1 00:00:08,257 --> 00:00:09,057 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:11,137 --> 00:00:14,377 Speaker 2: Join us in celebrating an incredible milestone as the beloved 3 00:00:14,457 --> 00:00:18,457 Speaker 2: Jesus Calling brand reaches fifty million lives impacted. As we 4 00:00:18,497 --> 00:00:21,576 Speaker 2: honor the legacy of author Sarah Young, we reflect on 5 00:00:21,616 --> 00:00:26,816 Speaker 2: the stories from celebrities, pastors, authors, actors, singers, athletes, scholars, 6 00:00:26,857 --> 00:00:30,377 Speaker 2: and everyday people who have been inspired by her devotional writings. 7 00:00:30,657 --> 00:00:32,857 Speaker 2: To join in the celebration and to hear some of 8 00:00:32,897 --> 00:00:35,336 Speaker 2: the stories of people whose faith journeys have been impacted 9 00:00:35,337 --> 00:00:37,776 Speaker 2: by all the writings of Sarah Young, head over to 10 00:00:37,897 --> 00:00:41,497 Speaker 2: Jesus Calling dot com. 11 00:00:42,336 --> 00:00:44,457 Speaker 1: One of the soundtracks I use in my own life 12 00:00:44,497 --> 00:00:48,337 Speaker 1: is that fear comes free, hope takes work. You'll never 13 00:00:48,417 --> 00:00:50,937 Speaker 1: have to look for fear. It will find you. You'll 14 00:00:50,976 --> 00:00:53,456 Speaker 1: never have to look for stress or anxiety. It will 15 00:00:53,457 --> 00:00:56,377 Speaker 1: find you often in the grocery store, not even connected 16 00:00:56,377 --> 00:01:01,217 Speaker 1: to anything you're doing. But hope takes effort, Positivity takes effort. 17 00:01:02,737 --> 00:01:05,857 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Jesus Calling Podcast. This week will from 18 00:01:05,937 --> 00:01:09,537 Speaker 2: John Acuff, a best selling author and speaker who turns 19 00:01:09,577 --> 00:01:13,937 Speaker 2: personal challenges into practical lessons for living with intention and resilience. 20 00:01:14,337 --> 00:01:18,057 Speaker 2: From mastering goals to overcoming negative thinking, John shares insights 21 00:01:18,057 --> 00:01:21,217 Speaker 2: that help listeners navigate life's hard middle and keep moving 22 00:01:21,257 --> 00:01:25,097 Speaker 2: forward even when it feels impossible. Later in the episode, 23 00:01:25,217 --> 00:01:28,697 Speaker 2: we'll hear from journalists and anchor Leland Viddert, whose new book, 24 00:01:28,857 --> 00:01:31,777 Speaker 2: Born Lucky is a deeply moving story of his childhood 25 00:01:31,817 --> 00:01:35,257 Speaker 2: with autism and the profound sacrifices his father made to 26 00:01:35,297 --> 00:01:38,497 Speaker 2: give him hope and teach him resilience. Let's begin with 27 00:01:38,577 --> 00:01:40,217 Speaker 2: John Acuff's story. 28 00:01:48,217 --> 00:01:50,297 Speaker 1: I grew up in the church. My dad's a pastor. 29 00:01:50,377 --> 00:01:53,097 Speaker 1: He planted a church in Massachusetts in the eighties, which 30 00:01:53,137 --> 00:01:55,177 Speaker 1: was kind of unheard of at the time, so I 31 00:01:55,217 --> 00:01:57,857 Speaker 1: got to watch him use a lot of humor and 32 00:01:57,937 --> 00:02:01,697 Speaker 1: personal stories and connections because in New England you don't 33 00:02:01,697 --> 00:02:04,937 Speaker 1: have cultural Christianity to lean on. Not everybody grew up 34 00:02:04,977 --> 00:02:07,817 Speaker 1: going to Sundays, so he had to be really creative 35 00:02:07,857 --> 00:02:10,216 Speaker 1: in the way he wrote sermons, in the way he communicated. 