Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Home and Religion
Chapter 7: The Commencement and the Glowing Screen

Chapter 7: The Commencement and the Glowing Screen

Last updated on: September 29, 2026 at 12:01 am by Dorian Scott Cole

0 Comments

Chapter 7: The Commencement and the Glowing Screen 2026-09-28T11:14:27-06:00 Dorian Scott Cole

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Open and Relational Theology & Social Psychology

About this series: This series is intended to help individuals who have hit an obstacle in their spiritual journey and feel that a shift in their spiritual life is necessary. It is intentionally inclusive and applicable across all faiths, personal beliefs, spirituality, or non-religious perspectives.

This resource is not diagnostic, prescriptive, directive, or therapeutic. Rather, you may find concepts that resonate with you, meditations that prove helpful, and insights to spark your spiritual growth. You are encouraged to approach this material prayerfully.

If you find yourself unable to resolve your challenges or move forward, professional counseling is strongly recommended. Catholics may want to speak with their priest or spiritual director. Others may want to see their pastor or religious leader. Those of all faiths may benefit from a counselor in psychology, or may find help moving forward with a life coach.

Spiritual growth deeply intersects with personal and social psychology. The author, Dorian, is a former pastor with university training across multiple disciplines.

If you are new to this spiritual counseling series, you can begin your journey with Chapter 1: Help, I’m Spiritually Burned Out. Or if you are new to spiritual things and agnostic to religion, follow Elena’s journey in Chapter 2: The Quest for “Does God Talk?”

Additional information on spiritual counseling may be found at Dorian’s Website: Spiritual Counseling.

If you are new to this spiritual counseling series, you can begin the quest with Chapter 1: Help, I’m burned out.

Counseling Office. Gemini Generated Image

▶ A Personal Note on Burnout and Change

I’ve experienced burnout twice. My mental and physical constitutions are very robust; I adapt easily and can carry huge stress for very long periods with a tremendous perspective that aids me. But I’m not indestructible. The absence of meaningful and purposeful things in our lives is something that, at some point, has to be resolved. The compounding of physical, financial, and seemingly unresolvable problems can become so destructive that radical change becomes necessary. Over time, I’ve learned to recognize and resolve these inner warnings before they become destructive and force a radical break.

Regarding change, most people hate it. It’s usually the last option. But ignoring the need for change simply increases your suffering until you are forced to bite the bullet and do it. Knowing that, my goal with this series on spiritual counseling is to help people recognize what is happening inside themselves early on, and how to gracefully handle it to bring about a beautiful, life-giving result.

A Note on Resilience and Limitations

I just had back surgery. What a wonderful relief from constant pain and rapidly increasing limitations. I can sleep peacefully again and even cross my legs! LOL. I accept that I can no longer do the heavy-lifting tasks that used to be easy for me. Adaptability and resilience are built by understanding and accepting our needs. During this long period of increasing limitations, I explored many new areas of interest and ways of giving that keep me living a deeply meaningful life. I hope I can help you do the same through these writings.

▶ The 60-Second Read
Chapter 7: The Graduation and the Glowing Screen

The Spark of Agency: Meaning and direction often don’t arrive through rigid planning, but through creating unstructured space (like sitting quietly on a porch) to notice what naturally resonates with your soul.
The Commencement: Healing from spiritual burnout isn’t about staying in counseling forever; it’s about reclaiming your internal compass, shedding guilt, and trusting yourself to navigate the future.
A New Crisis: While transactional burnout is one obstacle, the modern world presents another: the deep, suffocating isolation that thrives behind the glowing screens of a hyper-connected, digital life.

Chapter 7: The Commencement and the Glowing Screen

Thomas could see the difference the moment Marcus walked through the door. The slump in his shoulders was gone. He wasn’t carrying a notebook filled with frantic checklists, and he wasn’t nervously checking his watch. He just walked in, sat down, and exhaled.

“You look lighter,” Thomas observed, leaning back in his chair.

Marcus smiled, a genuine, relaxed expression. “I feel lighter. I didn’t do much this week. And for the first time in years, I didn’t feel guilty about it.”

“Tell me about the ‘not much.’”

