For this episode, we have a special guest! Brian interviews Kevin Garcia (they/them) about their new book “What Makes You Bloom?” They discuss Kevin’s background, their concept of God, and the importance of finding wonder in nature. They also explore Kevin’s Christian upbringing and their journey to freedom through deconstruction. Kevin shares the challenges of leaving the church and why they ultimately stopped believing in “staying to create change.” They discuss the heartbreak of leaving and the importance of spiritual practice. Kevin shares surprises they encountered while writing the book and who it is for, and emphasizes the power of learning and doing in spiritual growth.   Takeaways Exploring the concept of God and finding wonder in nature are important aspects of spirituality. Deconstruction is a challenging but necessary process for many individuals on their spiritual journey. Staying in church can be a way to create change and support the LGBTQ+ community. Slowing down and taking time to soak in spiritual teachings can lead to a more powerful experience. The book ‘What Makes You Bloom?’ is for those seeking to connect with something greater than themselves and offers practical activities for spiritual growth.   Chapters (03:19) Exploring the Concept of God (06:00) Finding Wonder in Nature (08:03) Christian Upbringing and Journey to Freedom (09:44) The Process of Deconstruction (13:05) The Challenges of Leaving the Church (14:53) Staying in Church to Create Change (16:58) The Heartbreak of Leaving (21:58) The Importance of ‘What Makes You Bloom?’ (22:38) Flirting with Spiritual, Not Religious (31:10) The Role of Practice in Spirituality (34:06) The Importance of Slowing Down (40:45) Surprises While Writing ‘What Makes You Bloom?’ (42:45) Who is the Book For? (46:35) The Power of Learning and Doing (48:21) Conclusion and Where to Find the Book   Resources: Pre-Order What Makes You Bloom? By Kevin Garcia and get more information about them at their website.  Follow Kevin Garcia on Social: IG @thekevingarcia, Twitter @theKevinGarcia If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology. Want to have your question featured on an episode? Call or text us at (240)200-0922 EPISODE TRANSCRIPT The post What Makes You Bloom with Kevin Garcia appeared first on Queer Theology.