I'm Emily P. Freeman and welcome to the next right thing.

You're listening to episode 280.

This is a podcast about making decisions, but also about making a life.

If you struggle with decision fatigue, chronic hesitation, or if you just need a few minutes

away from the constant stream of information, and the sometimes delightful, but also distracting

hum of entertainment, you're in the right place for discerning your next right thing.

Today for the third year in a row, I'm hosting a conversation with John, who is my favorite,

who I have shared life with now in marriage for 22 years this week.

We have two college aged kiddos who have just finished their freshman year and one rising

high school junior.

Professionally, John runs a local community-funded nonprofit called Grace Discipleship, where

he serves as a spiritual director, providing sole care and discipleship for the next generation.

John has been a steady listening presence for several decades here in our hometown of

Greensboro, North Carolina, and he regularly meets with teenagers, college students, couples,

and ministry workers to hold prayerful space for them to discern what God might be up

to in and around them.

Today, I'm glad to sit down with John again to answer some of the questions you tossed

our way about the first years of marriage, the role spiritual direction plays in our

life and work, and how we're fearing as nearly there empty nesters.

Listen in.

Hi John.

Hi Emily.

...