1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:10,560 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. I'm your host, Rachel Adams, 3 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 2: author of every Day Prayers for Love, Learning to Love God, others, 4 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 2: and even yourself. Each week we dive into meaningful conversations 5 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 2: about how to live out the greatest commandment, loving God 6 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 2: with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and 7 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 2: loving our neighbors as ourselves, whether through inspiring stories, practical wisdom, 8 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 2: or biblical truth. 9 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 3: My hope is to encourage you to. 10 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 2: Love boldly, live faithfully, and reflect God's love in your 11 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 2: everyday life. Today, I'm honored to welcome Tanner Olsen to 12 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 2: the show. Tanner is an author, poet, and speaker, and 13 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 2: the creative and the creator of Written to Speak, a 14 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 2: spoken word in writing project that seeks to share hope 15 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 2: and announce love. For over a decade, Tanner has shared 16 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 2: poetry and stories at conferences, universities, churches, camps, and classrooms, 17 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 2: using words to help people slow down, reflect and recognize 18 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 2: the presence of God in everyday life. Tanner is the 19 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 2: author of several books, including I'm All over the Place 20 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 2: As you Go, Words for the Unknown, Walk a Little 21 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 2: Slower and Continue, poems and prayers of hope. His newest book, 22 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 2: Getting Through What You're Going Through Notes and Poems for 23 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 2: Hoping and Becoming is a beautiful collection of more than 24 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 2: one hundred poems and reflections designed to encourage readers who 25 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 2: feel stuck, uncertain, or weary along the journey of life. 26 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 2: In this book, Tanner gently reminds us that while we 27 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 2: may feel behind or of course, God is still at 28 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 2: work in the middle of our story. Through thoughtful words 29 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 2: and simple, simple observations from a cup of coffee to 30 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 2: a conversation with a friend, he invites readers to discover 31 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 2: that hope can be found even in ordinary moments. Rather 32 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 2: than simply surviving difficult seasons, Tanner encourages us to move 33 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 2: through them with honesty, faith, in the quiet confidence that 34 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 2: God's timing and presence. 35 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 3: Are always at work. Well. 36 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,320 Speaker 2: Hello Tanner, and welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. 37 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 3: I'm so happy to have you. 38 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: I'm so happy to be here. Thanks for having me. 39 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 2: So I'm just gonna reveal that I just got to 40 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 2: meet your cute little son and he wanted to be 41 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 2: a guest on the podcast today. 42 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 3: What a sweet family you have. 43 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: I just broke right into the room and said, now's 44 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: the time. This is I make my podcast debut, and 45 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: it's what he usually gets really quiet when he sees 46 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: somebody else on the screen, but this time he said hi, 47 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: and he was ready to be interviewed. So maybe he's 48 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 1: got a future in podcasting, I think so. 49 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 3: Well, tell me about you. 50 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 2: You've got a sweet little boy, a beautiful wife, you 51 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 2: live in Nashville, and you're a writer of poetry. Has 52 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 2: this always been a gifting of yours? 53 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:24,359 Speaker 1: I've always loved words, and so for the last thirteen 54 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:27,119 Speaker 1: years or so. I graduated college in twenty twelve, which 55 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: shows my age a little bit, which I'm fine with. 56 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 1: But I graduated from college and I thought that I 57 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: was going to do youth ministry or church work, and 58 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: then I just found myself writing and putting words. I 59 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,639 Speaker 1: had a blog and started putting words on Facebook and Instagram, 60 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: and then it just kind of kept going. And then 61 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 1: I found myself working on a book and then getting 62 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 1: in front of audiences and speaking and sharing. And then 63 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: over the last few years it's really just turned into 64 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 1: this full time ministry of speaking, of performing, of telling stories, 65 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 1: of making jokes and getting in front of people all 66 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:01,920 Speaker 1: over the country, and then podcasts as well. 67 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 2: Do you have a favorite poet, somebody that inspires you? 68 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: You know? I get asked that question a lot, and 69 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 1: I feel like it's cheating because I usually just say David, 70 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 1: Like when I read through the Psalms, there's something that 71 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 1: just ignites me, that makes me feel seen and heard. 72 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: And then there's some other great ones Wendell Berry from Kentucky, right, 73 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: like Wendell Berry is a wonderful one, Mary Oliver, I 74 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: mean a Nissee MOSHGANI. They're just some incredible poets who 75 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: when I hear their words or sit with their words, 76 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 1: I'm inspired to write. And I think the mark of 77 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: a good poet is if when you read their work, 78 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: you slow down and you pause, and you find yourself 79 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: saying hmm, or like I needed that, or you make 80 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: it halfway through the poem because you need to go 81 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: start writing your own. 82 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 3: Do you have a. 83 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 2: Memory of the very first poem that you wrote, like 84 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 2: that your mom saved and it's in your attic or 85 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 2: maybe it's framed. 