Show Notes
It feels assuring to know the answers to the most important questions in life. It takes more humility to admit we might not know where we're going, and at a deeper level, who we even are. Thomas reflects in this episode on the vulnerability of not knowing and shares a poem from Thomas Merton that shows this special kind of faith in action. And now that Thomas is all done with graduate studies, he'll be dedicating more time to his teaching practice and the broader community. Learn more about two of his upcoming offerings: 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)
More from One Heart One Mind
Whether we realize it or not, the Desert Mothers and Fathers are spiritual giants on whose shoulders we stand in the Christian tradition. In the harsh landscapes of Egypt, and later Syria and Palestine, they faced their own humanity and their demons to an astonishing degree, leaving behind a priceless body of teaching for purifying the heart and seeing God. Join us in the mountains and high desert of Salt Lake City, December 3–5, for an immersive retreat in the life and teachings of the Desert Mothers and Fathers: 3‑Day Contemplative Retreat: The Desert Mothers & Fathers — Lower Lights
There is a renaissance afoot, unlike any we've seen before. It asks us to become something new and to take part in the birth of a new world. There will be pain and sorrow, yes, but a greater measure of joy. Join Thomas as he shares what this renaissance is teaching him, and what it asks of all of us.
If all of creation is the site of divine self-disclosure (theophany) — God's longing to be known — then perhaps nowhere is God more felt than in the divine qualities of the human heart. In part II, Thomas shares a personal account of how he came to know some of God's most profound qualities through his grandmother. He then expands the scope of theophany to include all of humanity — the qualities that you uniquely embody in this sacred world. Join Thomas for a 7-day meditation retreat in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. October 19-26: https://lowerlightswisdom.org/upcomingevents/7-day-silent-retreat-2026-october
The wisdom traditions bear witness that the universe is not some cold place that is indifferent to you. Rather, teachings across the Abrahamic faiths suggest creation is more like a love letter from God — an invitation to intimately know God's divine being and to participate in ongoing creation. Theophany literally means "divine appearance," or "divine self-disclosure." In part I of this two-part teaching, Thomas reflects on how the natural world reveals the divine qualities through beauty and majesty, and in so doing, calls us all into a deeper love. Join Thomas for a 7-day meditation retreat in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. October 19-26: https://lowerlightswisdom.org/upcomingevents/7-day-silent-retreat-2026-october"
Wouldn't it be so nice if we could just sit around and meditate all day? But there's so much stuff to do — so many responsibilities to meet. Thomas introduces the wisdom pattern of Doing and Being through the story of Mary and Martha in this episode. We find that both styles of spirituality illustrated in the story are absolutely necessary. When we're fully present, life's demands stop pulling us away from the Divine — and start pulling us toward it. Is your inner Martha on hyperdrive? Learn to bring a deep quality of Being into all your activity at a 7-day meditation retreat with Thomas, October 19-26: https://lowerlightswisdom.org/upcomingevents/7-day-silent-retreat-2026-october