupting The Norms Of Discipleship33:56 Disrupting The Norms Of Culture40:40 Banquet Of Belonging44:25 ClosingResources:Keith Dow’s Website: https://keithdow.com/Images of God: https://imagesofgod.ca/Disability and Faith: https://disabilityandfaith.org/author/kdow/Cross Training Theology & Psychology: https://crosstrainingpsychologyandtheology.com/researcher/keith-dow/Formed Together: Mystery, Narrative, and Virtue in Christian Caregiving By Keith Dow: Available HEREDeeper Communion Seeing The Kingdom Together: https://adeepercommunion.org/At The Bottom Of The Well is a reader & listener-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Upcoming Events: Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

At The Bottom Of The Well is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Chapters:00:47 Opening03:30 A Fun Start08:10 Worship Formation15:39 An Ever Evolving Embodiment of Worship20:29 Looking For Justice28:21 When Breakthrough Doesn’t Happen38:25 Restorative Justice At Work48:01 Put Your Hands In My Scars53:03 Banquet Of Belonging57:46 ClosingWhat if worship isn’t primarily about what we offer to God—but about what God is already doing within us?In this deeply thoughtful and honest conversation, Erik Freiburger sits down with Kirsten Schmaus to explore how worship is shaped, disrupted, and reimagined through the lens of disability, embodiment, and community. Together, they invite us to move beyond performance-driven expressions and into something far more vulnerable, relational, and real.As Erik frames early on, “it is not primarily about fixing worship, but about listening to what worship is already revealing—about God, about bodies, and about who belongs at the center of our shared life together.”Kirsten brings years of experience in worship leadership and theological reflection, naming a critical shift many churches must wrestle with: “We run the risk of becoming the primary actor… and we forget that all worship is initiated by God, and that we respond.” This reframing moves worship from performance to participation—from control to submission.Together, Erik and Kirsten name how contemporary worship spaces can unintentionally mirror ableist assumptions—prioritizing polish, perfection, and predictability over presence, participation, and belonging. As Kirsten insightfully notes, practices like pre-recorded tracks can subtly communicate that “everything needs to move forward perfectly… and that is not welcoming, really.”But this conversation is not merely critique—it is invitation.An invitation to imagine worship spaces where bodies are not managed but received…Where scars are not hidden but honored…Where lament is not avoided but embraced as faithful worship.In one of the most powerful moments of the episode, Kirsten reflects on leading worship the day after the tragic loss of her brother: “I don’t even know how to be in the world right now… but I do know how to worship.” Here, worship becomes not triumph, but trust. Not escape, but presence.This episode also explores:* The tension between expressive vs. formational worship* How ableism can shape liturgy, music, and leadership structures* The possibility of worship as justice enacted in real time* The beauty of communal, embodied practices like shared tables and Eucharist* And what it means to create “submissive spaces”—where we yield not to performance, but to the Spirit’s movement among usAt its heart, this conversation asks a provocative and necessary question:What happens when disabled wisdom is not simply accommodated—but received as a gift?Come listen in as we explore “the first move” of worship—not ours, but God’s—and what it might mean to follow that movement into deeper belonging, deeper honesty, and a more authentic life together.Thanks for spending some time with us At The Bottom Of The Well & The Well Dwellers Podcast! This post is public so feel free to share it, leave a comment, and rate it.Resources:James k.A. Smith Books:* ‘Desiring The Kingdom’ — Here* ‘You Are What You Love’ — HereRosemarie Garland-Thomson* ‘Extrodinary Bodies’ — HereAmos Young* ‘The Bible, Disability, and the Church: A New Vision of the People of God’ — HereJudith Butler* ‘Bodies That Matter: On the Discursive Limits of Sex’ — HereNancy Eiesland* ‘The Disabled God: Toward a Liberatory Theology of Disability’ — Here Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

Every now and then a conversation reminds you that theology is not merely something we study—it is something we live. It unfolds in hospital rooms and friendships, around dinner tables and church communities, in the places where our vulnerabilities meet the grace of God.In this episode of the Well Dwellers Podcast, Erik Freiburger welcomes back his friend, theologian, and fellow traveler Dr. Michael Morelli. Michael teaches theological ethics, helps lead the Lazarus Center in Langley, British Columbia, and writes the thoughtful Substack Personalist Manifesto(s). But perhaps more importantly, he speaks as someone whose life has been shaped by community, chronic illness, and a deep reflection on what it means to be human before God.The conversation begins simply—with stories of Italian food, family, and a shared love for music—but it soon moves into deeper waters: disability identity, the language we use to describe one another, the nature of belonging in the church, and the role emerging technologies like AI may play in shaping our future.Along the way, Michael reminds us that our understanding of disability cannot be separated from our understanding of what it means to be human:“If we are created by a God, then that means we’re creatures… we have potential, but we also have limits. And to be a creature is to experience those limits.”Together, Erik and Michael explore how Christian theology might help us move beyond narrow labels and toward a deeper sense of shared creatureliness—one that sees our limitations not as defects, but as part of the beautiful complexity of being human.This conversation also touches on loneliness, friendship, the failures and possibilities of technology, and the calling of the church to become a community where people are not simply accommodated—but truly belong.In another word from Michael, he reflects:“The older I get, the more I appreciate the power of friendship and community… sometimes we understand ourselves best through the people who truly see us.”So settle in for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation—one that invites us all to wake up a little more fully to the gift of being human together.Chapters00:30 Intro & The Desires Of A Foodie08:22 Personal Connections With A Disabled Life15:40 Models Of Disability28:24 Finding Meaning Through Community36:53 Is Having A Disability Ministry Important?42:02 AI And Where Are We Between Immortality And The Apocalypse?1:03:59 Acknowledging The Tensions Between Silos & Intersectionality1:11:26 Deeper Communion’s ‘Banquet Of Belonging’1:21:19 ClosingAt The Bottom Of The Well is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Resources & Links:Personalist Manifesto(s) — The Lazarus Center (Langley, BC):https://www.thelazaruscentre.org/Canadian Journal Of Theology, Mental Health, & Disability Article: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cjtmhd/article/view/46679 Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

The Banquet of Belonging isn’t just a fabled dream — it is something that happens when people gather around a table of hospitality, share stories, and discover they are not alone.Join us Wednesday evening for a relaxed dessert night as Ron & Teresa Buschman share conversation with Erik & Bonnie Freiburger about marriage, relationships, and building a life together while navigating spinal cord injuries and disability for most of their lives. Centred around dessert and conversation, they’ll share honest stories of love, challenge, humour, faith, and the unexpected ways disability can shape partnership and deepen connection with one another and the communities we are a part of.Like any good banquet, this evening isn’t about having all the right answers — it’s about gathering together, listening well, and discovering how belonging grows when we learn to support one another with vulnerability, grace, and mutual care.Come enjoy dessert, settle in, and be part of a conversation that reminds us God’s table is wide, welcoming, and always being expanded.Conversational PresentersRon and Teresa Buschman BioRon and Teresa Buschman have been married for over four decades and are passionate about helping couples build strong, healthy, and life-giving marriages.They have been part of First Alliance Church in Calgary for many years, where they have served in a variety of leadership and volunteer roles. Their heart has been investing in marriages — walking alongside couples, facilitating marriage courses, mentoring, and creating spaces where relationships can grow and thrive. They previously served as Couples’ Ministry Coordinators and continue to be actively involved in supporting and encouraging couples in every season of marriage.Ron and Teresa are trained facilitators for a number of marriage and relationship tools and have led workshops, small groups, and mentoring experiences both within the church and in partnership with organizations like Focus on the Family. Their approach is practical, honest, and grounded in real life — not theory.They believe great marriages aren’t built by accident. They grow through intentional connection, healthy communication, shared purpose, and a willingness to keep learning and growing together.When they’re not investing in couples, Ron and Teresa enjoy staying active, travelling, camping in their trailer, spending time with their grandkids in Chilliwack, and making the most of life together.More than anything, their story isn’t about having a perfect marriage — it’s about a long journey of learning, growing, and choosing each other again and again.Erik & Bonnie Freiburger’s BioHaving been both in wheelchairs due to a spinal cord injury caused by separate motor vehicle accidents in the early 90’s, Erik and Bonnie Freiburger have learned a great deal as to what it means to be disabled. Meeting in a group home that served as a place for transition from the hospital to community life, they developed a great friendship that would eventually turn into a deep love for one another. Getting married in 1999, they built a home in SE Calgary and spent the last 27 years learning, growing, and sometimes juggling the chaos that comes in marriage and a life of disability.Bonnie loves baking at home in the kitchen and hosting movie nights with their friends. Erik loves eating Bonnie’s baked goods while writing and hosting a Substack and podcast advocating for disability and faith called ‘At The Bottom Of The Well’ and ‘The Well Dwellers Podcast’.At The Bottom Of The Well is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