86 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 3: I don't know. 87 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: Oh no, it's not framed. I don't remember it, but 88 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 1: I do remember, in like middle school, I wrote some 89 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 1: silly love poem and really the only line that I 90 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: remember from it is her hair is like silk, the 91 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: color of chocolate milk, and I knew I was onto 92 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: something there. 93 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 3: That's how you proposed to your wife? Was there some 94 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 3: things in blote? 95 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, when we got engaged, that's the line that I dropped, 96 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:17,719 Speaker 1: and it really just sealed the deal for her. 97 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 3: Well she is, she's a brunettes. I mean, I'm sure. 98 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, I've always just loved writing and putting words together. 99 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: And I think you know, when I write, it helps 100 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: me work through the questions that I have or to 101 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: kind of better understand what it is that I believe 102 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 1: or who it is that I know God to be. 103 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 1: And then what I have found is when I share 104 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: the things that I'm working through or writing down, other 105 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: people will say things like that's what I needed to hear, 106 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: or you put into words what I was feeling, which 107 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: is one of the greatest things that really anyone can 108 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: say to a writer. And so yeah, for me, it's 109 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 1: just like this is I'm not I don't have answers, 110 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 1: but what I do have are a bunch of words 111 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 1: strung together that hopefully make you feel more at home. 112 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 3: Do you fund do you for to speak or write? 113 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 3: Which is your preference. 114 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: I like to sit in my office and write, and 115 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: then eventually take the words that I've written and stand 116 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: on a stage and share the words along with a 117 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: story or with a joker, or with whatever comes to mind. 118 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: I think there is something important about hearing the word, 119 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 1: not just like reading it, and that goes really for 120 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: most words in general. I mean definitely with like scripture. 121 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: Obviously not saying my book is scripture, would never say that, 122 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: but what I am saying is like, there is something 123 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: about reading it on your own and then hearing it 124 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 1: being read by the author in community with other people. 125 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'd agree with you. So let's talk about your book. 126 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 2: Your book really speaks to the feeling that many people 127 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 2: have about maybe being behind in life. So what inspired 128 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:47,920 Speaker 2: you to write getting through what you're going through? 129 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, So, in two thousand and twenty one, my wife 130 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 1: and I we started trying to have a family, and 131 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 1: eventually we were diagnosed with unexplained infertility, which sent us 132 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: into the season of uncertainty, of wrestling, of wondering, really 133 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: a season of grief, and after praying how and why, 134 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 1: we were eventually led to adoption, which was another season 135 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: of waiting, of asking how and why and all the 136 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 1: questions that come with it, as we filled out paperwork 137 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: and did background checks and wondered and prayed about what 138 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: our family was going to look like. And while walking 139 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 1: through this season of grief, I talked with a lot 140 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 1: of other people about the things that they were going through, 141 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: ways that they felt behind or forgotten or misunderstood. And 142 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 1: I spent a lot of that season while we waited 143 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 1: to become parents through adoption of writing about really getting 144 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: through what you're going through, of what it means to 145 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 1: be here and to be human and to be loved 146 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: by God, while also like maybe not thrilled with how 147 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 1: life is going, while understanding that this life is a gift, 148 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: and yet it's a really heavy and hard thing to 149 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 1: be here and to be human. And then the way 150 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: that our story played out is we got a phone 151 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 1: call one day and we're told that we were going 152 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: to be parents, and now we get to be parents too. 153 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: Are the most incredible little guy named Judah who is 154 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 1: now about two and a half. And so, you know, 155 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 1: through that whole season, and I learned a lot about 156 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: about grief but also about the kindness of God. And 157 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 1: there's a there's a poem in the book that talks 158 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: about how you can't make God hurry and for as 159 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: much as we want him to do things that we 160 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: want him to do, like good things, beautiful things, hopeful 161 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: things like starting a family, sometimes that's just not the 162 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: way that that it works. And yet, even even in 163 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: the frustrating seasons, in the hard, hard months, he's still good, 164 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: he's still kind, he is still faithful, and He's not 165 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: forgotten you. And I think that's one of the big 166 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 1: things that I always have to remind myself while I'm 167 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: getting through what I'm going through, is God's not He's 168 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: not forgotten me, He's not forgotten. 