Creating Atmosphere:
A spiritual memoir bridging Christian theology and Daoist wisdom
I spent seven years witnessing my father's prolonged illness and death. In that long goodbye, I discovered that love isn't a feeling—it's an action: creating atmosphere in which any being can become their truest self. Creating Atmosphere bridges Christian theology and Daoist philosophy through memoir, exploring how kenosis and wu wei point to the same truth. For readers of Richard Rohr, Cynthia Bourgeault, and contemplative spirituality.
About Joel.
Joel Frijters is the son of a preacher who grew up literally above a converted church—a converted apple barn in Ontario where his father ministered. He hosts The Big Five podcast, exploring spiritual responses to humanity's greatest challenges, with guest ranging from musicians to model glider pilots, local politicians to contemplative theologians. His writing bridges Christian orthodoxy and mystical practice, drawing from both Western theology and Eastern philosophy without collapsing them into syncretism. He approaches faith as lived experience rather than abstract doctrine, following what he calls 'mystical orthopraxis'—truth discovered through presence and practice. Joel lives in Belleville and is currently seeking representation for Creating Atmosphere, his first book.