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As 2025 draws to a close, I had the rare gift of sitting down with my brothers Sherman Bradley and Luke Smith for a roundtable conversation—not to wrap things in a neat bow, but to stay in the tension of grace, truth, and what it means to be sons who stay at the table.

This year has been marked by growth, correction, encouragement, and a few hard conversations. And what we've learned—what we keep learning—is that spiritual maturity doesn’t look like control. It looks like surrender. Not as a posture of defeat, but of trust. Of humility. Of remembering we belong, even when we blow it.

In this episode, we reflect on some of the moments that shaped us this year—not as leaders first, but as sons. We talk about truth-telling, being misunderstood, choosing to stay present, and practicing the kind of grace that actually costs something.

Reflection Themes

• Grace and truth are not opposites—they are companions on the journey of transformation.
• The invitation of sonship is not to perform, but to be received.
• Sometimes, the deepest spiritual growth comes through relational courage.
• Community is where sonship is tested, refined, and revealed.
• As the year closes, we ask: Where do we still reserve part of ourselves? Where is the Father inviting surrender?

What You'll Hear

• Why confession is a doorway into grace—not shame
• How we’re learning to lead from sonship, not performance
• The cost and beauty of staying at the table when it would be easier to leave
• Why memory, laughter, and honesty are vital to becoming trustworthy men
• A communal reflection on the year—and what still lies ahead

About Canyon Pathways: https://www.canyonpathways.org/about

Learn about our retreats: https://www.canyonpathways.org/retreats

The Heart of Man Film: http://heartofmanmovie.com

The Canyon Pathways Spotify playlist: https://canyonpathwayspodcast.com/cpspotify

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In this episode of the Canyon Pathways podcast, host Sherman Bradley is joined by Patrick Rooney—a husband, father, finance professional, and former Division 1 athlete now living in London. Together, they reflect on the Field Note Wealth, exploring how midlife men can move beyond financial accumulation to embrace relational access and spiritual well-being as the truest forms of wealth.

Through personal stories and grounded wisdom, Patrick shares how receiving the word Route on a Canyon retreat reshaped his view of leadership, family, and decision-making. From the stress of finance to the peace of sonship, this conversation is an invitation to rest, realign, and receive.

Takeaways:

• Wealth is not accumulation—it's access to the Father and others.
• Rest is required to receive. Sons don't earn, they inherit.
• Leadership in the home begins with presence, not pressure.
• Understanding our own wiring helps us lead our children and love our spouses better.
• God’s will is not always a single rigid path—it may be a route, with space to walk in freedom.

About Canyon Pathways: https://www.canyonpathways.org/about

Learn about our retreats: https://www.canyonpathways.org/retreats

The Heart of Man Film: http://heartofmanmovie.com

The Canyon Pathways Spotify playlist: https://canyonpathwayspodcast.com/cpspotify

Send us a text

In this Field Note episode of the Canyon Pathways podcast, I reflect on the complex and often misunderstood idea of wealth. At midlife, many of us are asking deeper questions about what it means to be secure, successful, and significant. But what if true wealth has less to do with accumulation and more to do with access?

Through the lens of sonship, we explore how wealth shows up not only in financial resources, but in relationships, health, peace, and a sense of belonging. Servants strive to earn; sons inherit. This episode invites you to reconsider the metrics you use to measure your well-being—and to receive the inheritance of relational and spiritual abundance available to you as a son of the Father.

Key Takeaways:

• Wealth is not just financial—it’s relational, emotional, and spiritual.
• Access is a clearer indicator of wealth than accumulation.
• Community and connection are central to well-being.
• Comparison robs us of the peace that wealth can bring.
• Inheritance, not hustle, defines the wealth of a son.
• Financial security is meaningful, but not the whole story.
• Midlife leadership often surfaces questions about legacy and meaning.

Reflection Questions: https://canyonpathwayspodcast.com/wealth

About Canyon Pathways: https://www.canyonpathways.org/about

Learn about our retreats: https://www.canyonpathways.org/retreats

The Heart of Man Film: http://heartofmanmovie.com

The Canyon Pathways Spotify playlist: https://canyonpathwayspodcast.com/cpspotify