169 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 2: And he is with us every step of the way. Well, 170 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 2: I cannot wait to continue today's conversation, but we're going 171 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 2: to take it break to hear a word from today's sponsor, 172 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 2: and when we come back, we'll talk about noticing hope 173 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 2: in everyday moments and learning to trust God's timing. 174 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 3: Welcome back. 175 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 2: I'm talking with Tanner Olson about his new book, Getting 176 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 2: Through what You're going Through. So many people feel like 177 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 2: life maybe didn't turn out the way they expected and 178 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 2: the timing that they would have preferred. So what would 179 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 2: you say to someone who feels like maybe they've taken 180 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 2: the wrong turn or somehow or falling behind. 181 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: That's a good question. And it's such a good question 182 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 1: because there's no answer that fits all. I think, like, 183 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 1: if I'm sitting with somebody who feels like life is 184 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:35,079 Speaker 1: not going the way that they thought it would go 185 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 1: or wanted it to go, after a long period of silence, 186 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,679 Speaker 1: because I've learned silences are really good. As somebody who 187 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: speaks for a living, I've learned silence is really important. 188 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: But I would sit with them and I would say 189 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: what somebody said to me. And I wrote about this 190 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 1: just a little bit in the book. I sat across 191 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: from a friend while I was telling them about the 192 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: season that we were walking through and how heavy and 193 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 1: hard it was and the grief that had come along 194 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,440 Speaker 1: with it, and he just told me, I hate this 195 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 1: for you. In that response, that answer left me feeling 196 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: heard and seen and cared for. It made me feel 197 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 1: less alone when somebody saw the pain and they said, well, 198 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: I don't like that for you. I wish it was different. 199 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: I wish it could be fixed or it could be changed. 200 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 1: And we don't have that kind of control. Life is 201 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 1: not going to go the way that we think it's 202 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: going to go or want it to go, and yet 203 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: it is still it's still beautiful. Still, it is still 204 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 1: a gift, a hard gift, but a gift nonetheless. And 205 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 1: so what my friend told me and I hate this 206 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 1: for you like that helped me continue forward with hope. 207 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: And if you had told me like that was the 208 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: thing that was going to help me feel seen, I 209 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 1: don't know if I would have believed you, But in 210 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: that moment, like those words they found me, and that's 211 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 1: what I needed. So if somebody's listening and they're just 212 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: in this season where it feels far from okay, you know, 213 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: I usually I would tell people that, like, you know, 214 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: everything is going to be okay, and I think and 215 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 1: that is still true. But when I say everything's going 216 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: to be okay, what I mean is that in the end, 217 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:58,199 Speaker 1: everything is going to be okay. It's not going to 218 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: all be okay right now, but we do know of 219 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 1: a good God, of a kind God, of a loving 220 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: God who makes everything okay even though it's not okay today. Yeah. 221 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 3: Absolutely. You know. 222 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 2: That's something about your writing that I appreciate, is that 223 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 2: really points readers to the beauty of everyday moments. So 224 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:18,719 Speaker 2: why do you think noticing simple things like a cup 225 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 2: of coffee, a good friend, or even maybe a pancake 226 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 2: can help research. 227 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 1: Well, I think that there's this beautiful invitation to slow down, 228 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: one that we often don't want to accept. You talk 229 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 1: to anybody and they've got a long to do list 230 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: and a to do list that's underneath their to do list. 231 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 1: We all have so much that's going on or we 232 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: want to do or achieve or become or scale or 233 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 1: grow or all this kind of stuff, and I think 234 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: it leads a lot of us feeling anxious or behind, 235 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: or burdened of a burden of some sort. And yet 236 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: how beautiful it is that we can just slow down 237 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 1: and live. One thing that my son and I have 238 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: been doing recently is at the end of the day, 239 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: