Notes on Wisdom W/John Walt

John Walt

Welcome to Notes on Wisdom with John Walt... I am a husband, father, strategist and adventurer. 17 years ago, I began a search for wisdom that led me to spend thousands of hours with mentors and read 100+ books a year. This journey has transformed how I think and live. Each week I share one of my favorite notes at JohnWalt.com and you can find the audio version here.

  1. 15h ago

    First Things and Second Things - No. 46

    A concept that I have run into many times in surprisingly different works of wisdom is the idea that there are first things and second things. In its simplest form, it means that some things must happen first and are of greater importance than other things. C.S. Lewis is the only person I have read who uses the phrase “first things and second things,” but similar concepts are present in many different writings and wisdom traditions. This kind of thinking seems to have originated in Greek Philosophy, but in many ways, it is all over the Old Testament. Aristotle said in Nicomachean Ethics that some ends are subordinate to others. We see the concept show up again in Augustine’s writing on rightly ordered love. He said that a good life requires loving things in the right order, with God as the highest good, and that moral disorder comes from loving lesser goods more than greater ones. Bonhoeffer talks about this again in a different way in his writing on the ultimate and the penultimate. Over and over again, we see great thinkers and spiritual leaders bringing us back to this idea that there are some things that are of a higher importance or order than other things. Even though their perspective differed, the recognition that there is an important order of things shows up in both Western and Eastern thought traditions. You might be saying right now, of course, some things are first, and others are second, but just because we recognize the validity of the concept does not mean it properly shapes how we think and live.  JohnWalt.com

  2. Jul 14

    Six Forgotten Truths - No. 45

    Western Christian Culture has forgotten hard but essential truths that were once foundational to the Gospel. We teach on these topics sometimes and read about them in biblical commentary, but we have often culturally forgotten to practice them. If we remove these truths from the teachings of Jesus, then it is no longer what He taught. JohnWalt.com

  3. Jul 7

    The World’s Problems - No. 44

    There is only one way the world will experience restoration.  We love Justice because we were made for it. We empathize with others because God gave us a heart. Our love of Justice and our ability to empathize with other people drive us to want to be the solution to the problems in the world around us. Our highest calling in life is to participate with God and his restoration work, so it's very good that we desire to help others and alleviate suffering. But we have a fundamental misunderstanding of God's restoration work. JohnWalt.com

  4. Jun 16

    Crush Ego - No. 43

    Several months ago, my nine-year-old son told me, “we should make a hat that says crush ego on it, because that's what your book is about.” I was shocked. He’s nine years old, he hasn't even read the book, and yet he somehow got to the heart of the message. Ever since then, we started using this phrase as a family, and kicked around the idea of making hats and t-shirts. This has become a sort of tagline for the work our family is doing. At the heart of the message of all the world’s wisdom traditions is the understanding that the journey of every person is to overcome themself. That's what initiation was all about, helping a young man understand that his life was not about himself. That's what religion is all about, trying to help mankind transcend himself and escape the prison of his own self-obsession. JohnWalt.com

  5. Jun 2

    Questions Guide the Journey - No. 42

    So much of the time, we overcomplicate our spiritual journey. We obsess over theology, or practices, or which faith community to invest our time in, what prayers to pray, or even which devotionals and books to read. This comes from a well-intentioned heart; we want to make sure we are doing it “right.” I think the spiritual life isn’t centered around or driven by any of these things. They can help, but it’s a relationship journey, not a program. The core of our journey is first and foremost about connection with God and letting Him lead us where He wants to take us.  Johnwalt.com

  6. May 19

    Josh LeRoy Interview

    Josh LeRoy is the author of Deeper Than Your Pain, a short book about his healing journey through depression. He is the lead pastor of Emmaus Church in Greensboro, NC, and a former prison Chaplain for 10 years. When I was given his book and told it was about depression, I honestly didn’t think I would get much out of it, but I was wrong. The wisdom he shares is applicable to all of our healing journeys. In this interview, Josh shares his story and how God used contemplative prayer to help him find freedom from depression and anxiety. Josh has so much to share. I hope this conversation blesses and challenges you. Emmaus-church.comBook link: Deeper Than Your Pain

  7. May 12

    Burning Hearts - No. 41

    I have been thinking about one sentence a lot lately. I believe that it holds a key to understanding how we each should expect to feel in response to Jesus. I would like to share it with you and invite you to join me in pondering these powerful words.  JohnWalt.com

  8. May 5

    Self-Transcendence Conversation

    Heather and John Walt discuss self-transcendence and how we can make it a practical in daily life.  Heather and I have been having deep conversations since we met. So much of our daily life is filled with discussions about transformation, God’s leading, discipleship, and what we are learning from the books we are reading. This is the first time I get to share one of those conversations with you. Heather loves to make complex things simple and applicable for daily life. She often asks in the middle of a philosophical conversation, “How do we teach this to our kids?” She invites me out of the theoretical and into the applicable.  When we met, I didn’t care much about being a father someday; I saw it as something that could steal from the adventurous life I wanted to live. Now raising and shaping our kids is the most important part of my life. As my wife and friend, Heather has lovingly walked with me as I have journeyed out of my own self-obsession and more and more into who I am created to be. She is one of the most impactful mentors I have had, and I am thrilled to share this conversation with you.  JohnWalt.com

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About

Welcome to Notes on Wisdom with John Walt... I am a husband, father, strategist and adventurer. 17 years ago, I began a search for wisdom that led me to spend thousands of hours with mentors and read 100+ books a year. This journey has transformed how I think and live. Each week I share one of my favorite notes at JohnWalt.com and you can find the audio version here.

Information

  • Creator
    John Walt
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 John Walt. A growth strategy advisor.
  • Show Website
    Notes on Wisdom W/John Walt

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