“I took your advice,” Marcus said. “I didn’t resign from the church or blow up my family schedule. But on Saturday morning, instead of running to a committee meeting or fixing something around the house, I sat on the porch with a cup of coffee. My wife saw me and smiled like I had returned or something. I didn’t have a rigid agenda or a prayer list. But while I was sitting there, one of the articles I read was about a local youth scouting program. Do you know they’ve integrated both genders now?”

Thomas tilted his head, listening intently.

“It just… resonated,” Marcus continued, his eyes lighting up slightly. “It reminded me of how much I loved being outdoors when I was younger, and how much fun I have now just racing those little remote-control cars with my son. I’m not sure if I actually want to pursue it or volunteer yet. I definitely don’t have it all figured out. But… it’s something. It felt like a spark. It made me feel alive again, not numbed by endless activity.”

Thomas nodded slowly, a warm smile spreading across his face. “And that spark is exactly what we were looking for. Jesus told us to love our neighbor as ourselves. You are finally learning the second half of that command. Giving yourself the space to read an article just because it interests you isn’t a betrayal of your family or your faith; it’s the exact stewardship that will give you the capacity to love them fully.”

Marcus’s eyes softened and glistened with emotion as he saw the path forward was not a train wreck, but instead, beautiful. He recognized that by including his own needs, he could better help others. He looked around the quiet office, his eyes resting briefly on the painting of the owl. “So, what’s my assignment for this week? Do I sign up for the scout troop?”

Thomas laughed softly. “No assignment, Marcus. Let the spark breathe. You don’t need to come see me every week just to have me tell you that you’re allowed to live your life. You know how to listen to the quiet now. You know how to pay attention to what feeds your soul and what drains it.”

Marcus blinked, slightly surprised, but then his smile widened. “Is this a graduation?”

“A commencement,” Thomas corrected gently. “The beginning of your real spiritual journey. My door is always open if you hit a wall, but you have the tools you need.”

Marcus stood up, extending his hand. Thomas took it in a firm, warm grasp.

“Thank you, Thomas. Truly.”

“Go enjoy your porch, Marcus.”

Marcus turned and walked out of the office, closing the heavy door behind him. As he stepped into the soft light of the waiting room, he noticed he wasn’t alone.

Sitting in the chair Marcus used to occupy was a young man in his late twenties. He was dressed in expensive, minimalist clothing, but his posture was a tight, anxious knot. His face was bathed in the harsh blue light of his smartphone. His thumb was swiping endlessly, frantically, scrolling through hundreds of faces and wellness apps, yet his eyes looked entirely hollow. He was surrounded by a digital crowd of thousands, but Marcus recognized the look of suffocating isolation instantly.

Marcus paused, remembering the heavy, suffocating weight he had carried into this exact room just weeks ago.

The young man briefly looked up from his screen, startled by Marcus’s presence. He looked defensive, as if waiting to be judged.

Marcus just offered a small, knowing smile. He pointed a thumb back toward Thomas’s door.

“Don’t worry,” Marcus said softly. “He’s not going to give you another app to download. And he’s better than he looks.”

The young man blinked, lowering his phone just a fraction of an inch as Marcus turned and walked out the front door, stepping into the bright, open possibilities of the afternoon.

Inside the office, Thomas’ heart was full. Not every counseling session ended with a big victory. It was a huge moment for him when people found the inspiration and courage to move on. He might not see them again to know the full effect, but he knew he had helped their lives. He took just a moment to appreciate today’s result, then checked his schedule on the small side table and saw Julian was next.

A moment later, Thomas’ office door clicked open.

“Julian?” Thomas said warmly, stepping into the waiting room. “Come on in.”

▶ A Gentle Reminder
The Intimacy of an Ekklesia vs. Traditional Church

If you have ever felt lost or invisible in a religious setting, it helps to understand the difference in scale and purpose between environments:

The Reality of Large Congregations: In most traditional, larger church services, very few people actively reach out to others. Because of the structure and crowd size, it can take a long time just to become known, let alone understood. They generally depend on small groups for more friendly environments.
The Scale of Ekklesia: An Ekklesia (a Jesus gathering) operates differently. It is specifically designed for smaller groups—usually between 10 to 30 people.
A Friendly Environment: Because it is much more intimate than a Sunday service, an Ekklesia is built for authentic connection rather than performance. It provides a safer, closer space where relationships can develop naturally and you can be met with the affirming presence you actually need.

Next: Elena’s next session.

Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better.

Author’s Website with life and spiritual resources: Dorian Scott Cole .com