A conference exploring discipleship, disability, and belonging. Learning together across difference at one shared table.Find out more here: https://www.atthebottomofthewell.com/p/banquet-of-belongingDeeper Communion National Site: https://adeepercommunion.org/banquet-of-belonging/I hope to see you at the Banquet of Belonging in May! Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

What if the future of the church isn’t stronger, faster, or more efficient—but more fragile, more attentive, and more deeply human?Find Resources & More On Substack: atthebottomofthewell.comChapters:00:00 Opening05:02 On The Precipice Of Fragility & Hope16:46 Blind Spots To Inclusion In The Church25:12 Who Is Invited To The Banquet?40:41 AI & The Pursuit Of The Perfect55:00 Social Justice & The Ground Work Of Church1:17:37 Anti-Heros & The “Sully’s” In The World1:22:50 Closing Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

“To be truly visionary we have to root our embodied actions into our concrete reality while simultaneously imagining possibilities beyond that reality.”One of my favorite moments in the holidays is being able to cozy up with my wife Bonnie in our home theatre and watch a fantastic movie. Just a few nights ago, we dimmed the lights and together watched Brad Pitt’s newest film ‘F1’ — an incredible thrill ride of adrenaline and dramatic dialogue! While watching, a particular scene grabbed my imagination as the APXGP team members sat around the conference table and spoke ardently about holding onto their best hopes for the coming day’s race. Their driver Sonny Hayes however, cynically interrupted them saying, “Hope is not a strategy.”What was it that seemed to grab my imagination’s attention in this moment?“Hope Is Not a Strategy” — Naming the Limit Without Abandoning HopeOver the past year, I have spent a lot of my energy and focus wondering where the disabled community and myself might find hope and experience it in deeper more profound ways. It has provided many moments of community development and activity, encounters with others in the search, conversations and presentations that led to personal and social growth, and time spent reading, listening, and learning from incredibly articulate and smarter people then I!I owe a great debt to authors like Fern E.M. Buszowski 🇨🇦 , Sara Hagerty, Kurt Willems, Amy Lively, Kate Bowler, Richard Rohr, Christine Caine, and countless bloggers and social personality’s. There is profound gratitude to my friends Ty Ragan, Psy.D., Alan Hirsch, Rob Buschman, my community in the New Leaf Network, and my home church The First Alliance here in Calgary. They have all greatly inspired my journey of hope this past year and what it might look like in disability.But, Sonny Hayes is right. And in the paraphrased words of Jürgen Moltmann:“Hope alone is not enough. It does not change the present. But without hope, the present cannot be endured.”In a life of disability, Hope is not a strategy—it is a revealing vision of divine light that is shaping our imaginations, a refusal to accept social injustice as inevitable, and the courage to act toward a future not yet visible. Somewhere in a deeper story written in our life’s journey we must come to the transcending belief that Hope imagines the road ahead; while joy is the strategy that keeps us driving.When Hope Seems Blurry: Joy as an Enduring PracticeRecently, I have started reading ‘The Book of Joy’ by His Holiness the Dalai Lama & the Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Hoping it might begin to steer me in a direction of what a strategy and practice of disabled spirituality might look like, it quickly revealed a foundation to how that conversation might be grounded in reality. Speaking plainly, the Dalai Lama & Tutu framed their approach:“Suffering is inevitable. But how we respond to that suffering is our choice. Not even oppression or occupation can take away this freedom to choose our response.”— Lama, Dalai; Tutu, Desmond; Abrams, Douglas Carlton. The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World (p. 7). (Function). Kindle Edition.I have never professed that the disabled life is easy. Everyday comes with its ups & downs and many times it is not an easy or fair split between the two. But I don’t think in the 30 years I’ve been in a wheelchair that I have ever seen myself as suffering. Certainly there have been more then my fair share of experiences and times of pain. But I guess I simply framed it as the constant fight for life we all face in some form or way. Like the Furyan striving forward defiantly into the face of death itself, pain is a right of passage and not a state of suffering. But, with maybe a little more joy?I think Jesus’s brother, the apostle James, also had a streak of Furyan character. “My brothers and sisters,” He began his letter to the early Christians who were facing great oppression and socially imposed exclusions to the point of death:“… whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)James has a great point. Joy can hardly cover the full strategy and practice of a enduring & maturing disabled spirituality. But it is a conceiving start to a foundation that can build upon such a deep and meaningful endeavour. That foundation of joy is the task I am pulled towards as this New Year dawns.“Drive Fast” — Joy as Strategy, Motion, and Refusal to StagnateThere was an awkward pause following Sonny’s interruption in the APXGP pre-race meeting before the question was then asked, “So what is your strategy?” Sonny’s answer was simple, “Drive fast.”Simple. Plain. And Direct. I don’t think Sonny thought driving a Formula 1 race car was easy and without the complexities of planning, conditioning, deconstructing & rebuilding. And of course practicing to win a race. The same truth can be said in building a strategy for practicing an enduring, maturing, and joyful disabled spirituality.Hope casts an awe infused vision for us in an ever drawing near eternal reality. But, hope is not a strategy for driving the disabled life we live for and desire today. It cannot, by itself, carry us through exhaustion, repetition, or grief. Hope imagines what might yet be possible, but imagination alone does not move the body, mind, or spirit alone. And so Paul does not say, “Hope always.” He says, “Rejoice always. Again, I say rejoice!”Joy becomes the practice that keeps us moving when hope feels thin. Joy does not deny struggle; it refuses to let struggle have the final word. “Drive fast,” not as escape or recklessness, but as commitment—to stay in motion, to remain alive to wonder, to move through the world with a defiant gladness rooted deeper than outcomes or ends.So let the journey and race towards discovering a practical disabled spirituality built upon a foundation of joy begin!“Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified— The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (1 Co 9:24–27). (1989). Thomas Nelson Publishers. Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

