Episode 39: Me, You, and God – Walking the Spiritual Path as a Couple with David Frenette and Donna Zerner
In this soul-nourishing episode of the Initiations in Love podcast, Britta sits down with her longtime spiritual director, David Frenette, author of “The Path of Centering Prayer,” and his wife Donna Zerner, a writer and storyteller whose wit and wonder add earthy joy to the sacred. Together, David and Donna share the grace and grit of walking the spiritual path as a couple — two seekers who found love later in life, each already deeply rooted in their relationship with God, and willing to learn how to love all over again, this time with and through one another.
This is not your typical love story. It’s a quiet revolution of surrender, sacred partnership, and the deep union that forms when two individuated souls join in devotion to something greater than themselves. From chronic illness to natural disaster, from Centering Prayer to shared silence, David and Donna offer a glimpse into what’s possible when the space between two people becomes an altar for Grace.
If you’re curious what it means to let God be the third presence in your relationship — or longing for more steadiness, reverence, and spiritual depth in your partnerships — this conversation will stir something in your heart.
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About the Guests
David Frenette is the author of The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God, and a spiritual director and transpersonal counselor (now retired). He now teaches primarily online, and co-leads an annual retreat with Cynthia Bourgeault.
Donna Zerner is a former book editor, publishing consultant and writer, who performs storytelling and spiritual standup comedy. She is active in the Jewish Renewal movement, enjoys exploring the confluence of Judaism and psychedelics, and creates stealth flower mandalas in the local woods, where she is known as the forest fairy.
David and Donna have been together since they met at a spiritual conference 20 years ago in Boulder, Colorado, and have been married for 14 years. They live in Portland, Oregon.
Check out their YouTube channel here. Learn more & connect with them here.
Want to discover how YOUR challenges can become your greatest gifts? Then get ready! We are about to set off on an exploration into the very heart of love, itself.