Episode 53: God and the Call to Our Deepest Freedom With Colleen Thomas
What if the God you were taught to fear is not the God who has been calling you all along?
Many of us carry images of God shaped by fear, shame, or the pressure to get it right. But what happens when those images begin to fall away? What if the spiritual journey is less about becoming someone else and more about becoming deeply, authentically yourself?
In this conversation, Britta sits down with spiritual director and contemplative teacher Colleen Thomas to explore the initiations that transformed her understanding of God, freedom, and the spiritual life. Colleen shares her journey from a rigid, fear-based religious upbringing to discovering a contemplative path rooted in love, mystery, and belonging. Together they explore the courage it takes to follow an inner call, the invitations hidden within uncertainty, and why the deepest freedom is found not in escaping ourselves, but in becoming who we truly are.
If you’ve ever questioned your faith, wrestled with uncertainty, or sensed an invitation toward a deeper and more mature spirituality, this conversation offers a spacious and hopeful companion for the journey.
Want to know which initiation stage you’re in? Take the quiz and learn how to meet it with greater awareness and courage. Click here.
If you liked this episode of Initiations in Love, tell your friends! Find us on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts to rate/review/subscribe to the show.
Looking to buy Britta’s book Initiations in Love? Click here.
Want more? Visit our WEBSITE, connect with Britta on FACEBOOK, and follow her on Instagram: @brittaeskey or @cortrainings. Thanks for listening and joining the conversation!
About the Guest
A Spiritual Director and long-time practitioner of Centering Prayer, Colleen Thomas delights in companioning others on their spiritual journey, facilitating contemplative prayer groups, workshops, and retreats with a particular passion for curating contemplative spaces for younger contemplatives and the BIPOC community in the Christian tradition. She serves as the Diversity Outreach Coordinator for Contemplative Outreach Ltd., where you can also hear her in conversation about Centering Prayer and the contemplative life on their podcast Opening Minds, Opening Hearts. After graduating from Fuller Theological Seminary with a MA in Theology and Art, she worked in television in Los Angeles for 15 years before relocating back to her hometown of Washington, D.C. where she enjoys thunderstorms, free museums, and frequent travel.
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.