9: Ray Sawatsky

9: Ray Sawatsky

Author: David Goa November 26, 2019 Duration: 45:26
David Brooks, one of America’s fine public intellectuals in his recent book The Second Mountain, quotes C.S. Lewis. I remember reading Lewis’ comment years ago and was delighted to have it brought to mind. “The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor’s glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken.”

In preparing this conversation with Ray Sawatsky I heard the echo of Lewis’ words. Ray is CEO and Executive Director of the international NGO Global Aid Network (GAIN). They partner with local governments and churches in various places around the world drilling wells where water is increasingly scarce.

Our conversation turned and returned to the three transcendental, the good, the true, and the beautiful. We explore the gifts and challenges he was bequeathed through his early formation in the Brethren Gospel Halls, an evangelical and fundamentalist portion of the protestant church with an impact far above its weight. The gifts of the Brethren Church carried a shadow that Ray has struggled with and found his way through.  His insight into the brokenness that so often frames human experience, his surprised discovery of the love and compassion of God, and his growing recognition that the two commandments in the Gospel, to love God above all and ones neighbour as ones self has transformed his understanding of charity into a call for “faithful presence” to those we are blessed to come to know.

In a world saturated with rapid takes and fleeting opinions, In Conversation with David Goa offers a different space. This podcast is a series of thoughtful dialogues where David Goa engages with a diverse range of voices-from artists and philosophers to community leaders and scholars. The discussions meander through the interconnected landscapes of religion, spirituality, arts, and culture, examining how these forces shape our personal lives and the broader society. You’ll hear conversations that are less about debate and more about exploration, delving into the symbols, stories, and creative expressions that form the bedrock of human experience. Each episode is a deep dive into the ideas that animate us, asking how ancient wisdom and contemporary creativity can inform a more reflective and meaningful life. The tone is conversational yet profound, inviting listeners into a genuine exchange of perspectives. It’s for anyone curious about the quiet undercurrents of culture and the sacred dimensions of everyday existence. Through these recorded conversations, the podcast builds a tapestry of insights, suggesting that the most vital questions about who we are and what we value are often found in the spaces between traditional categories. Join David Goa and his guests for a slow, considered look at the world we inhabit together.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 32

In Conversation with David Goa
Podcast Episodes
1: Molly Worthan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:05
I welcome you to our conversation on President Trump, the evangelicals and what is unfolding in American political culture.