Cecile Smith was looking for signs of God’s presence in so many places before she realized, to her great surprise, that he was exceedingly near—in her very garden! This season, in which we in the northern hemisphere, especially, are spending more time in our gardens or just enjoying the nature around us, can help put us in touch with the divine in a very palpable way.

Today, Cecile Smith will help us discover, or rediscover, God’s love through his creation, including in our own backyards or wherever we find natural beauty.

SHOW NOTES:

• Cecile Smith’s website: https://www.cecilesmith.com/

• Cecile’s email address to sign up for weekly inspirations: seeds_of_grace@yahoo.com

• Cecile on Facebook (search “Cecile Smith”): https://www.facebook.com/cecile.smith.77736

• Etty Hillesum’s book, “Interrupted Life,” detailing her thoughts before and during her days at Auschwitz: https://www.amazon.com/Etty-Hillesum-Interrupted-1941-1943-Westerbork/dp/0805050876

In 2018, Dottie Borowski traveled a road that most married people—nearly half—will face eventually when she became a widow. But rather than being met with only silence in the months and years following, Dottie experienced a series of spiritual events that convinced her of the reality of life after death.

In today’s episode, this faithful woman, whose vocation is prayer and service work, will step out into the deep, sharing of the experiences that convinced her that the idea of life beyond this one is not just myth, but reality.

SHOW NOTES:

• Fr. Joel Sember’s website with a link for Oriens Advent adventure, through which Dottie and I met: https://pilgrimpriest.us/

• Information on the Rosary here: https://www.rosary.com/blogs/blog/mysteries-of-the-rosary

• Catholic Answers article on the Church’s teaching about private revelation: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/twelve-things-to-know-about-private-revelations

Rev. Dr. Patrick Lovejoy, a Lutheran pastor, husband and father, tends his flock through preaching, spiritual direction and counseling. In recent years, he’s also been called to address whether our genders are fixed or malleable, and has come away with a determined answer on the topic based in both science and theology. With a doctorate in marriage and family counseling, Lovejoy will lead us through the facts and fiction of this modern dilemma in a way that should inspire people of faith and goodwill to meet the critical needs of those who struggle with gender identity with compassion and truth.

SHOW NOTES:

• Rev. Dr. Patrick Lovejoy’s full presentation, “Unapologetically Female: Reclaiming what it means to be a woman”

• Debra Soh’s book, The End of Gender: Debunking the Myths about Sex and Identity in Our Society

• John Colapinto’s book detailing the tragic story of David Reimer: As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl

• Roxane’s “Living Faith” article, “Has trans ideology silenced our intuitions?

• New York Post article on detransitioner Prish Mosley, who was mentioned but not by name within the episode: “Detransitioner describes agony of pregnancy after changing gender as a teen: ‘Makes me feel like a monster’”

• Video (11 mins.): “Prisha Mosley: A Detransitioner’s Pregnancy” Journey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY6s_wIDUaU

• Post on X mentioned within podcast: https://x.com/ppc4liberty/status/1929720809402388938?s=46