The thought from above for this episode is: “Rejoice always.” James Bryan Smith takes a deep dive into the works of theologian and priest Adrian von Kaam, to help explain his thought from above. In this episode, James explains the difference between appreciative thinking and depreciative thinking and how we can avoid the latter to help our spiritual growth. Smith closes the episode with a reference to the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” to help further explain his thought from above.

Adrian van Kaam was a Dutch Catholic priest in the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. He was the founder of the Institute of Formative Spirituality at Duquesne University.

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1. Indebted to Hope
2. Different but One
3. Conversation with Emily P. Freeman Part 3
4. Conversation with Tish Harrison Warren
5. Second Birth