36 00:02:10,697 --> 00:02:13,417 Speaker 1: And of course I wasn't an eighth grader picking notes 37 00:02:13,457 --> 00:02:16,056 Speaker 1: back then, going oh, someday, maybe I'll be a communicator too. 38 00:02:16,417 --> 00:02:19,737 Speaker 1: But I really feel like I'm standing on the shoulders 39 00:02:19,817 --> 00:02:22,737 Speaker 1: of a giant with how I communicate. Having grown up 40 00:02:22,817 --> 00:02:29,297 Speaker 1: watching him do it, I started that blog. I think 41 00:02:29,297 --> 00:02:32,496 Speaker 1: it was two thousand and eight and realized, whoa, there's 42 00:02:32,537 --> 00:02:36,417 Speaker 1: a whole world out here that's engaged and interested, and 43 00:02:36,537 --> 00:02:39,337 Speaker 1: social media has removed a lot of the gatekeepers. I 44 00:02:39,417 --> 00:02:42,577 Speaker 1: started to write to a large audience, and as I did, 45 00:02:42,897 --> 00:02:46,257 Speaker 1: different opportunities started to spout up. A conference said hey, 46 00:02:46,257 --> 00:02:48,417 Speaker 1: do you ever speak about these ideas? And I was like, 47 00:02:48,497 --> 00:02:50,457 Speaker 1: I would love to do that. So I went to 48 00:02:50,457 --> 00:02:53,337 Speaker 1: Oklahoma and did my first speech and it was terrible. 49 00:02:53,417 --> 00:02:56,897 Speaker 1: I was just the worst. I had seventeen main points 50 00:02:56,937 --> 00:02:59,217 Speaker 1: and I threw skittles in between point. I did a 51 00:02:59,257 --> 00:03:01,977 Speaker 1: skittle segue because I thought that would be funny. It 52 00:03:02,057 --> 00:03:05,337 Speaker 1: was not good, but I caught the bug there to go. 53 00:03:05,817 --> 00:03:09,817 Speaker 1: I really like this, this idea of communicating on stage, 54 00:03:09,897 --> 00:03:13,737 Speaker 1: communicating via the written word, using blogs and you know, 55 00:03:13,817 --> 00:03:17,377 Speaker 1: kind of emerging technology. So that started there. But my 56 00:03:17,497 --> 00:03:20,177 Speaker 1: background is I spent fifteen years in corporate marketing, so 57 00:03:20,217 --> 00:03:23,977 Speaker 1: I really learned how to write a short headline, a 58 00:03:24,097 --> 00:03:26,817 Speaker 1: sticky idea. But a lot of my job now, because 59 00:03:26,817 --> 00:03:29,737 Speaker 1: I write business books, is I put handles on ideas. 60 00:03:29,817 --> 00:03:31,817 Speaker 1: We have enough ideas in the world, we don't have 61 00:03:31,857 --> 00:03:34,137 Speaker 1: handles on them. So I'm a handlemaker. I put a 62 00:03:34,137 --> 00:03:35,977 Speaker 1: handle on the idea so you can carry it with you. 63 00:03:37,497 --> 00:03:39,897 Speaker 1: I felt like I missed a lot of opportunities up 64 00:03:39,937 --> 00:03:42,897 Speaker 1: to about my mid thirties because I was blaming other people, 65 00:03:43,257 --> 00:03:45,937 Speaker 1: or I was frustrated, or I was scrumpy, or I wasn't, 66 00:03:46,097 --> 00:03:48,897 Speaker 1: you know, taking ownership for my decisions. And once I 67 00:03:48,977 --> 00:03:52,377 Speaker 1: turned that around, I can't tell enough people like, hey, 68 00:03:52,417 --> 00:03:54,777 Speaker 1: it doesn't have to be that way. You don't have 69 00:03:54,857 --> 00:03:58,897 Speaker 1: to be stuck. So the transition for me, because you know, 70 00:03:58,897 --> 00:04:03,417 Speaker 1: if you think about humorous to writing nonfiction business self 71 00:04:03,417 --> 00:04:06,337 Speaker 1: help books, I was using a lot of things in 72 00:04:06,377 --> 00:04:08,497 Speaker 1: my own life. And so what happened is in my 73 00:04:08,657 --> 00:04:12,057 Speaker 1: mid thirties, I had a series of wake up moments, 74 00:04:12,217 --> 00:04:14,577 Speaker 1: meaning I said, you know what, this isn't working. My 75 00:04:14,657 --> 00:04:17,976 Speaker 1: career isn't working. I think I could be a better husband. 