“We can’t receive the story God has for us—the story He has written, a love letter chicken-scratched on the fence, meeting us where we are—if we don’t first notice how we relate to that fence.”— Hagerty, Sara. The Gift of Limitations: Finding Beauty in Your Boundaries (p. 122). (Function). Kindle Edition.Growing up I would see my mom daily facing the ups & downs of her disability. Some days were filled with physical pain brought on by debilitating fibromyalgia and she would lean heavily on her cane while walking. While other days she would be upright and steady. The cost of chronic pain would be taxing with depression, frustration, and mental fatigue.Despite these constant pressures, she loved music and would often take out her guitar and play worship music on the living room floor. She would lead our small Anglican church in worship nearly every Sunday and would never miss a practice with the church band. Nor would she ever leave a campfire while in the hills of Kananaskis Country without leading us all in joyful songs while watching the embers rise in the starry night sky. Pain and all, my mother never left an opportunity unanswered to give paise to God.Christmas was perhaps her favorite time of year. Every year, she would put her favorite Christmas record of Amy Grant on the turn table and sing to it as though she was the lead vocal for a Christmas concert of one — Emmanuel, God with us!Today, I journey a different path of disability, reminded of the spirit of joy and hope that she always carried during this time of year. Truthfully, it’s not always easy for those with disabilities to hold onto this vision that Christmas and Advent is a season of remembering that God is with us.It is true that like many others, we experience the great joys of crowding a local Access bus and driving around the city with others while being filled with the wonder & beauty of homes being decorated in Christmas lights with inflatable Santa’s in their snowy front yards. If we’re lucky, someone brought a thermos of hot chocolate with styrofoam cups, so everyone could share. We brave the crowded inaccessible malls to maybe buy a few gifts for our loved ones, while navigating the tricky balance of strained budgets and stressful spending. And, at home we play Christmas music while having a few family and friends over to celebrate the love and care of a supporting community.But Christmas and Advent can also be a time of struggle. Cold snowy weather can make it difficult to get around as wheelchairs get stuck in unshovelled paths and slushy parking lots. Pain can increase with fluctuating weather storms and temperatures that can drop over night — not to mention the salt and ice that stick to your wheels and cut your hands to shreds. Doctor’s offices close down and appointments are cancelled which can for some lead to greater isolation at home and the loneliness of small subsidized apartments. Caregivers in mass take holidays leaving care for individuals in the community strained at best, if not neglected or unfulfilled with the expectations of care being left to clients family and friends. And, the reminder of living in poverty is at a heightened level while you try to not become depressed from the changing provincial policies that are already affecting whether you can afford rent, food, healthcare supplies, or the overwhelming guilt that you can’t provide a gift at family and community gatherings.For many, we wish only to quickly get through the season to find more normalized anxieties and stress in the new year. Where can Christmas hope come from? How can we hold to that first Christmas promise that Emmanuel, God is with us?Recently, I came across something Sara Hagerty wrote in her book ‘The Gift of Limitations’:“Slower still comes to you and me in the form of things we might otherwise see as fences. Slower still, as we embrace the “come, die, grieve, live” cycle that God gives us, can become the words we use to lead us before our bodies do. Come (choose to step forward and not stay stuck), die (let Him have His way with us), grieve (collapse into God and remember, in our collapsing, that our longings matter), and live (truly live)—and slower still as we go.”Slow is not the natural path of the world today. Perhaps even more unnatural during the Christmas season. And yet the promise of experiencing hope at Christmas is found even more in the story of Emmanuel — God stripping everything of himself away to take the form of a completely dependant infant. Humanly speaking, exposing himself to the risk of disabled divinity in utter dependance on the care of his mother, father, shepherds, wisemen, and the community who came to a small stable that first Christmas and brought the only gift that truly mattered — Hope & Joy.Revealing the presence of God with us at Christmas is not a matter of bringing the most glittery gifts to toy drives and flooding tables with donated food packages; although those can accompany a spirit of hope and well being. Like the rhythmic talents of the traditional drummers boy in many Nativity Scenes, its the small acts we take in relationally connecting with one another that builds a world of hope around us.Angela Reitsma Bick in a short Advent devotional called ‘Hope Is Not Neutral’ shares the encouraging words of Nick Cave to a family in a moving letter:“Unlike cynicism,” Nick Cave concluded, “hope is hard-earned and can feel like the loneliest place on earth. Hopefulness is not a neutral position. It is adversarial and it can lay waste to cynicism. Every redemptive act, as small as you like, such as reading to your little boy or showing him a thing you love or putting on his shoes, keeps the devil down in his hole. It shows the world and its inhabitants [that they] have value and are worth defending. It shows the world is worth believing in. [And] in time, you will find that it becomes so.”Perhaps this Christmas, hope won’t arrive as a bright burst of cheer but as something quieter—an ember we choose to guard in the winds of our limitations and disabilities. Advent has always been a season that honours the slow, the small, and the vulnerable. It begins not with power and strength, but with a newborn cradled in a manger, dependent on the care and compassion of an unlikely expecting community. And it continues today wherever we dare to believe that our own limits, frustrations, and aches might still be places where God draws near and makes room for disabled joy, disabled grief, and disabled presence.So as we move through this season—with its joy and pain, its crowded buses and unshovelled paths, its laughter, its loneliness, and its longing—may we remember that Emmanuel comes to disabled bodies, tired spirits, and tender hearts. Hope is not neutral. It is the stubborn decision to keep showing up for one another in small, redemptive ways: a song offered through pain, a shared cup of hot chocolate, a simple act of presence that tells someone they are worth defending.And in choosing these small acts, we join that first circle of shepherds, parents, wanderers, and unexpected guests who gathered around the manger. Together, we become a community that makes room for real hope—hope that grows slowly, quietly, and faithfully. Hope that reminds us, again and again, that God is with us.“Lasting happiness cannot be found in pursuit of any goal or achievement. It does not reside in fortune or fame. It resides only in the human mind and heart, and it is here that we hope you will find it.”— Lama, Dalai; Tutu, Desmond; Abrams, Douglas Carlton. The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World (p. ix). (Function). Kindle Edition. Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Well Dwellers Podcast, Erik Freiburger sits down with Bruce Callow for a rich and wide-ranging conversation at the intersection of music, memory, disability, and emerging technology. Recorded in the wake of a small but powerful gathering called ‘Remixing Reality’ at the Calgary Central Library, this dialogue explores how AI-assisted music creation can open new pathways of expression for those who struggle to find words—whether because of disability, aging, trauma, or simply the limits of language itself.Bruce brings stories from decades of work in education, global justice, and community building, alongside his own musical journey—from punk and post-punk stages to facilitating songwriting workshops in seniors’ homes, immigrant communities, and across cultures and continents. Together, Erik and Bruce reflect on moments when music became a bridge: calming anxious bodies, unlocking memories, giving voice to prayers, and revealing identity in ways that surprised everyone in the room.This episode doesn’t shy away from the ethical tensions surrounding AI and creativity. Instead, it asks deeper questions about dignity, embodiment, accessibility, and how technology—when held with care—might serve as a tool for connection rather than replacement. Along the way, you’ll hear snippets of songs born from these workshops and stories that linger long after the final note fades.Pull up a chair at the well. This is a conversation about listening—deeply—to one another, and to the songs waiting to be sung within us all.Chapters00:00 Beginning Notes02:32 About Bruce Callow09:03 Discovering AI Music12:09 Stories, Experiences, & Community Encounters21:21 Concerns & Dangers28:32 The Hope for and in AI creativity37:44 Room for Improvement39:09 Wrapping Up & Looking for More41:58 Final WordsThanks for listening to The Well Dwellers Podcast. This post is public so feel free to share it with others who you know will like it.Resources:Remixing Reality’s Event Entire Playlist: https://suno.com/playlist/3905363d-ec48-4322-9e37-257933d313deBooks By Bruce Callow:Online Courses With Bruce Callow: https://www.create-learn.us/partners/bruce-callow-296Thanks for listening to The Well Dwellers Podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

In today’s episode, we journey “The Road Less Traveled”—the winding, complicated, grace-filled journey of disability, belonging, and the church. Drawing from my recent Learning Lunch presentation at First Alliance Church, we explore what it means to seek belonging in a world that often wasn’t built with disabled bodies and souls in mind. Through story, theology, models of disability, and the haunting beauty of a song called The Road Less Traveled, we’ll reflect on the questions that have shaped so many of us: Who am I? Where do I fit? And where do we find dignity, hope, and God’s presence along the way?Together, we’ll look at the invisible worlds beneath the surface of our communities, the statistics that challenge us, and the spaces of belonging we all move through—intimate, personal, social, and public. We’ll consider how learning zones, discipleship, and communal responsibility reshape the ways churches welcome, empower, and stand with disabled people. And through the stories of Scripture—from the man born blind to the feeding of the 5,000—we’ll see how Jesus leads us toward a more relational, imaginative, and inclusive way forward.This is an invitation to slow down, to listen deeply, and to imagine the church not as a place that merely accommodates disability, but as a community transformed by the perspectives, gifts, and wisdom of disabled people. Let’s begin.Chapters00:00 Beginning01:03 Framing Our Conversation06:53 Where Do I Fit In13:30 Questions That Shape the Disabled Life27:15 The Unseen World of Disability33:30 Circles of Belonging47:10 Where To From Here54:39 Deeper Communion National Conference57:40 ClosingResources:First Alliance Church — https://www.faccalgary.com/The Edge House Church Network — https://theedgehc.com/Models of Disability — https://www.disabled-world.com/definitions/disability-models.php#:~:text=The%20Models%20of%20Disability,Sick%20RoleCalgary Quality of Life Report — https://publications.calgaryfoundation.org/quality-of-life-report-2025/18/New Leaf Network’s Neighbour Up Series — https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/events/neighbourup‘The Healing Homiletic’ By Kathy Black — https://www.amazon.ca/Healing-Homiletic-Kathy-Black/dp/0687002915‘God Loves the Autistic Mind’ By Father Matthew Schneider — https://www.amazon.ca/God-Loves-Autistic-Mind-Spectrum/dp/081983162X‘The Search To Belonging’ By Joseph Myers — https://josephrmyers.com/the-search-to-belongDeeper Communion — https://adeepercommunion.org/Paul’s Letter to the Disabled of Today — At The Bottom Of The Well is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

