Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1541815
94 maconmagazine.com | December 2025/January 2026 C U P S A N D W A T E R Road making In a city with houses of faith on nearly every corner, Rev. Dr. Erin Robinson Hall's column explores the interconnectedness of Macon's faith communities and the diverse ways Maconites nourish their spiritual health and the wellbeing of those around them, inspired by "On Being" podcast host Krista Tippet's idea that "religion is as cup; spirituality is as water." A S P I R I T UA L PAT H R E Q U I R E S M O R E I N T E N T I O N A L G R A D I N G A N D G R I T. STORY BY ERIN ROBINSON HALL T he smooth pavement looks dazzling as you drive towards Downtown Macon. The crisp, new yellow lines on freshly paved roads in Wesleyan Woods give the whole neighborhood a new look. I appreciate the polished look of the new roads. But a spiritual path requires more intentional grading and grit. That kind of journey is less concrete, more footprints. I imagine something like the path my family walks when we visit the coast. From our condo and its manicured landscaping, we venture into a trail through the tall grass. There are no lines to guide us, only continued movement toward the ocean. We trust what is ahead. We can only see a few steps into the sandy soil, a path shaped by all the people who walked before us. Then, the path changes to sand, and we know we have reached the ocean. Each time I reach that part where the path opens wide onto a shoreline, I am reminded of the claim from poet Antonio Machado, "Wanderer, your footsteps are the road, and nothing more; wanderer, there is no road, the road is made by walking." Civil Rights leaders used this idea to inspire movements; theologians have taken the idea to inspire faithful action. What practices inspire our spiritual roadmaking as 2025 ends and a new year begins? Several practices of faith from Macon leaders may inspire your spiritual journey. The Examen: This practice originated in 1522 with St. Ignatius of Loyola. The idea is to see each day as a pilgrimage with God. A person will engage in this evening reflection and ask themselves questions to determine the moments of connection with God. Dominique Johnson, pastor of Kingdom Life Church, affirms the