76 00:04:18,097 --> 00:04:20,296 Speaker 1: I think I could be a better dad. I wonder 77 00:04:20,337 --> 00:04:23,376 Speaker 1: if I can learn how to invest in goals. I 78 00:04:23,416 --> 00:04:26,216 Speaker 1: wonder if I can learn how to take personal responsibility 79 00:04:26,217 --> 00:04:28,616 Speaker 1: for my decisions. I wonder if I can learn how 80 00:04:28,657 --> 00:04:30,856 Speaker 1: to change the way I think. Because I'm a really 81 00:04:31,017 --> 00:04:35,377 Speaker 1: naturally negative thinker. I'm a pretty naturally pessimistic guy, and 82 00:04:35,416 --> 00:04:38,257 Speaker 1: so I felt like in my mid thirties, and I 83 00:04:38,257 --> 00:04:41,377 Speaker 1: would say, you know, some people get there earlier. I 84 00:04:41,496 --> 00:04:44,056 Speaker 1: just had this sense that if I would take responsibility 85 00:04:44,097 --> 00:04:46,217 Speaker 1: for my life, I could change a lot of things. 86 00:04:46,257 --> 00:04:49,976 Speaker 1: I wanted to change. The way I started to transition 87 00:04:50,056 --> 00:04:52,496 Speaker 1: into different types of books was I would find a 88 00:04:52,577 --> 00:04:56,016 Speaker 1: problem I had and I'd go, wow, I don't finish 89 00:04:56,097 --> 00:04:58,537 Speaker 1: things like I'm really good at starting. I get excited 90 00:04:58,537 --> 00:05:00,856 Speaker 1: at the start, and I don't finish. I wonder if 91 00:05:00,897 --> 00:05:04,296 Speaker 1: I can learn how to transition from being a chronic 92 00:05:04,416 --> 00:05:07,097 Speaker 1: starter into a consistent to finish her And so then 93 00:05:07,176 --> 00:05:09,057 Speaker 1: I went off and I practiced that, and I tested 94 00:05:09,056 --> 00:05:11,177 Speaker 1: a bunch of things, and I worked it kind of 95 00:05:11,217 --> 00:05:13,936 Speaker 1: in the laboratory of my own life. And then I thought, well, 96 00:05:13,976 --> 00:05:16,456 Speaker 1: I wonder if other people have this problem too. And 97 00:05:16,496 --> 00:05:18,657 Speaker 1: so then I started to talk to people online and 98 00:05:18,697 --> 00:05:21,176 Speaker 1: neighbors and people at events, and I'd say, oh, wow, 99 00:05:21,457 --> 00:05:23,616 Speaker 1: there's a lot of people that struggle with this. According 100 00:05:23,616 --> 00:05:26,376 Speaker 1: to the University of Scranton, they did a study, ninety 101 00:05:26,376 --> 00:05:29,736 Speaker 1: two percent of all New Year's resolutions fail. Everybody starts, 102 00:05:29,816 --> 00:05:32,136 Speaker 1: nobody finish as well. I think this, give me a 103 00:05:32,137 --> 00:05:34,217 Speaker 1: book and then I'd put it into a book, and 104 00:05:34,217 --> 00:05:36,337 Speaker 1: then I'd put it into a keynote. But it really 105 00:05:36,376 --> 00:05:39,256 Speaker 1: started with identifying something I wanted to change my own life, 106 00:05:39,936 --> 00:05:43,496 Speaker 1: deep diving on that, researching that testing, that practicing that, 107 00:05:43,697 --> 00:05:46,256 Speaker 1: exposing it to a wider audience to see if it 108 00:05:46,296 --> 00:05:49,097 Speaker 1: was a viable thing to bring out as a book, 109 00:05:49,217 --> 00:05:52,176 Speaker 1: and then kind of going from there. So everything I 110 00:05:52,257 --> 00:05:54,657 Speaker 1: write is really to the me that was thirty three 111 00:05:54,777 --> 00:05:59,137 Speaker 1: going I feel really stuck, So I'm still sending love 112 00:05:59,217 --> 00:06:06,136 Speaker 1: letters back to that person. I was really hoping that 113 00:06:06,257 --> 00:06:08,257 Speaker 1: writing got easier the more you did it, And what 114 00:06:08,257 --> 00:06:10,616 Speaker 1: I've learned, unfortunately, is the more books you write, the 115 00:06:10,657 --> 00:06:12,976 Speaker 1: harder it is because You've picked all the low hanging fruit. 