as the sun's going down, we'll go outside and we'll 240 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 1: just watch the clouds and the sun mix with the sky, 241 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 1: and we'll just begin to thank God for all of 242 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,200 Speaker 1: the things. So I asked him, I said, Judah, what 243 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 1: are you thankful for? And he just starts naming things, 244 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: random things. Often it's like, right now, we've been watching 245 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 1: a little bit of the cars movie, and so he 246 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: thanks God for lightning McQueen and Mater And I think 247 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:26,079 Speaker 1: it's so wonderful. I think it's great. But like to 248 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 1: slow down enough to notice and to see the small 249 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: beautiful things, to remember and to believe like the little 250 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 1: things are the big things. And often we just want 251 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,319 Speaker 1: to try to go do the big things. And then 252 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 1: how much more full are our days when we take 253 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: them slowly or we notice the gifts that God is 254 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: giving us. It's really hard to do that. Like for me, 255 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 1: it's easy for me to do that in the summer 256 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: in the spring. It's really hard for me to do 257 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 1: that in the winter when everything is dark and a 258 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: little bit more bare. But to make this a practice 259 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 1: like that, the art of noticing it, I think it's 260 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 1: a game changer. And for me, like that's when I 261 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:04,679 Speaker 1: usually do my best writing, is when I live a 262 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: little bit slower and I start to notice that the 263 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: small things like the flowers, or kid laughing in the distance, 264 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 1: or the dog just always looking yeah. 265 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, Actually I was sitting with my next door neighbor 266 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:21,679 Speaker 2: who is ninety yesterday, and she does such a good 267 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 2: job of that because life is slower and so seeing 268 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 2: the rhythm of her life. And she says every single 269 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 2: night she does the same thing. She'll go out on 270 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 2: her front porch and look at the sky and list 271 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 2: off her blessings from the day, and then even sweeter 272 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 2: to me, we live next door. She will pray for us, 273 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 2: She prays for the surrounding farms and just so precious. 274 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:42,839 Speaker 2: And then too, as you're talking about Lightning McQueen, I 275 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 2: had to mention, So my son is seventeen, and he 276 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:48,679 Speaker 2: loved cars, and he would have a Lightning McQueen and 277 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 2: he would hold the car all day, every day, when 278 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 2: he was eating, when he was bathing, when he's sleeping, like, 279 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 2: would not let go of that car. So I have 280 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:59,559 Speaker 2: fond memories of Lightning McQueen and the Cars movie so sweet. 281 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:02,200 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, we watch about like twenty minutes of the 282 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: movie every other day, and we will talk about that 283 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:07,720 Speaker 1: twenty minutes for the next forty eight hours, and then 284 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:09,679 Speaker 1: we'll be like, all right, a little bit more time. 285 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: I'll we'll cooking dinner. But I hear what you're saying 286 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 1: is that I'm a ninety year old woman and I 287 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 1: will wear that proudly. I wear that proudly. 288 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 3: It's a good qualt. 289 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:20,959 Speaker 2: We have so much to learn from that mindset and 290 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:23,599 Speaker 2: that pace in that perspective. 291 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 3: I think it really is. 292 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 2: It's just it's a mindset and to be intentional about 293 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 2: savoring and enjoying and delighting in the many gifts that 294 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 2: God's given us. 295 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,679 Speaker 1: A long time ago, I read some clickbait article of 296 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,440 Speaker 1: like the what people wish they would have done with 297 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:40,720 Speaker 1: their lives, like the five things they wish they would 298 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: have done with their lives. You know, they're older now, 299 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: on their deathbed, and like, well, I wish I would 300 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: have done this, this, and this, And I remember reading 301 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: it and it was like, I wish that I had 302 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: slowed down to be more present and I would have 303 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 1: spent less time working and more time with the people 304 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: that I love. And I don't want to get to 305 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: the end and say the same thing. I want to 306 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 1: live that out now. And I think there's something like 307 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: that's the invitation is to live something slow and deep 308 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 1: and meaningful and to give your time to the people 309 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: that you love. 310 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, oh, I couldn't agree with you more. 311 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 2: I think one of the things that gets in the 312 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 2: way is that we have this pressure to feel like 313 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 2: we have everything figured out, like we want to know 314 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 2: what God's path is for the rest of our lives, 315 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 2: like give us the map. So how do you think 316 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 2: embracing it uncertainty actually deepens our faith interesting God. 317 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: Well as somebody who got pretty much straight seas in school. 