Since the dawn of creation music has reached from the core of the human experience. We are melodic story tellers from birth! Whether it is a message of hope, love, character statements, social and/or political commentary, life changes, or even the expressing of emphatic grief and protest; music is the transcendent language of the human soul.So what about the music of dis/ability?! For many disabled individuals, finding one’s voice or ability to express what is truly happening below the surfaces of personal challenges & socially oppressive ableism is not always easy. A loving, caring, accepting, patient, and listening community is definitely a key ingredient in hearing the intrinsic musical notes of the disabled soul.But throughout history, technology has been a life altering experience for both disabled people and the world around them. Stephen Hawking radically evolved our understanding of intelligence and the universe around us with his use of his ACAT (Assistive Context-Aware Toolkit) to communicate his rapidly expanding imagination around blackholes and his Theory of Everything. And who can forget the hundreds of viral videos that reveal the surprise and joy of baby’s and their family’s after hearing the world around them for the first time, thanks to the development of the cochlear implant. And of course, the unforgettable, Cody Lee.So what will happen now in the disabled world as AI has arrived on the stage?Journeying across the countryside and to close-knit communities, Bruce Callow has been guiding elders and others on the margins in turning their life stories into music with the help of an AI program called Suno. Participants learn to set up a free account and begin a new creative practice—remixing the sound bites of their realities into expressive songs that share their experiences with the world. And now it is Calgary’s turn with the focus on disability!I am excited to invite you to a live workshop hosted by the Well Dwellers community and Bruce Callow at the Calgary Central Public Library on November 18th, 2026 from 2 PM to 4 PM!There is only 6 spots available. So please sign up soon!!We are planning for an afternoon of fun, music, food, and drink as we create and find remixing disability realities is both rewarding and transforming.If participants can prepare in writing or can think of a short story from their life that they might like to share beforehand, it can be a great time to get to know others and discover a new tool in expressing our struggles, hopes, joys, and passions to the greater community around us.We ask for a donation of $5 or more to go towards Bruce Callow’s work and future Well Dweller community events.“Disabled voices are not a whisper from the margins; they are the chorus calling the world to justice.”— Nancy Eiesland, theologian, The Disabled God (1994) Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

In this rich and reflective episode of The Well Dwellers Podcast, Erik Freiburger sits down with his friend and fellow advocate, Ty Regan, to explore the deep intersections between disability, belonging, and the life of the church. Their conversation revisits a recent retreat at the FCJ Centre, where a small group of friends gathered to wrestle with grief, accessibility, and what it truly means to belong.Through exploring stories of land acknowledgements and the passion of creatively writing them, understanding trauma-informed theology, and dwelling in the image of the woman at the well, Erik and Ty uncover how the church can move from accessibility to inclusion, and ultimately to belonging. Together, they challenge cure theology, reimagine community as courageous space, and invite listeners to see the sacredness in every body—broken, messy, and whole.Chapters:00:00 Beginning01:40 Land Acknowledgement09:21 Woman at the Well21:35 Pyramid of Belonging32:55 Before the Pew51:24 Accessibility1:05:28 Inclusion1:15:49 Belonging1:22:33 ClosingThanks for reading At The Bottom Of The Well! This post is public so feel free to share it.Resources:Ty Ragan’s Substack: Star Trek & Disability Episode:The Canadian Jurnal of Theology, Mental Health, & Disability:At The Bottom Of The Well is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

In this deeply reflective episode of The Well Dwellers Podcast, Erik Freiburger revisits an early piece of writing from his undergraduate days—The Words of Paul—a meditation on how the Apostle Paul’s letters might speak to people living with disabilities in our time today. Through this re-reading, Erik explores how faith, perseverance, and communal belonging intersect with the lived realities of those navigating ableism, policy injustice, and a spiritual vacuum in many faith communities.Drawing from The Correspondence of Paul and the Physically Challenged of Today, listeners are invited to imagine Paul’s encouragement afresh—as words of solidarity and hope for the dis/abled body and spirit. From political exclusion and privatized healthcare to the longing for inclusion within the church, this episode asks: What might Paul’s letters say to us today?With reflections on joy as the hallmark of holy obedience, unity in diversity as strength, and the communal vocation of mutual care, this episode offers both comfort and challenge. It’s a call to listen again for the enduring words of faith that sustain us at the bottom of the well—and to find in them a renewed vision of dignity, empathy, and shared humanity. Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

Welcome back, to The Well Dwellers Podcast. I’m your host, Erik Freiburger, and I’m so glad you’ve returned to the well as we begin season 2.In season one, we opened the space to wonder about the disabled life – its meanings, identity, what good news looks like, faith, and community. This season, it is my hope we can lean closer into the voices of disabled people and everyday life—their stories, their wisdom, their struggles, and their hope. Because as theologian Nancy Eiesland once wrote, “Disability is not a punishment from God, but a vivid reminder of the fragility and beauty of human life.” That’s where we begin—by listening to life as it is, not as we imagine it should be.This season we’ll also ask questions that really matter; things that have really been percolating in my thoughts and personal life over the past few months. Questions like:What does it mean to be called God’s elect in 1 Peter 1 and be a displaced disabled people?How can creativity & the arts create divine encounters?What are the positive & negative impacts of AI in the disabled world?What is a disabled theology?How does intersectionality between marginalized groups matter in a social justice movement against ableism?And, others!We’ll hear from voices across the spectrum—missional thinkers, disability advocates, artists, theologians, and from some of my other friends. Alan Hirsch once reminded us that “the church is always at its most faithful when it exists at the margins.” As we, the disabled overlooked, journey through that existence in a multitude of ways, we are able to embody that faithfulness and carry a story of great endurance needing to be heard by all.We’ll listen to Keith Dow’s reflections on creativity and divine encounter, and Michael Morelli’s insights on the tricky polsrizing entanglement of AI and disability. I hope to spend some time with Zachary Weeks as he presses us toward a disability justice in society, and Fern Buszowski as she gently reminds us of hope’s endurance. And I hope we’ll get to engage with Richard Beck and his deep challenge that “the slavery of death is not simply about mortality—it’s about how fear dehumanizes us.” And his thoughts around how our joy has a geometry, a shape. We must learn to look outside ourselves to find it. It is also my hope to connect with my old prof and friend Dr. Mark Love to talk about pneumatology – the theology of the Holy Spirit, missional theology, and how they might meet with disability theology.In all of this, we’re reaching for what Angela Reitsma Bick calls the “undone”—the courage to embrace unraveling, to see that in our undoing there might also be the seeds of a new wholeness.And along the way, I’ll share short Well Dweller Moments—breaths of reflection, invitations to pause, and glimpses of how dignity and hope show up in unexpected places.My fellow Well Dwelllers, season two is about stories, but it’s also about us. It’s about being human together—fragile, resilient, undone, and remade. As Howard Thurman once said, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”So before I sign off on this season 2 opener, I want to ask you… what makes you, as people at the bottom of the well, come alive? I want to invite you to join me here in the Well Dwellers Podcast and be a guest on the show who shares their personal story and journey. No need for expertise, religious or spiritual affiliation, or feelings of exceptionalism. Just someone willing to share some of your journey and how you might answer these 3 simple questions:How do you find meaning in the language of disability?Where does dignity take root in your life?And what is it that brings you hope—not only for tomorrow, but for today?If you might be willing to join us here on the show, email me at [email protected]. I hope we are able to meet you and get to know you more in the near future. Simi Linton said it best that, “By telling our stories, we claim space in a world that would rather we stay silent. Each story is a thread, and together they weave a tapestry of resistance.” Together in a world that would rather keep us invisible, let’s stand out, been seen, and be heard. Nothing about us without us.So come with me. Draw deeply. Listen well. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll find life together at the bottom of the well.Until next we meet!At The Bottom Of The Well is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

Welcome to the Well Dwellers Podcast, where we journey deep beneath the surfaces of disability, dignity, and the hope in a shared community that explores the places where transformation begins and life endures.In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Michael Morelli—Assistant Professor of Theology, Culture & Ethics at Northwest Seminary & College in British Columbia, Canada. Michael brings a great depth of thought shaped by his work in theological ethics and cultural experience, particularly within the disabled community. But what makes this conversation so rich is how personal and reflective he becomes while sharing his own story and history with disability.At The Bottom Of The Well is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Together, we dive into the metaphors, influences, and lived experiences that have shaped our lives and communal initiatives. We talk candidly about the struggles of building inclusive communities in a world marked by trauma, diverse differences, ableism, and the isolating forces of idealized individualism. And we wrestle with the tensions of discomfort in discipleship, and what it means to be truly present—with our bodies, with each other, and with the language we use to connect and make sense of it all.It’s a conversation about faith, formation, and the messy, beautiful work of being human together.So settle in. Let’s dwell together and connect with the deeper meanings we find in Michael’s and my conversation.Resources:Personalist Manifesto: The Lazarus Project: https://www.thelazaruscentre.org/Northwest Seminary & College: https://nbseminary.ca/about/faculty-and-staff/michael-morelli/Michael’s Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mchlmorelli.bsky.social Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

