{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"the REALIFE Practice Podcast","title":"S6, Ep. 05 Seasons of Formation: Thriving in the Transition to Your Later Decades, with Mark Ross","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2000,"description":"How does faith and spiritual practice transition in later decades of life? In this episode, we welcome Mark Ross, a REALIFE Process® Certified Coach as he explores life with God as he approaches his 70s. He shares his story of coming to faith as a teenager through Young Life, experiencing renewed growth in his late 20s through Bible-centered church teaching, and discovering his gift of encouragement expressed through teaching. He reflects on thriving in chaos by bringing order and seeing discomfort as an invitation to growth. Mark describes his major pivot at 59 from a 30-year career in public park development into coaching and art, learning to trust God in the “land in between,” and expanding spiritual practices beyond compartmentalized quiet times. He also recounts years of caregiving for aging parents and an unexpected season of supporting his wife after an ankle break, emphasizing community, discernment, gratitude, and growing deeper into what matters most as he approaches his 70s.\n\nCLICK HERE for your free resource on life stage questions.\n\nConnect with Mark at www.nextthinggroup.com.\n\n00:00 Welcome and Series Intro\n01:06 Meet Mark Ross\n01:58 Career Pivot to Coaching\n05:03 Faith in 20s and 30s\n08:18 Gift of Encouragement\n11:13 Thriving in Chaos\n14:53 Retirement as Spiritual Journey\n16:59 New Spiritual Practices\n22:03 Caregiving and Community\n29:51 Aging with Open Hands\n31:15 Closing Reflections\n32:30 Resources and Farewell\nLIFE MAPPING TOOLS\nGain clarity at life’s transitions and know yourself and God better through our visual life maps. CLICK HERE to learn more about oneLife Maps. Now available digitally!\n\nJOIN REALIFE CONVERSATIONS!\nREALIFE Conversations is our monthly 90-minute live call where you’ll engage in deep discussions facilitated by Sibyl Towner and Lindsay Sterchi. CLICK HERE to learn more and to sign up.\n\nJOIN OUR FREE COMMUNITY\nCLICK HERE to become part of the FREE REALIFE Process® Community! Connect with Teresa & Lindsay and other podcast...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/gqrO2MIMP2zyVk1nCFPbjoAHsUlUJ6yvSW3RRNRGLlk/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9jZDFi/NzUzMDQ0MWY0ODY3/MGMxZmYwNTg5Mjhm/ZmU0My5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}