318 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 1: I know that I don't know that much, and I 319 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 1: think there's something very freeing about knowing that and trusting that. Like, 320 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 1: just because you don't have it all figured out or 321 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: you don't have all the answers doesn't mean that you're 322 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 1: wrong or behind. I think again, like the invitation is 323 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: still there is to walk by faith and to live 324 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 1: it out. You can't control what the future has for you, 325 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 1: but you can control how you step into it or 326 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: how you approach. And so these days I'm learning more 327 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 1: of like letting my hands be free and open rather 328 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 1: than clenched like they're trying to control something. Control is 329 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: a really beautiful illusion. But faith. I want to live 330 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: by faith and trusting that the God who was good 331 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: yesterday is going to be good tomorrow, of trusting that 332 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: small steps forward are meaningful and I don't have to 333 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: jump around the corner and see what's happening. I don't 334 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 1: need to see what's happening. I already know what's happening. 335 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: God is there and God is going to be with me, 336 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: and that's enough. 337 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, And he's sovereign and he's a good, loving father. 338 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 2: I think that's the key for me when I'm going 339 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 2: through something tough, to know who is with me in it. 340 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 2: And the fact that Jesus actually promised, he said, in 341 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 2: this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I 342 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 2: have overcome the world. And I think it's so important 343 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 2: to know the victory, you know the outcome, but you 344 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 2: also know who is with you through it all. 345 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 1: Yes, Yeah, it's this both and of like, like I've said, 346 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 1: you know, life is heavy and heart and yet it 347 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 1: is a gift of In this world there will be trouble, 348 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: and yet Jesus holds all things in his hands, and 349 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: we can hold both of those intention and just kind 350 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: of walk knowing that this life is a lot and 351 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 1: it is also blessing. We're not forgotten. God is with us. 352 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 2: And it occurs to me too that we're not just 353 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 2: getting through circumstances, that God is shaping us into who 354 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 2: he wants us to be. He's developing our character and 355 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 2: our perseverance talk to us a little bit bit about 356 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 2: that in this process of getting through what we're going through, 357 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 2: who we're becoming in the process. 358 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 1: I tell a story in the Book of I was 359 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: invited to go speak to a group of high schoolers 360 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 1: and it was down in Florida, and we were sitting 361 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 1: around a campfire, which is dangerous to have a campfire 362 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: in Florida, but we were doing it anyways. And I 363 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: was sitting there talking with these high schoolers and I 364 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: just asked him the question that I've been asking a 365 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: lot of people recently, is what is life like for 366 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: you these days? And you have a high schooler, so 367 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: you know they are going through a lot, Like they've 368 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: got a lot going on. Their days are more fold 369 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:07,159 Speaker 1: than they probably should be. They are trying to enjoy 370 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 1: high school while preparing for their future, while having their five, ten, fifteen, 371 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: twenty year plan all figured out. And so I was 372 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 1: sitting there with them and this girl told me, she goes, 373 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:18,640 Speaker 1: you know, my mom told me that I just got 374 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,120 Speaker 1: to get through it all. And I was like, yeah, 375 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 1: that's that's true. But you can also like like you 376 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: can go through it. You can go through it, you 377 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:27,880 Speaker 1: can you can feel it all you can. You can 378 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: enjoy it, you can wrestle with it. You can ask 379 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: questions like don't just like get through it? Go go 380 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:37,879 Speaker 1: through it? And I think that's when we really get shaped, 381 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 1: when we really get molded, you know, like when our 382 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: perseverance and our character begins to develop, when we begin 383 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 1: to see the beauty and the power of hope, when 384 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,919 Speaker 1: we begin to lean not only on the people who 385 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 1: love us, but on a God who loves us as well. Like, 386 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:57,400 Speaker 1: high school was so hard, and I was pretty unaware 387 00:17:57,640 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: for most of my days of high school. But what 388 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:03,239 Speaker 1: I do remember is the difficulties and the challenges and 389 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: the heartache, and yet that was shaping me to go 390 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: through this life with faith, with hope and even dare 391 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 1: I say it with joy? 392 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 2: Oh love that distinction. You're not just getting through it, 393 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 2: You're going through it. That's beautiful. 