Board President / Jacobs School of Music Career Advisor

The 14th Century Zen Buddhist monk and poet Ikkyu wrote: “Many paths lead from the foot of the mountain, but at the peak we all gaze at the single bright moon.” John and Joanie Spain started dating just as John began his studies for a Master’s degree at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. As a Humanities major and serious student of Ernest Holmes (a contemporary of the Fillmores), Joanie enjoyed talking about world religions and spirituality. They quickly realized that they always arrive at the same place, but get there with very different language and metaphors. Join John and Joanie in discussion, as they explore what it means to seek “the single bright moon” in relationship and in the context of an increasingly polarized world.

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“Not all who wander are lost” describes John Spain’s life journey. While employed in too many jobs to recount ere, hhe devoted much time and energy to what he calls two of the world’s most expensive hobbies: flying airplanes and pursuing two graduate degrees. So far, he hasn’t been able to convert either hobby into a career, but he has derived great satisfaction and meaning from both. His seminary education grounds his spiritual wandering in traditional Christianity and encourages exploration to the limits and boundaries of his chosen tradition.

When not drafting meeting agendas as Board President of Unity of Bloomington, Joanie Spain is a Career Advisor in the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. She also is completing the certificate program in Spiritual Direction through Unity Worldwide Ministries and leads life skills classes with the women of Sojourn House, a two-year residential program for survivors of human trafficking (yes – right here in Bloomington).

John and Joanie have been married for 26 years. They currently share this journey through life on five tranquil acres with their basset hound-mix Toby, roving bands of deer and wild turkeys, and the occasional red fox.