116 00:06:13,457 --> 00:06:15,816 Speaker 1: I've dug up all the surface diamonds. I have to 117 00:06:15,856 --> 00:06:18,176 Speaker 1: dig pretty deep for a new story or a new idea. 118 00:06:18,337 --> 00:06:20,337 Speaker 1: I have to climb the tree pretty high for a 119 00:06:20,376 --> 00:06:23,457 Speaker 1: new book. So I would say, to some degree, most 120 00:06:23,496 --> 00:06:26,936 Speaker 1: of the big goals I do feel somewhat out of reach. 121 00:06:27,176 --> 00:06:30,097 Speaker 1: I'm always thinking how do I stretch but not get overwhelmed. 122 00:06:30,496 --> 00:06:32,857 Speaker 1: Where people make a mistake with goals is they get 123 00:06:32,897 --> 00:06:36,056 Speaker 1: inspired by January and New Year's or they hear a 124 00:06:36,097 --> 00:06:38,217 Speaker 1: song they really like and they're like, I'm gonna do it. 125 00:06:38,257 --> 00:06:40,257 Speaker 1: And I meet these people all the time. They say, John, 126 00:06:41,056 --> 00:06:42,936 Speaker 1: I'm gonna run. I'll go that's great. They go, yeah, 127 00:06:42,936 --> 00:06:44,897 Speaker 1: I'm doing a marathon, and I'll go have you ever 128 00:06:45,217 --> 00:06:47,337 Speaker 1: have you ever done a half marathon? Have you ever 129 00:06:47,376 --> 00:06:49,697 Speaker 1: done a five k? Have you ever done a k? 130 00:06:50,337 --> 00:06:53,337 Speaker 1: Just ak? And they go no, I'm going forward. I'm 131 00:06:53,337 --> 00:06:56,656 Speaker 1: going to ConA this weekend doing the Iron Man like gonna. 132 00:06:57,056 --> 00:06:59,616 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get a bike made of carbon fiber. And 133 00:06:59,697 --> 00:07:02,097 Speaker 1: I know they're going to struggle because what they've done 134 00:07:02,217 --> 00:07:04,936 Speaker 1: is they've moved from the comfort zone to the chaos zone. 135 00:07:05,217 --> 00:07:09,056 Speaker 1: I think a lot of goals work better when they're measured, 136 00:07:09,097 --> 00:07:11,817 Speaker 1: when they're paced. The way I get through the middle, 137 00:07:12,937 --> 00:07:16,057 Speaker 1: I probably do one hundred different small games to make 138 00:07:16,097 --> 00:07:18,697 Speaker 1: it through the middle, because the middle is the hardest part. 139 00:07:18,737 --> 00:07:21,417 Speaker 1: People don't like to talk about this, but you know, 140 00:07:21,457 --> 00:07:23,977 Speaker 1: if you looked at a goal and said, Okay, there's 141 00:07:23,977 --> 00:07:25,777 Speaker 1: a beginning, there's a middle, and there's an end, and 142 00:07:25,816 --> 00:07:28,337 Speaker 1: if you broke it over thirty days, most people go, oh, 143 00:07:28,377 --> 00:07:30,497 Speaker 1: the beginning is day one through ten. The middle is 144 00:07:30,537 --> 00:07:32,937 Speaker 1: eleven through twenty and the end is twenty one through thirty. 145 00:07:33,057 --> 00:07:36,217 Speaker 1: Unfortunately that's not the case. The beginning is day one, 146 00:07:36,457 --> 00:07:39,097 Speaker 1: the middle is day two through twenty nine, and the 147 00:07:39,137 --> 00:07:43,136 Speaker 1: finish is day thirty. It's mostly middle, and so for me, 148 00:07:44,177 --> 00:07:46,377 Speaker 1: that's why I spend a lot of time going how 149 00:07:46,377 --> 00:07:49,017 Speaker 1: do I stay connected in the middle. So I think 150 00:07:49,017 --> 00:07:52,617 Speaker 1: that a lot of life is talking yourself into doing 151 00:07:52,697 --> 00:07:55,337 Speaker 1: things you don't want to do but you really want 152 00:07:55,337 --> 00:07:57,177 Speaker 1: to do. There's a lot of moneys. I don't want 153 00:07:57,177 --> 00:07:59,137 Speaker 1: to write, I don't