Chapters:00:00 - Introduction07:18 - John & Eddie Van Sloten ‘A Fayher & Son’s Story’28:42 - Lisa Waites ‘Reimagining The Body Of Christ’1:07:44 - Panel Discussion ‘A Q&A With Our Presenters’1:27:06 - End Credits1:27:42 - Bloopers & StillsThe Good News Event was a small gathering on Saturday April 12th, 2025, at Ambrose University to talk about Reigniting A Prophetic Imagination In Being Good News For And As Disabled People.Walter Brueggemann writes that, “The prophetic imagination helps us connect the dots between the world as it is and the world as it might be. It also tends to emerge in moments of chaos and change.”Today, Statistics Canada reports that 1in 4 Canadians consider themselves disabled either in visible physical ways or invisible ways not so easily socially perceived. For many of us who are disabled, it is also an extremely chaotic and a concerning time politically and in personal advocacy. All too often the disabled community is left to be siloed in a cloak of false invisibility and their voices muffled by the obscurity of the Churches cultural norms.The Church at large deeply needs to be part of that social advocacy for the disabled community and oppressed today! Jesus himself said that it is in humanities weakness that God’s glory and strength would be revealed.Our hope – Being The Well Community and our partners in the Deeper Communion – host this yearly gathering in the desire to foster relationships between the disabled and the Church. Together we can spread this Word to become real practices of inclusion within local congregations, bringing freedom and justice to the disabled who live with us as our neighbours.By sharing these presentations and talks on the podcast, I hope it leads to a greater conversation in your community as to what it means to be Good News and advocates for the disabled. And I hope it helps us grow our yearly gathering next spring too, when we can all gather again to share about the amazing ways our churches and communities are changing.This year we first hear a presentation from my friends John and Eddie Van Sloten. John was a pastor for many years until he recently became a full-time writer. His previous books include ‘Every Job A Parable’, ‘The Day Metallica Came To Church’, and ‘God Speaks Science’. And currently he is working on a book about his relationship with his son Edward.I find myself greatly drawn to John and Eddie’s story. They both reveal incredible truths in stories of life’s simplicities. John also brilliantly shares about God’s love and the ways His love instills dignity, hope, and significance not just in his son Eddie, but in all of us.We then hear from my friend Lisa Waites who spent several years as a worship leader and musician receiving many awards for her song writing and recordings. She speaks often as a guest in several congregations and is inspiring with the presentations she shares, including in todays episode!In the Good News Event, I was inspired by Lisa’s articulation of wonder and how it touched every part of life and journeying with disability.Both Lisa and John have been previous guests on The Well Dwellers Podcast and I encourage you to go back and listen to those episodes, too. I will leave links in the show notes.Lastly in this episode there is a time where the three of us sit on a panel discussion while engaging questions from those at the event. And there might just be a secret blooper scene at the end with both of my Reverend friends. ;)I’ve learned some new tricks in editing and producing these episodes for you and you might notice that this episode has chapter markers which you can jump to while sharing particular scenes with others. Please share these talks with friends and family. Or with your congregations, classes, and groups. After all… this is meant to reignite a prophetic imagination for and as disabled people everywhere!And be sure to check out the resources in the show notes of this episode on my Substack: atthebottomofthewell.com. You can also subscribe to future publications and planned events along with commenting and rating the podcast.Thank you for listening. I’ll see you next time at the bottom of the well.Resources:The Deeper Communion: https://adeepercommunion.org/John Van Sloten’s Website: https://www.johnvansloten.com/about-meLisa Waites Music: https://www.reverbnation.com/lisawaitesPrevious episodes on The Well Dwellers Podcast:·       Lisa Waites: https://www.atthebottomofthewell.com/p/broken-open·       John Van Sloten: https://www.atthebottomofthewell.com/p/every-job-a-parable Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

It took me a bit by surprise! Sitting down with David Ross in the Riverside online studio, I gazed at my laptop screen with nostalgic amazement as he greeted me from his office in Alberta Bible College. Within a few seconds I recognized his setting as the office of my old professor, John Wilson, from 20 years ago! It brought a flood of memories as we warmed up to one another for what would be a truly inspiring conversation.In this powerful episode, David shares a truly inspiring story how OCD and the diagnosis of Scrupulocity had imprisoned him in his basement in 2014 until his family and a loving community of faith came around him to bring help that would free him from the entrapments of his mind.One powerful truth that I learned from my conversation with David is that the liberation of the gospel for disabled people is never realized or fully possible through an individual’s efforts alone. It can only be fully embraced by the whole Body of Christ coming around the oppressed person or people, journeying with them through their darkest moments of life, and raising them out with gradual mercy and grace.Disability is never an easy walk or path to roll through in life. But when we surround ourselves with a community that transcends what the world calls imperfect, we can discover a freedom filled with perfect blessings and gifts that strengthen our character. In the words of Marcel Proust, we can then truly see the world with new eyes!“We are Jesus’ hands and feet to our world. There is something that happens in our hearts when we put action to our faith, whether that’s just taking the next step we feel God nudging us to take or when we step into the lives of the vulnerable and lend a helping hand.”— Christine Caine in ‘Resilient Hope: 100 Devotions for Building Endurance in an Unpredictable World’“Not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.”— ROMANS 5:3–4 At The Bottom Of The Well is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Resources:David’s Blog ‘Renewal/Renewing’: https://www.renewingrenewal.com/‘The Disabled God Revisited’ By Lisa Powell: https://www.amazon.ca/Disabled-God-Revisited-Christology-Liberation-ebook/dp/B0BSPTSFP8‘The Disabled God: Toward a Liberatory Theology of Disability’ By Nancy L. Eiesland: https://www.amazon.ca/Disabled-God-Liberatory-Theology-Disability-ebook/dp/B09YJYCXVJ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0‘A Disabled Apostle: Impairment and Disability in the Letters of Paul’ By Isaac T Soon: https://www.amazon.ca/Disabled-Apostle-Impairment-Disability-Letters/dp/0192885243 Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