394 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 3: You have a way with words. Has anybody ever told 395 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 3: you that. 396 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: I might write a book. 397 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 2: Well, we are going to take a brief break to 398 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:28,400 Speaker 2: hear a word from today's sponsor, and when we come back, 399 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 2: we'll talk about hope, purpose and how small moments can 400 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 2: shape the way we see our lives. Welcome back, I'm 401 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 2: talking with Tanner Olson about his book Getting Through What 402 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 2: You're going Through, Notes and Poems for Hoping and Becoming. 403 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 2: So Tanner, for someone listening today who maybe feel stuck 404 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 2: or discouraged about where they are in life, what words 405 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 2: of encouragement would you offer them today. 406 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,119 Speaker 1: There's a line in the book that's maybe my favorite 407 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: line that I've ever written, and it is life is 408 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: not a race, and you were not behind. And I 409 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 1: think sometimes we view life as something that we can win. 410 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 1: And I'm a competitive person, so I definitely have viewed 411 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 1: it as like I got to win, I'm going to 412 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 1: win this, and I just don't think that is a gift. 413 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: It is something to enjoy, and it's not a race. 414 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:20,440 Speaker 1: And we're all going forward differently, and we're all going 415 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 1: in different directions. And I think that the big thing 416 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: to remember, at least that I've had to remind myself, 417 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 1: is you are not behind. You might feel like you're behind, 418 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:30,679 Speaker 1: you might feel like you are you are stuck, you 419 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: might feel like you are lost, and those are all 420 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,399 Speaker 1: very valid feelings, but I would venture to say that 421 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:37,719 Speaker 1: you were not You're not behind. You might just need 422 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 1: to go have a snack and a nap because that 423 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 1: can cure a lot. You might just need to go 424 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:43,920 Speaker 1: take a little bit of a walk. You might need 425 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 1: to slow down and remember that the small things are 426 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: the big things. You might need to go get a 427 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: copy of I don't know getting through what you're going through, 428 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:52,640 Speaker 1: and to sit with some poetry for a little bit, 429 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 1: or to go outside one last time before the sun 430 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 1: falls into the hot horizon and thank God for all 431 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 1: of the things. That's what I would say. 432 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, this season I have been asking all of 433 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,640 Speaker 2: my guests, is there a biblical concept of love that 434 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 2: you think applies to this topic today. 435 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 1: One of my favorite stories in scripture is the story 436 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,920 Speaker 1: of Simeon and Anna. You're familiar with this story. It's 437 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:20,680 Speaker 1: like Jesus is a few days old, and before all 438 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 1: this was it was told to Simeon that he would 439 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 1: not die until he has seen the Lord's Christ. And 440 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 1: I think about that of this man who hears I'm 441 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:33,919 Speaker 1: not going to die until I meet the one that 442 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:36,439 Speaker 1: we've been waiting for. And so then there's this long 443 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: period of waiting, and this is like wholly wondering, right, 444 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: there's this waiting, there's wondering. If you heard what was 445 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: said correctly, of the long days, the long nights, the 446 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:50,360 Speaker 1: conversations of people, you know, joking and asking, hey, can 447 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: you die yet? Have you seen the Lord's Christ? And 448 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,640 Speaker 1: I think about this like this love that he has, 449 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:59,920 Speaker 1: this trust that he has as he walks through the uncertain, 450 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 1: in the unknown, but trusting that the story ends with 451 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: meeting Jesus, right. And I think that for me, as 452 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: I wonder how do I get through what I'm going through, 453 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 1: the truth that I hold onto and come back to 454 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,159 Speaker 1: most days is like, for as much as I do 455 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: not know what is going on, I know how the 456 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 1: story ends. The story ends the same way it ended 457 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 1: for Simeon. Is story ends with meeting Jesus. And that's 458 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,439 Speaker 1: the love that I want to hold onto, the beauty 459 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: that I want to pass on to my son. You know, 460 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 1: one of the things that we do every day is 461 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,439 Speaker 1: he has a cross above his above his bed and 462 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: will make the sign of the Cross on his forehead, 463 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,239 Speaker 1: and we say, Jesus says, I love you, And so 464 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:43,360 Speaker 1: now he'll start doing this back to us, Jesus says, 465 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 1: I love you. And it always reminds me of the 466 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 1: story of Synon, because I get to hold a baby 467 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 1: in my hands and be reminded of the love of 468 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 1: Christ and Simeon got to hold the Son of God 469 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:59,200 Speaker 1: in his arms as a baby and know that Jesus says, 470 00:21:59,240 --> 00:21:59,679 Speaker 1: I love you. 471 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 2: What a sweet way to start every day. That's so beautiful. 