want to work out, I don't 154 00:07:59,137 --> 00:08:00,937 Speaker 1: want to be polite, I don't want to, you know, 155 00:08:00,977 --> 00:08:04,497 Speaker 1: be detailed. But I really do want that. If I'm honest, 156 00:08:04,537 --> 00:08:06,857 Speaker 1: I really do want the benefits of those things. And 157 00:08:06,897 --> 00:08:10,097 Speaker 1: so I figure out games inside the middle that get 158 00:08:10,137 --> 00:08:12,657 Speaker 1: me to where I want to be. I think we 159 00:08:12,777 --> 00:08:15,497 Speaker 1: are prone to overthinking, and it's usually done in a 160 00:08:15,537 --> 00:08:18,097 Speaker 1: negative way. I've helped more than a million people with 161 00:08:18,137 --> 00:08:20,297 Speaker 1: their goals over the years, and I still haven't met 162 00:08:20,297 --> 00:08:24,336 Speaker 1: somebody whose problem is that they overthink compliments about themselves. 163 00:08:24,816 --> 00:08:27,137 Speaker 1: I still haven't bumped into somebody that said, yeah, my 164 00:08:27,217 --> 00:08:30,217 Speaker 1: big issue is I'm so encouraging to myself. I'm so 165 00:08:30,737 --> 00:08:33,857 Speaker 1: uplifting to myself. It's a real problem. No, Like, the 166 00:08:33,937 --> 00:08:37,257 Speaker 1: brain has a thing called negativity bias where it's really 167 00:08:37,257 --> 00:08:41,177 Speaker 1: good at remembering negative moments. And so one of the 168 00:08:41,217 --> 00:08:43,817 Speaker 1: soundtracks I use in my own life is that fear 169 00:08:43,857 --> 00:08:46,857 Speaker 1: comes free, hope takes work. You'll never have to look 170 00:08:46,897 --> 00:08:49,297 Speaker 1: for fear. It will find you. You'll never have to 171 00:08:49,297 --> 00:08:51,937 Speaker 1: look for stress or anxiety. It will find you often 172 00:08:51,937 --> 00:08:55,097 Speaker 1: in the grocery store, not even connected to anything you're doing. 173 00:08:55,537 --> 00:08:59,257 Speaker 1: But hope takes effort. Positivity takes effort. So I think 174 00:08:59,257 --> 00:09:01,097 Speaker 1: we're prone to it, and then I just think we 175 00:09:01,177 --> 00:09:04,137 Speaker 1: get beat up a lot by the world with negativity. 176 00:09:04,417 --> 00:09:07,737 Speaker 1: And did a survey with ten thousand people and discovered 177 00:09:07,777 --> 00:09:10,617 Speaker 1: that ninety nine percent of people ninety nine point five 178 00:09:10,737 --> 00:09:14,777 Speaker 1: technically say they struggle with overthinking. Where that changed my 179 00:09:14,937 --> 00:09:17,457 Speaker 1: own thought about myself was I realized I wasn't the 180 00:09:17,457 --> 00:09:19,897 Speaker 1: only one. One of their biggest lives is it's just 181 00:09:20,057 --> 00:09:23,617 Speaker 1: you. You're the only person that overthinks. You're the only person 182 00:09:23,617 --> 00:09:25,817 Speaker 1: that struggles with inner critic You're the only person that 183 00:09:25,817 --> 00:09:28,937 Speaker 1: struggles with imposter syndrome. So the study for me was 184 00:09:29,097 --> 00:09:32,577 Speaker 1: very freeing in the sense of, oh, wait, everybody is 185 00:09:33,097 --> 00:09:35,297 Speaker 1: so I think too. The world plays a role in 186 00:09:36,097 --> 00:09:39,057 Speaker 1: sharing negativity. You know, it's if it bleeds, it leads 187 00:09:39,137 --> 00:09:41,137 Speaker 1: kind of thing, And so I think there's also a 188 00:09:41,217 --> 00:09:45,217 Speaker 1: lot of fuel for our negative thoughts and our negative overthinking. 