“The main stimulus for the renewal of Christianity will come from the bottom and from the edge, from sectors of the Christian world that are on the margins.”― Alan Hirsch, The Permanent Revolution: Apostolic Imagination and Practice for the 21st Century ChurchI. IntroductionLet me start by saying that I really suck at evangelism! No matter what “gift” profiling test I take, it is always at the bottom of the list. So what gives? Am I really that bad at it? Or is the Church looking for a certain kind of evangelism that is not in my gifted identity?Either way, a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend the Advance Summit here in Calgary, thankfully with the support of my church family at First Alliance. Not only did it give me the chance to explore my understanding of evangelism within the disabled context, I was also able to catch up with and see my old friend, Alan Hirsch.I must admit to being a little uncomfortable there throughout the summit. Yes, I was the only one there who was in a wheelchair. But that wasn’t it. Sadly, that is a common reality I’ve experienced for most of my life in Church leadership events. (Perhaps that says something about evangelism and the inclusive systemic struggles with ableism in the Church.) No, my uncomfortability came from listening to some of the old language around the table discussions I was a part of, which for the most part seemed to focus on getting the unchurched into the church and converting the masses to a membership status. It was like nothing had changed culturally since my early childhood in the 80’s and 90’s which for me, was not good news.That is not to say the summit was a wash. It simply framed my being there with a reality in knowing that radical evangelism for and as disabled people is not about increasing church membership. Radical evangelism begins by us embodying the marks and life of Jesus amidst the ableist social struggles and people God has placed us within.At The Bottom Of The Well is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.To explore the state of the Church’s evangelism, perhaps a key question we might ask ourselves is: If the marks of our evangelism do not create space for disabled people inclusively, enter the daily lives and activities they are a part of, address the oppression and injustices they struggle against both politically and socially, and acknowledge the presence, wisdom, and strength of Jesus within them, is it truly the gospel?Ultimately, authentic evangelism is radicalized when we are willing to see its markers placed amidst the people who are at the bottom, the edges, and the greatest margins of our social communities and not within the membership or attendance of Sunday morning church services. It has been my experience that this description fits more often than not, with physically and cognitively disabled people of today.II. Evangelism Starts with Embodying JesusI grew up in an Anglican church community while going to a Catholic elementary school. Evangelism was taught to me through two processes: the first was the school catechism. And the second was more an evangelical system of repentance for sin, acceptance of Jesus as embodied in the church leadership and authority, and sacramental participation. The idea of relational and emotional connection to daily life outside of church activities and service seemed distant at best; if not dismissed as irrelevant with the label of being secularist. Marge Piercy describes my experience perfectly saying: “I have no connections here; only gusty collisions, rootless seedlings forced into bloom, that [run the risk of soon] collapsing.”It is probably why I soon left the church after my spinal cord injury when I was 15 years old and found myself struggling in a new identity of being disabled and in a wheelchair. The Church simply lacked relevance to my ability to fully participate and be part of my life experience with suffering in marginalization.Perhaps that is why Alan Hirsch’s words came like a breath of fresh evangelistic air when he described discipleship through a three step movement that began not with church attendance, but in the daily life encounter with an embodied present Jesus.“If we are going to be genuinely Christlike, we will not be conformists! For one, our Lord can hardly be called a conformist. He disturbed the status quo, railed against injustice and lack of mercy, hung out with highly questionable people, and fomented a revolution that called for the overthrow of religious oppression.”― Alan Hirsch, Untamed: Reactivating a Missional Form of DiscipleshipEvangelism as and with disabled people can’t be framed through a forced involvement of inaccessible attendance or cultural ableist dismissal of involvement; it is perhaps best framed through the approach of three markers in practice.* Embodiment of Jesus – We look, act, smell, and sound like Jesus as depicted in the four gospels. This means entering the daily lives of disabled neighbours in our communities and becoming involved in their personal and social needs — physical care, financial support, government advocacy, health requirements, social activities and hobbies, etc.* Missional Calling – Seeing the working presence of God in the embodied work of Jesus with the disabled today as the missional responsibility of the Church and the describing call to take action as a community. To coin a now old phrase, the Church does not have a mission; the mission has a Church.* Authentic Community/Ecclesiology – Finding a rhythm of worship that is not institutionally static but actively finding new expressions of gratitude, celebration, liberation, transformational, and communal traditions rooted through disabled fellowship that is inclusively experienced in the community whole.We can start the conversation not with where a disabled person will find themselves when then die, but rather asking what Jesus encountering story do they have to share with us all today?III. The Dangers of Unhealthy EvangelismOver three days at the Advance Summit I found a deep history in several of the conversations I had including those who bravely smuggled Bibles into China, street ministries like that of Heath Meikle who live with those on the outskirts of acceptance, and some budding house church ministries that brought fond memories to my own past community practices of belonging and leadership.But there was one encounter that seemed to reveal a place of undeserved shame in my heart. And in reflection, highlighted some dangers of unhealthy evangelism, in my opinion.I was sitting at a table following dinner and a gentleman came over and sat down beside me. “So, are you a pastor?” I could absolutely be wrong here but, the question seemed rote with the traditional expectation of evangelical hierarchy and authority.I said, “No.”Following up, he then asked, “Then what do you do?”Trying not to seem like the little person amongst giants, I answered, “I advocate for disabled people by writing on a blog site and hosting a podcast called…” It seemed as though I already had lost his interest and it was just a minute later when he would get up and leave the table.What was I to learn from this experience in relationship to my evangelistic skills?Humbly I offer two reflections in the dangers of unhealthy evangelism using language and presentations from those three days.The first is something Hirsch called the Sin of Reductionism or simply, reducing the gospel from a commitment of lifetime relational sharing to the event expectation. When we desire to experience the gospel with and as disabled people, we cannot enter relationships with expectations of participation or even communicated understanding through short events or encounters. They are relationships and communications of love through enduring longevity.One of my favorite quotes from Voltaire says that, “The burning of a little straw may hide the stars. But the stars outlast the smoke.” And believe me when I say from experience, there is a lot of smoke in the disabled person’s life. But stars always burn brightest through the ones who are always there through it all.To share the presence of Jesus with disabled people, we must be willing to outlast the smoke before we can see and experience the good news of bright shining stars.Discipleship, evangelism, and spiritual growth are not about reducing a person’s journey to a single moment or encounter — whether that be attending an event, reciting a confessional prayer, or conforming to a specific model or expectation of leadership. Instead, radical evangelism requires us to see, honor, and participate in the fullness of their story — their struggles, questions, and experiences — as part of a larger process of transformation. When we shift our focus from immediate responses to the long-term shaping of a life, our encounters become more authentic, our relationships more rooted in grace, and our leadership more reflective of Christ’s own patient and loving way of embodying good news.The second danger I reflect back upon, was revealed in a presentation shared by Travis Holownia from Resurgence Initiatives. In honesty, I joined his presentation of the ‘Soul of the Evangelist’ as I knew my friend and past MRE Alumni, Daunavan Buyer, was part of this movement and I hoped to learn more about it. But as Travis’s words spoke of the trap of comparison, it pierced deeply into my soul.To illustrate, I return to the story I shared with you a few moments ago about the gentleman who came over and sat briefly at my table. Without any real tact or awareness, his question opened a deep vulnerability and wound within me. I found myself instantly confronted by the internal questions:* Who am I to think I belong here amongst all these community pastoral evangelists?* What do I really think I have to share and contribute in this conversation about sharing “the gospel”?Deeper still, I told you at the beginning of this post that I really suck at evangelism. In honesty, after 24 years of ministry and 46 years of life, I don’t think I have ever lead anyone to Christ — at least in the sense of confessing his authority as Lord and accepting communal baptism.By assuming I was a pastor by title and seemingly dismissing my meager efforts in advocating for the disabled community as uninteresting at best, I felt very out of place and sensed that I did not belong.More often then not, churches tend to measure success by visible engagement, sidelining those who cannot participate in conventional ways. Evangelistic accomplishments, or “fruitfulness”, is measured through numerical conversional performance or achievements.Enter in the trap of comparison, and I quickly found myself reflecting the darkness of Saul’s internal madness while hearing the words metaphorically… “Saul has his thousands, but David his tens of thousands!” (1 Sam. 18:7)There is definitely some personal responsibility in this struggle. I work on it every day. And yet, the sin of comparison is also a systemic struggle to which the Church must seek communal reformation within the language, practices, and acts of evangelistic understandings. Success and maturity must not be performance or able based; but rather witnessed through the transformative presence of radical inclusion and seeing a growing faith and Christlikeness in the whole community.IV. Conclusion: A Challenge To The Church To Become Radical EvangelistsThe truth is I could share a lot more from the stories and experiences I had over the three days of the Advanced Summit. These sorts of events are always packed full of great wisdom and incredible people. But I think this post is getting to be quite long already and is dense with a lot of heavy material.Let me just conclude by asking the same question I posed in the beginning for you to possibly reflect upon yourself: If the marks of our evangelism do not create space for disabled people inclusively, enter the daily lives and activities they are a part of, address the oppression and injustices they struggle against both politically and socially, and acknowledge the presence, wisdom, and strength of Jesus within them, is it truly the gospel?Perhaps a little more aggressively and succinctly: Are we truly sharing the gospel with all people inclusively, or just making church comfortable for the status quo and non-disabled within it?Thanks for reading At The Bottom Of The Well! This post is public so feel free to share it.Resources:Good News Eventbrite Registation For In-Person:https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/good-news-new-bodynew-church-tickets-1235120040289 Good News Eventbrite Registation For Online:https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/good-news-new-bodynew-church-online-tickets-1236613858339 Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

Welcome my fellow Well Dwellers to another episode of the Well Dwellers Podcast where we step into a sacred conversation—a space where the Spirit moves in the lowest of wells, where disability takes on new dimensions, and where dignity is not seen as a lacking but as a profoundly enduring reality of God’s presence in and amongst all of us.Too often, the world teaches us to view disability through the lens of deficiency, as something to be overcome, hidden, or even pitied. But the Holy Spirit invites us into a different way of seeing—one that does not measure worth by productivity or strength but instead recognizes the image of God in every body, in every voice, in every offering of worship. Our relationship to disability can be evolving over time as we relate to it personally, and together, Lisa and I share some of those stories of personal change with one another.Rev. Dr. Lisa Waites shares some inspiring wisdom in this episode. An articulate and persistently hopeful woman of faith, Lisa’s ministry has been shaped by her own lived experience of complex medical disabilities. As a preacher, theologian, singer-songwriter, and worship leader, she has spent her life guiding churches, seminaries, and communities in North America and beyond into deeper understandings of worship, liturgy, and the radical inclusivity of God’s kingdom.What does it mean to worship as disabled people? How does the Spirit invite us to reimagine access, belonging, and the sacred act of praise? And what might the Church look like if it fully embraced the reality that all bodies—whether strong or weak, whole or wounded—are temples of the Holy Spirit?Join us as we explore these questions with Lisa, leaning into the wisdom of her experiences and the prophetic imagination she carries. Together, may we find ourselves drawn into the Spirit’s work—transforming how we see, how we gather, and how we worship as the beloved community of God.Resources:Lisa’s YouTube Channel — https://www.youtube.com/@lisawaites1Reverb Nation — https://www.reverbnation.com/lisawaites/song/33182201-through-all-our-days-ash-wednesdaylent Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