472 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:06,439 Speaker 2: It makes me want to do that. I wonder what 473 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 2: my seventeen and fifteen year old would do if I 474 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:09,200 Speaker 2: start you. 475 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,120 Speaker 1: Let me, let me let me know how that goes. 476 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm gonna give it a try. 477 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 2: I'm gonna give it a try. I'm gonna tell my 478 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 2: husband to do the same thing for me. 479 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 1: Good do it. 480 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 2: Yes, No, as you were talking in all seriousness, it 481 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 2: really is beautiful and painful. But I was thinking about 482 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 2: how Jesus had to get through what he went through 483 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 2: to serve a God who suffered and had pain and 484 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 2: trials and temptations and was human God and human incarnate, 485 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 2: And so I just am mindful that that is who 486 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,199 Speaker 2: can empathize with what we're going through too. 487 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:45,920 Speaker 3: Does that ev okay on you? 488 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:49,679 Speaker 1: He gets it, you know, like he totally understands the feelings, 489 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 1: the wrestling, the questions. And I think oftentimes we think 490 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:55,639 Speaker 1: like I'm the only one who gets who knows what 491 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:59,120 Speaker 1: this feels like, and it sounds really true. I bet 492 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 1: it's not true, because there is a God who knows 493 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:03,440 Speaker 1: exactly what it is that you've gone through, and there's 494 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 1: probably a neighbor just down the road who understands what 495 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:08,440 Speaker 1: you're going through as well. And I think one of 496 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:11,200 Speaker 1: the things that has changed I was writing this book 497 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 1: is when I walk into a room now, I am 498 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 1: very quick to remember that everyone in here is getting 499 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:19,879 Speaker 1: through something, Like everyone here has got something on the 500 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 1: back of their mind or something that they can't shake, 501 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:26,239 Speaker 1: or this nagging, heavy feeling or life event that it 502 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 1: just sticks with them. And I think that's just the 503 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:31,639 Speaker 1: reminder to give people grace and to meet them with 504 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:34,280 Speaker 1: kindness and with hope, and the same way I think 505 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 1: that Jesus would as well, looking for the person who's 506 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: needing a little bit of love and compassion. But yeah, 507 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 1: Jesus went through it, and now he goes through it 508 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:44,360 Speaker 1: with us. 509 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, And that is such a good reminder. Everybody that 510 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:50,360 Speaker 2: we encounter is going through something and so to extend 511 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 2: the grace and mercy and kindness and love that we 512 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 2: would want them to treat us that way. So, Okay, 513 00:23:57,440 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 2: tell us something you are living right now? 514 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 1: All right? Every night, for the last few nights, I 515 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 1: have been eating popcorn and drinking a bubbly water. And 516 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 1: it doesn't sound like that exciting because it's not, but 517 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:14,600 Speaker 1: I look forward to it. I just am like, now's 518 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:17,679 Speaker 1: the time our son is asleep, the computer is done, 519 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,560 Speaker 1: I am on the couch. We might watch an old 520 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,679 Speaker 1: episode of Survivor, and We're just gonna eat some popcorn 521 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna drink this this sparkling water and then 522 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: I'm going to bed, and that brings me so much joy. 523 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 3: Okay, well back to those small moments. 524 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:35,440 Speaker 2: But I was gonna ask, is it like just salted 525 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 2: lightly bettered hit movie theater, but normal kettle. 526 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:43,879 Speaker 1: I'm thirty six, it's lightly salted. At this point in 527 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,280 Speaker 1: my life. We're really trying to watch some intake here. 528 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:50,199 Speaker 3: Yeah, okay, and tell us which which bubbly water do 529 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 3: you like. 530 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:54,160 Speaker 1: I'm a polar guy. It's orange vanilla is the one. 531 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:58,760 Speaker 1: Or I'll cross over and go Lacroix key lime. So nice. 532 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:01,560 Speaker 2: Think of me as you will, especially in summer summertime. 533 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:05,240 Speaker 2: It seems like once it starts getting warmer, water is important. 534 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 1: I'm drinking them now, like trying to call summer quicker 535 00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: and it's not working too well. A little chillier today. 536 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 2: Last week, it was last week, it was for this week. 537 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:17,680 Speaker 2: I don't know what's happened. Yeah, we're both southern people 538 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 2: were a state away, so we've got similar weather, I think. 539 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:22,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, and when it comes to cold weather, like I'm 540 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:25,920 Speaker 1: I'm really glad this book released in the winter because winter, 541 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:28,000 Speaker 1: for me is like I just got to get through this, 542 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 1: Like this is getting like winter is all about getting 543 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:32,640 Speaker 1: through what you're going through. 544 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:35,680 Speaker 2: But there's even beauty and winter seasons. But hey, tell 545 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:38,160 Speaker 2: us about your cover. It's bright orange and it has 546 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:40,600 Speaker 2: an orange on it, so give us like the details 547 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 2: on that or is that a greape fruit? 