189 00:09:45,737 --> 00:09:49,257 Speaker 1: The difference for me between a broken soundtrack, meaning a 190 00:09:49,337 --> 00:09:52,817 Speaker 1: negative thought that's running on a loop, and a prompting 191 00:09:52,857 --> 00:09:55,537 Speaker 1: from the Holy Spirit is often what it leads to. 192 00:09:56,057 --> 00:09:58,577 Speaker 1: I think a prompting of the Holy Spirit leads to prayer, 193 00:09:58,657 --> 00:10:01,777 Speaker 1: it leads to change, it leads to journaling, it leads 194 00:10:01,817 --> 00:10:05,057 Speaker 1: to confession to a friend, it leads to plugging back 195 00:10:05,097 --> 00:10:08,977 Speaker 1: into your group. That's usually not where a broken soundtrack leads. 196 00:10:09,377 --> 00:10:12,377 Speaker 1: Just leads to more overthinking. Like overthinking is a loop 197 00:10:12,417 --> 00:10:14,617 Speaker 1: that feeds on itself. It's kind of like loneliness. The 198 00:10:14,617 --> 00:10:17,737 Speaker 1: problem with loneliness is people think the solution is to 199 00:10:17,817 --> 00:10:20,177 Speaker 1: spend time alone figuring out why they feel lonely, and 200 00:10:20,217 --> 00:10:22,737 Speaker 1: the solution is actually people but when you're lonely, they go, man, 201 00:10:22,777 --> 00:10:24,777 Speaker 1: I feel really lonely. I should sit at home alone 202 00:10:24,777 --> 00:10:26,497 Speaker 1: figuring out why I feel so lonely. And it just 203 00:10:26,497 --> 00:10:29,137 Speaker 1: feeds on itself, same with a broken soundtrack. So I 204 00:10:29,217 --> 00:10:32,977 Speaker 1: often go where did it lead? Because the whole model 205 00:10:32,977 --> 00:10:35,817 Speaker 1: of mindset is very simple. We overcomplicate it, but it's 206 00:10:35,817 --> 00:10:39,017 Speaker 1: so simple. Here's how it works. Your thoughts turn into actions, 207 00:10:39,057 --> 00:10:42,337 Speaker 1: your actions turn into results. What you think becomes what 208 00:10:42,417 --> 00:10:45,257 Speaker 1: you do becomes what you get. So if somebody said 209 00:10:45,257 --> 00:10:47,497 Speaker 1: to me, I'm having a hard time distinguishing between a 210 00:10:47,497 --> 00:10:50,256 Speaker 1: broken soundtrack and a prompt from the Holy Spirit, I'd go, well, 211 00:10:50,257 --> 00:10:52,777 Speaker 1: what action did it turn into? Did it turn into 212 00:10:52,937 --> 00:10:55,297 Speaker 1: an action that led you in the right direction? Or 213 00:10:55,297 --> 00:10:57,777 Speaker 1: did it turn into a negative action? And then there's 214 00:10:57,857 --> 00:11:01,217 Speaker 1: three questions you should ask any really loud broken soundtrack. 215 00:11:01,257 --> 00:11:04,537 Speaker 1: Three simple questions. Number one, is it true? Is the 216 00:11:04,577 --> 00:11:07,457 Speaker 1: story I'm telling myself about myself true? Is the story 217 00:11:07,457 --> 00:11:10,337 Speaker 1: I'm telling myself about the situation true? When I think 218 00:11:10,377 --> 00:11:12,537 Speaker 1: this again and again in my head? Does it move 219 00:11:12,537 --> 00:11:13,897 Speaker 1: me in the direction I want to go? Or does 220 00:11:13,897 --> 00:11:16,177 Speaker 1: it keep me stuck? And then the third question is 221 00:11:16,177 --> 00:11:19,377 Speaker 1: is it kind? Is this thought kind? If I set 222 00:11:19,417 --> 00:11:20,697 Speaker 1: it to a friend, would they still want to be 223 00:11:20,697 --> 00:11:22,777 Speaker 1: in my friend? If you can't say yes to those 224 00:11:22,777 --> 00:11:25,257 Speaker 1: three questions, is it true? Is it helpful? Is it kind? 225 00:11:25,777 --> 00:11:28,377 Speaker 1: It's definitely a broken soundtrack and something you need to 226 00:11:28,417 --> 00:11:37,817 Speaker 1: retire Jesus calling. I don't know anybody, at least in 227 00:11:38,017 --> 00:11:40,577 Speaker 1: the faith circles that's not familiar with it. There are 228 00:11:40,697 --> 00:11:44,417 Speaker 1: multiple