It was several years ago when I sat in a cozy living room along with several other students as we listened to Dr. Richard Beck explore our ideas and thoughts behind hospitality and the Church. At some point, Beck turned to me as the sole leader in the room who led a House Church movement and asked, “How do you discern and respond to heresy in your church?” At the time, I wasn’t quite prepared for the question as I fumbled through the best answer I could give in that moment.That experience seems to have always remained in my memories as I recall it often, including when I heard an answer to the same question brought to Dr. Joerg Rieger in a class I recently was taking part in online. Building upon a theological truth that religion can be found in all things — traditions, economics, family life, politics, social systems, etc. — Rieger says the definition of heresy can be articulated both to the individual and the community through the explorative balance between two questions:* What brings life into the world?* What puts death into the world? Is this answer problematic because the definition of heresy lies within two subjective inquisitions? Maybe. But historically, when the definition of heresy’s meaning has been kept within an institutional objectivity, it has often led into oppressive prejudicial corruption and harmful injustices. Perhaps the meaning of heresy was always meant to be kept within a human relationally organic and subjectivity to the pursuit of justice and creational well being. Now that truly is a mouthful!At The Bottom Of The Well is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.To maybe try and bring some practicality in working out heresy and the pursuit of just meaning in our lives, God instilled a sense of the prophetic into each of us (Eph. 4:11 — APEST). In a sense, everyone has a prophetic imagination to grow in tune with and shape the world around them.Unlike the false assumption that prophecy is about foretelling the future, a proper understanding to the prophetic imagination as articulated by Walter Brueggemann is that it is meant to “nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture around us.” In a simpler expression shared by Krista Tippett:“[The prophetic imagination] helps us connect the dots between the world as it is and the world as it might be. It also tends to emerge in moments of chaos and change.”What are some practical ways we then can learn and grow with our prophetic imaginations? To start, perhaps we can begin to allow it to weave a visualization and articulation of God’s, or the Divine’s desire for our reality. In a deeper sense within ourselves, we can envision a world that is significantly better then the one we are in. This imagination begins to build a vocabulary and sometimes poetic language within us that articulates the hopes and dreams of higher society and well being for all in equity and equality. Sometimes this breaks out in our reality like it did with Martin Luther King’s speech “I have a dream!”Another way we might begin to practice the prophetic imagination is to provide spaces and time for lament and the processing of grief. It is courageously being a voice crying out from the marginalized wilderness saying we must seek forgiveness and redemption.How might this practice “give life” to the world today?When wounds have been created through unjust actions and oppressive historical events, real healing cannot truly be experienced without the willingness to grieve such experiences and seek there acknowledgment. Events such as the apartheid of South Africa, the Rwandan Genocide of the Tutsi’s, the Colonization of the Americas, the slavery and racism of blacks and the BIPOC populations, and the long historical narrative to the oppression of Indigenous People both in North America and across the globe have left a wake that leaves deep systemic roots in our society.I don’t think we need to necessarily just see these events and wounds solely in grand accounts, either. Each of us personally has experienced grief and suffering differently. These too need to be processed and allowed space for healing. We must learn to speak these stories both personally and corporately in open confession before learning to share together in a new story of reconciliation and social transformation.The prophetic imagination can also practically reveal pathways of mercy and empathy for the oppressed and marginalized. In some ways, these are the natural next steps forward from grievance and lament; it gives recognition to healing having taken place and new sinews connecting humanity to a potential earlier dreamed of.Several years ago I was deeply inspired by Rev. Desmond Tutu’s recollections of the formation and events around the Truth And Reconciliation Commission. He describes a South African understanding of Ubuntu. While difficult to translate it into the English language, he describes it as:“‘My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in yours.’ We belong in a bundle of life. We say, ‘A person is a person through other persons.’ It is not, ‘I think therefore I am.’ It says rather: ‘I am human because I belong. I participate, I share.’ A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed, or treated as if they were less than who they are.” When our prophetic imaginations install a practice of mercy and empathy for the other, hospitality no longer is seen as simply a gift for the guest. Rather, they are pathways of our nature to embrace all others in creation as belonging members within our family — flesh of our flesh; blood of our blood. The communion given by Jesus poured out for many through our very own bodies!Perhaps one more way I might share with you in growing closer with our prophetic imaginations is to say that it is most often disruptive, yet hopeful. The practices of living out a prophetic life is meant to be transformative in our very core beings and linked always with our actions beyond just the verbal protest to our discomforts in the world today.It can be easy to stop short of responding to our prophetic imaginations by simply verbalizing the need for change in our world or reality while leaving the actual work experience for that of future generations. Patience for personal and social change is only a healthy response until it begins to slip back into normative patterns. Prophetic movements are meant to keep us on our toes; disruptive and yet pushing forward to a hopeful renewal in our reality. Viktor E. Frankl knew this and an almost eternal tension when he said:“Then, as now, freedom and powerlessness, the collective and the individual, the external and the internal, stood in direct and sometimes irreconcilable opposition to one another. The crises of our time are immense. Even so, it seems important that we keep our dignity. And that we remain defiant and stubborn, that we say yes in spite of everything—and take responsibility.”We have really dug deep here into the practicalities of our prophetic imaginations. But in honesty, we’ve also barely scratched the surfaces of what it might look like for you personally! How might these practices look within your own life — events that have shaped you, understandings of who you are, and the personal relationships you’ve formed? How do they speak to the places you live in — the social scenes you are a part of, the organizations you’ve committed to, the neighbourhood you are rooted in? How do they interact with the beliefs you have — about God and the divine, the values and virtues to cherish, the principles you hold highest about the world?Where does your Prophetic Imagination lead you?!Perhaps, one way that I can share with you in how the prophetic imagination leads me personally is my desire to see Good News brought to and lived out by the many disabled people of my community today. That conversation, by the way, is not just limited to those who are considered disabled. Remember Ubuntu! We are inextricably bound up with one another… no matter our abilities!For this reason, let me extend an invitation to you to join me and others in an upcoming event we are calling the Good News Event. Gathering both in-person and online, we are hosting a conversation in the hopes of reigniting the prophetic imagination in being Good News for and as disabled people today.Please register through the QR links in the poster below, invite and share this event with others, and join us in taking meaningful action towards changing the world for disabled people today!May the Energy of Love flow in and through you.May your hands radiate healing energy.May your heart beat with compassion.May your mind bring forth beautiful thoughts and words.May your spirit unite with Spirit to heal the Earth.And may you claim your vocation in an unending adventure.Of companionship with God in creating.A universe where Love abounds, Thought excites,Playfulness energizes, and Adventure inspires.How can we keep from singing!Amen.— Dr. Bruce Epperly Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

“This makes me wonder if my serendipitous experiences of the past year are foretastes. If this is where God is taking things, could a church-without-walls simply be the spiritual re-enchantment of all of life?”— John Van SlotenI really enjoyed getting to talk with John Van Sloten a few weeks ago. With a deeply humble and calming voice, I found John’s stories about his son Edward and himself to be powerfully inspiring. Edward’s joy and delight in life no doubt comes from his relationship with his earthly father, but also a deeply profound faith and relationship with his Heavenly Father!Thanks for listening to The Well Dwellers Podcast! This episode is public so feel free to share it.Together, John and I talk about his writings, experiences within the community, and particularly in the ways people with disabilities find meaning and purpose in work and vocational callings.There is a lot of good stuff we cover here over the course of an hour. I hope you might listen to this episode and find it connecting with much of your own story and life within community and calling!Resources:John’s Blog & Website: https://www.johnvansloten.comAt The Bottom Of The Well is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