548 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:44,399 Speaker 1: No, it's an oi. It's an orange, but it kind 549 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 1: of gives that a great fruit feel. But it's like 550 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 1: being squeezed out. And I think that's how a lot 551 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: of us feel some days, like we're getting squeezed out 552 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 1: by life. And yet growing up in Florida and we 553 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: would make fresh squeezed orange juice all the time, and 554 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:02,480 Speaker 1: you would take the orange and you would just squeeze 555 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 1: it and then but you were given something so good 556 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: and something so sweet. And I think that's a little 557 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: bit of what life feels like sometimes too. As you 558 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 1: get you're just getting, you're just going through it. But 559 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 1: what's left over is something something to enjoy. 560 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, so you chose oranges because you're a Florida and 561 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:21,240 Speaker 2: not lemons, like just yeah. 562 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 1: A little bit. Yeah, I think lemons will do for 563 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: the next book. But I mean this, And there's a 564 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:27,399 Speaker 1: couple of writings in the book that kind of talk 565 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:30,439 Speaker 1: a little bit about oranges, so yeah, nice. 566 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, I'm thinking about like olives too. Olives are crushed, 567 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:40,440 Speaker 2: like there's. 568 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:41,160 Speaker 1: No no, no, no. Allive oil is fine, but like, okay, 569 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:43,399 Speaker 1: nine time I see somebody eating olives, I'm like, you 570 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 1: know that there are other foods. 571 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 2: It's a good black I like, I like the green, 572 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:50,440 Speaker 2: I like the klamata. 573 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 1: I mean, you can have my you can have my. 574 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:58,160 Speaker 2: Anything we squeeze or crush, like there's goodness that comes 575 00:26:58,160 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 2: out of it. 576 00:26:58,600 --> 00:26:59,920 Speaker 3: That's the point that comes. 577 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:02,639 Speaker 1: Yes, oh, good point. Yes, then I totally agree on 578 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: all of us. 579 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:05,440 Speaker 2: Yes, goodness. Okay, Well, I know I want to stay 580 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 2: connected with you. I'm sure listeners are going to want 581 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:09,480 Speaker 2: to going to purchase this new book, So tell us 582 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 2: how we can do that. 583 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:13,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, the book is on Amazon. It's titled Getting Through 584 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:15,360 Speaker 1: what You're going Through. And then you can find all 585 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:18,960 Speaker 1: of my work on Instagram, substack. If you just type 586 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:22,719 Speaker 1: my name into Google, you'll probably find me. It's ols 587 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 1: o N not like the Olsen Twins. 588 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:28,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, got it. I'm in that generation. So thank you. 589 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 2: Well, would you do us the honor of praying for 590 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 2: us as we close today? 591 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:36,200 Speaker 1: Sure? Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are not far, 592 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: but you are here with us, that you walk with 593 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:42,160 Speaker 1: us as we get through what we're going through. Got 594 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:44,480 Speaker 1: I pray, and that you would continue to meet us 595 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:47,719 Speaker 1: with hope, that you would continue to guide us with grace, 596 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:50,879 Speaker 1: and that your mercy would meet our madness. Open up 597 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:53,479 Speaker 1: our eyes to see the small, beautiful things that are 598 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:56,679 Speaker 1: around us, help us to slow down and to see 599 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:58,960 Speaker 1: how good and kind you are. 600 00:27:59,119 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 2: Amen, Amen and Tanner, thank you. I appreciate your time today. 601 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 2: Thank you for helping us to get through what we 602 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 2: are going through. 603 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:07,679 Speaker 1: Well. Thanks for having me means a lot, and thank. 604 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 2: You so much for listening to the Love Offering podcast. 605 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:12,880 Speaker 2: I hope today's conversation encouraged and inspired you to love God, 606 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:15,320 Speaker 2: love others, and even love yourself a little more. If 607 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:17,200 Speaker 2: you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend 608 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 2: and leave a review. It helps others find the show 609 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:21,919 Speaker 2: and spreads the message of love even further. To connect 610 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 2: with me, visit me on my website at Rachel Kadams 611 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:26,199 Speaker 2: dot com. While you're there, be sure to download the 612 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 2: Love Offering Calendar, a free resource filled with simple daily 613 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:31,880 Speaker 2: ways to love those around you. Be sure to check 614 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:34,280 Speaker 2: out Tanner Olsen's new book and Getting Through what You're 615 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:37,439 Speaker 2: Going Through Notes and Poems for Hoping and Becoming, a 616 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 2: thoughtful and hope filled collection reminding us that even in 617 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:43,200 Speaker 2: seasons of uncertainty, God is present and our story is 618 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:46,120 Speaker 2: still unfolding. A special thank you to Life Audio for 619 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:48,600 Speaker 2: supporting this podcast and making it possible to find more 620 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 2: great podcast. 621 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:52,440 Speaker 3: Visit lifeaudio dot com. Thanks again for joining us today. 622 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 3: Until next time, let's 623 00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:56,000 Speaker 2: Make our lives an offering of love.