Redeemed Imagination

A huge treat: Malcolm Guite joins the podcast!In our fast-paced, ever-connected world, we've largely forgotten the art of being still. But what if stillness isn't simply the absence of activity—what if it's actually a practice that requires intention, ritual, and presence?Join Brian Brown and Matthew Clark as they sit down with renowned poet and theologian Malcolm Guite for a contemplative conversation about pipe smoking as a case study in the spiritual discipline of stillness. Opening with Malcolm's own poem "Smoke Rings from My Pipe," this episode explores how a simple ritual can become a pathway to what T.S. Eliot called "the still point of the turning world."In this episode, we discuss:Why stillness is both desperately needed and increasingly difficult in our ageHow memory and presence intersect in moments of contemplationHow physical objects and rituals can anchor us in the present momentFar from escapism, this conversation reveals how true stillness prepares us for be