Good News EventReigniting A Prophetic Imagination In Being Good News For And As Disabled People Today A few weeks ago I shared a post called ‘Where Is Good News For The Disabled Today?’ Link: https://www.atthebottomofthewell.com/p/where-is-good-news-for-the-disabled Overview While listening to two presentations in the themes of a New Body and New Church, followed by participating in table discussions and a Q & A with the presenters, it is hoped that you are reignited and inspired in being good news for and as disabled people today. We also wish to allow for a time that you can connect with others both disabled and not, while building relationships to draw from in future conversations and out in community. Presentations By: John & Edward Van Sloten – John Van Sloten is a community theologian and author who is writing a book about life with his son Edward. Edward Van Sloten is a community volunteer who loves drawing, swimming, and all things Disney. Lisa Waites – Rev. Dr. Lisa Waites is an articulate, persistently hopeful woman of faith who is passionate about Christian theology, disability advocacy, liturgy, and vibrant congregational worship. She currently lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her husband, Jeff, and their three young adult children. Lisa also lives with complex medical disabilities, which has both impacted and shaped her ministry as a preacher, workshop facilitator, guest speaker/lecturer, singer-songwriter, teacher, and musical worship leader for congregations, seminaries, and other Christian organizations across North America and around the world. Audience: Christians, Academics (Professors and Students), Christian Leadership (Lay, Ordained, Labelless), and the Disabled Community, Online/Streaming Participators. Key Scriptures: New Body – Luke 4:18-21“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because he has anointed meto proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captivesand recovering of sight to the blind,to set at liberty those who are oppressed,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”...“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” New Church – Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. “This is the work of my life: To love God, to love my neighbor, to love myself. Sometimes our attention is also our love. There is work to do to love our immigrant neighbors, to love our disabled neighbors. To love our Palestinian neighbors. And also to love ourselves enough to calm our nervous systems, to take moments for play, to turn our attention away from chaos and toward hope. And to love God, who is the presence of Love that gives us the courage to stand for what is true and good and beautiful. -- Micha Boyett Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

Today I get to sit down with my pastor, friend, and quite possibly an international spy of extraordinary missionally impossible accomplishments… James Paton! For the last 10 years he has lead First Alliance Church in Calgary through some incredible Kingdom adventures and I have on many occasions found a deep voice of wisdom and faith through his leadership.Our conversation dives deep into thoughts around his disability, scriptural examples of disabled characters, and how the disabled can find relationship within the Church and the person of Jesus. Specifically, we explore the role of leadership in the Church and how it relates to the life of disability.Please don’t miss this inspiring conversation with my friend and pastor while sharing it with others you know who need to hear it!Thank you for listening!Resources:First Alliance Church – https://www.faccalgary.com Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

Star Trek And DisabilitiesI grew up in the Trek world. Everyday I would get home from school, throw my books on my bed, and stretch out on the living room floor to watch old repeats of the original Star Trek series. Of course I was fascinated with the utopian adventures of the Enterprise community and the intriguing characters of Spock, Captain Kirk, Christopher Pike, and all the alien species that filled the known and unknown frontiers. It was my favorite space to escape reality.Of course, I didn’t know then that the imaginary reality of these diversely abled and disabled characters would shape the way I saw my actual reality as I grew up.Star Trek characters over the many years they have been created and the storylines they’ve revealed on screen have become incredible ways in which we today can see the real issues of how we understand disability and the issues this community faces in society. Questions of human identity, accessibility, technology, relationships, and dignity in life. These are some of the “turbo shaft” doors which Ty Ragan and I ventured into while sharing some of our own stories and experiences.Join us in our conversation and lets have some fun along the way while talking about Star Trek & Disabilities! To start us off though, let me ask you to drop a comment below… Who is your favorite Star Trek character of all time?Please subscribe to the Well Dwellers Podcast and visit At The Bottom Of The Well DOT Com. And if you are inspired by this conversation, please share it with others. Thank you for listening!Resources:‘A Monk’s Musings’ – Ty Ragan’s Blog – https://tyragan.wordpress.com‘Star Trek & Disability’ – https://libcom.org/article/star-trek-and-disability-vol-1‘Accommodations On Board’ – https://www.startrek.com/en-ca/news/accommodations-on-board-disability-in-star-trek‘Disability & Star Trek’ – https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=sps_etds  Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

Well Dweller Moments: The 1st Rule In Disability Ministry Is…“The 1st Rule In Disability Ministry Is… Don’t Talk About Disability Ministry.”It’s a word play on a quote from Brad Pitt’s movie ‘Fight Club’.Meant sarcastically and humorously. But it has some seriousness to it, too.There is a culture or kind of unspoken rule within the Church that they would really rather let those with disabilities “naturally” find acceptance and relational development with the community rather than articulate and allow for a recognized disabilities ministry or build any kind of structured organization towards their specific involvements.In an ideal and perfect world, I get it… But this isn’t an ideal world!Ablism and social marginalizations use this unspoken rule to evade and silence the disabled community into obscurity and invisibility.The effects:·      Whether intentionally or not, it creates a ignorance or lack of awareness to the disabled life.·      A loss of understanding the significant presence of disabled theology and community in the biblical story itself… particularly in the gospels.·      A lack of ability to fund, resource, structure, and communicate with and for the disabled in our communities.·      It forces the disabled community to rely entirely on a volunteer force for any and all activities which depletes the reasonable access to many resources such as building spaces to gather in, advocates who deserve financial imbursement for their time, and costs for hospitality in gatherings.·      Lack of charitable recognition for the greater community to be able to donate towards their disabled movements needs.·      Maybe some of my listeners can list some more in the comments.What is the solution?The Cocoon Visual“Each struggle we face has purpose, and within each purpose are necessary steps we need to take if we want to figure out how to heal well. It’s a process. Healing isn’t about the destination. It’s about exploring the source of fear. It’s about peeling back all the layers, one after the other, and discovering freedom from fear.” — Embrace Life, Embrace Hope: Cultivating Wholeness and Resilience through the Unexpected by Fern E.M. Buszowskihttps://a.co/gBExZiO Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

In this episode Cynthia Tam, Krista Ewert, and I explore the work of Deeper Communion. We start by sharing our thoughts into the understanding of language around disability definitions and social connections. And later speak to the role of the Church and the spiritual life of those with disabilities.I am excited to share this episode with you as it has been some time since engaging the podcast streams. It is my hope this conversation inspires you and you might share it with others, rate, comment, and leave a review for other listeners.Thank you for listening!Resources:For more on Cynthia Tam visit: https://cynthiatam.caFor more on Krista Ewert visit: https://www.kristaewert.com Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

Advent Joy: A Well Dweller’s Christmas EveWelcome to Well Dweller Moments on The Well Dwellers Podcast!Micha Boyett From Her Substack: The Slow Way“I believe we can grow in our capacity for joy, based on the decisions we make. We can put ourselves in situations and relationships that increase our joy, even if our level of happiness doesn’t change. What I’m trying to say is perhaps joy isn’t necessarily abstract. It’s rooted in the choices we make, even as it bubbles out of the goodness of God. Joy asks for our participation.”Find Micha’s full post here: https://substack.com/inbox/post/153416218Micha goes on to share some of the ways she experiences this kind of participatory joy. I will leave a link in the episode notes so you can go and find them — and you should really see these incredible experiences of hers like embodiment, spiritual practices, good food, and caring for others.I resonate with:·      Joy is deeper and more enduring than happiness. It has an eternal divine element that is present even in the darkest most painful moments.·      Contentment. Not a submissive “giving up” sort of thing. But an internal realization of knowing we don’t have to have all the answers to the joy we experience in life. That we have a freedom of knowing joy connects us to a bigger story that will outlast the present pains and unhappiness.·      Joy needs our embodiment. Joy needs participation. (Participating in relationships and community tend to make me forget current struggles.)Final thoughts:·      The Divine Participation & Joy·      He participates in the crying, the hunger, and the desire for warmth and to be embraced and held by those who love him.·      The story of Emmanuel… God with us. Where He joins us here at the bottom of the well.·      This is the joy and hope I want to spend more time with as we enter the New Year.Merry Christmas and may the blessing of Emmanuel, God with us, fill your home! Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe

Have you ever found yourself captivated by:·      A particular scenic view?·      A picture?·      A spoken word?·      Something you’ve read?·      An idea or thought about something you’ve recently experienced?It happens to me all the time!Hello friends. I’m Erik Freiburger and welcome to Well Dweller Moments.[Intro Video]I love bridges. I’m not sure what it is but, whether I’m wheeling the streets in my neighborhood or rolling through the park, I’m compelled to stop in the center of each bridge and take in the moment. Taking deep controlled breaths, I watch as the traffic passes under me. I admire the beauty of the water flowing beneath the bridge. And I let my mind wonder on the things that have been filling it over the past few days. More often than not, it is here that I can get lost in the moment. Just like I suppose I am doing right now.My life is often filled with experiences and moments where I am still learning about disability, dignity, and hope. It is my aspiration that every week I might get to share with you about one of those moments in these brief conversations.Hopefully in the sharing of my life moments, you might have a moment in your life, too. So if you haven’t yet, click the Subscribe Button below. And if you have something you might like to hear me chat on, or you have a question you’d like me to respond to, leave me a comment and I will try to share it and respond in future talks.Until then, I hope you have an awesome week ahead. And I will see you in the next Well Dweller Moment.  Get full access to At The Bottom Of The Well at www.atthebottomofthewell.com/subscribe