Converging Paths

What is the difference between lust and love? In this episode of Converging Paths, Rev. Eric Elnes, Rabbi Brian Mayer, and Esther Freinkel-Tishman explore lust not simply as sexual desire, but as grasping, control, and objectification — and love as mutuality, spaciousness, and the freedom to let another person be fully real. Drawing on Christian, Jewish, and Buddhist wisdom, the conversation moves from Bathsheba and the Song of Songs to crushes, covenant, perfectionism, leadership, and the deep human longing to be seen. Thoughtful, funny, and surprisingly practical, this episode uncovers why lust may be far more than temptation — and why love asks something radically different of us.

Why does “more” so often leave us miserable?In this episode of Converging Paths, Rev. Eric Elnes joins Rabbi Brian Mayer and Zen teacher Esther Tishman to explore gluttony not as simple overeating, but as the deeper spiritual burden of “too muchness” in a culture that never stops asking for more.More consumption.More achievement.More information.More certainty.Drawing from the biblical story of manna in the wilderness, Buddhist teachings about self-forgetting, Jewish traditions of gratitude, and Christian spiritual practice, this conversation reframes gluttony as a loss of trust — and temperance as the rediscovery of sufficiency.Along the way, a surprising nod to Gilligan’s Island helps illuminate how even paradise can feel like scarcity when we forget what is enough.You’ll discover:Why overconsumption often masks anxiety and distrustHow “enoughness” opens the door to generosity and easeWhat mindfulness teaches about the “correct portion”Why temperance is not deprivation — but freedomWhat if satisfaction isn’t found in more… but in enough?

Sloth isn’t laziness. It’s avoidance.In this episode of Converging Paths, Rev. Eric Elnes, Rabbi Brian, and Zen teacher Esther explore how sloth shows up in modern life — not as inactivity, but as distraction, busyness, and spiritual disengagement.We ask:What are we busy about?Why does slowing down feel threatening?What does Sabbath actually interrupt?And how is hope practiced — not earned?Hope, we discover, isn’t wishful thinking about the future. It’s the courage to stop long enough to remember that we are already held.Part of our ongoing interfaith series on the Seven Deadly Sins and the Lively Virtues.

We live in a time when anger feels justified — even necessary. But when does anger become wrath?In this episode, Rev. Eric Elnes, Rabbi Brian Mayer, and Zen teacher Esther Freinkel-Tishman explore the difference between anger that awakens conscience and anger that hardens into self-righteousness.Drawing from Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, and Islamic wisdom, they discuss:– Why wrath narrows our vision– The spiritual danger of righteous indignation– The practice of staying with the “hot potato” of anger– How small frustrations train us for larger conflicts– And why faith means trusting that transformation is possible“Anger can only be measured by love.”This is not a call to suppress anger — but to transform it.

Envy may be the only deadly sin that isn’t any fun at all — but is it always destructive?In this episode of Converging Paths, Rev. Eric Elnes, Rabbi Brian Mayer, and Zen teacher Myobun Esther explore the subtle ways comparison shapes our lives. From Cain and Abel to contemporary social tensions, they examine how envy can corrode connection — and how generosity, gratitude, and empathetic joy can transform it.The conversation includes personal stories of envy, reflections on justice and fairness, and practical spiritual insights for turning resentment into growth.If envy begins in comparison, perhaps healing begins in connection.Part of the series:The Inner Work: An Interfaith Exploration of the Seven Deadly Sins and Lively Virtues

Greed is rarely about money alone. It’s about fear, scarcity, and the quiet conviction that what we have—or who we are—is not enough. In this opening episode of The Inner Work, we explore Greed vs. Gratitude through a thoughtful interfaith conversation that reframes one of humanity’s oldest struggles.A Christian minister, a Jewish rabbi, and a Zen Buddhist teacher come together to examine how greed subtly shapes our desires, our relationships, and even our spiritual lives. Rather than moralizing, this conversation looks honestly at why greed takes hold—and how gratitude emerges across religious traditions as a powerful antidote, not through denial, but through awakening.This is Episode 37 of the Converging Paths podcast and the first episode in our Inner Work series, an interfaith exploration of the Seven Deadly Sins and the life-giving virtues that help loosen their grip.Looking for the video version? Visit the Converging Paths Podcast on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@ConvergingPaths-777