people in our couple's small group that had their 229 00:11:44,457 --> 00:11:47,217 Speaker 1: lives impacted by it. I can't count the number of 230 00:11:47,217 --> 00:11:50,057 Speaker 1: houses where it's in a prominent, easy to reach spot. 231 00:11:50,537 --> 00:11:53,017 Speaker 1: I think part of the beauty of it is is 232 00:11:53,057 --> 00:11:56,257 Speaker 1: it's a jump in where you are kind of book like, 233 00:11:56,337 --> 00:11:58,257 Speaker 1: it's a jump in in the season you're in kind 234 00:11:58,297 --> 00:12:00,617 Speaker 1: of book I just have so many friends too that 235 00:12:01,137 --> 00:12:04,657 Speaker 1: it's almost like a fire extinguisher in their house. It's 236 00:12:04,697 --> 00:12:07,257 Speaker 1: on a spot where you can grab it quickly in 237 00:12:07,297 --> 00:12:10,857 Speaker 1: need of a moment to be quiet, when I feel 238 00:12:10,897 --> 00:12:14,177 Speaker 1: out of sorts, or when I feel like I feel unquiet, 239 00:12:14,377 --> 00:12:18,337 Speaker 1: or I feel overwhelmed. There's so many verses I go to, 240 00:12:18,417 --> 00:12:20,617 Speaker 1: but one of my favorites is zeph Andi three seventeen. 241 00:12:21,097 --> 00:12:22,817 Speaker 1: The Lord of your Guy is with you. He's ready 242 00:12:22,857 --> 00:12:25,337 Speaker 1: to save You'll take great delight in you. He'll quiet 243 00:12:25,377 --> 00:12:28,057 Speaker 1: you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. 244 00:12:28,257 --> 00:12:30,537 Speaker 1: Stephani three seventeen is when I go back to again 245 00:12:30,577 --> 00:12:33,097 Speaker 1: and again and again, and then I also go back 246 00:12:33,097 --> 00:12:35,617 Speaker 1: to you know, I love the Prodigal Son's story, like 247 00:12:35,697 --> 00:12:39,337 Speaker 1: that's when I've read a million times. And the fun 248 00:12:39,337 --> 00:12:42,337 Speaker 1: thing about the Bible is you see new things, like 249 00:12:42,417 --> 00:12:44,697 Speaker 1: when you read a story you've read again and again. 250 00:12:44,897 --> 00:12:47,537 Speaker 1: One of my favorite things about that story, it took 251 00:12:47,577 --> 00:12:50,137 Speaker 1: me years to recognize, is that the father never talks 252 00:12:50,217 --> 00:12:52,817 Speaker 1: to the younger son. And you don't notice that when 253 00:12:52,857 --> 00:12:55,417 Speaker 1: you read it, but if you read it and look, 254 00:12:55,857 --> 00:12:58,057 Speaker 1: when he asks for the money, he doesn't say anything 255 00:12:58,057 --> 00:13:00,297 Speaker 1: to him. And then when he comes home, it says 256 00:13:00,297 --> 00:13:02,697 Speaker 1: he turned to the servants and said, get the robe. 257 00:13:02,697 --> 00:13:06,177 Speaker 1: My son has come home. And all to often when 258 00:13:06,257 --> 00:13:08,777 Speaker 1: we feel like God is distant and he's not talking, 259 00:13:08,817 --> 00:13:11,177 Speaker 1: we think it's because he's mad. And God just hit 260 00:13:11,217 --> 00:13:13,097 Speaker 1: me with no what if I've got you embraced and 261 00:13:13,177 --> 00:13:16,377 Speaker 1: I'm just busy planning your party. And then also relationship. 262 00:13:16,657 --> 00:13:18,777 Speaker 1: I don't know, if you've met men, they're not awesome 263 00:13:18,897 --> 00:13:22,337 Speaker 1: at relationship. It's not what we are naturally great at. 264 00:13:23,057 --> 00:13:27,417 Speaker 1: So being open to tell somebody something's not working, being 265 00:13:27,537 --> 00:13:30,497 Speaker 1: open to need help. I mentioned that I do that 266 00:13:30,577 --> 00:13:32,537 Speaker 1: morning workout, and one of the things I learned in 267 00:13:32,537 --> 00:13:35,057 Speaker 1: that program, you know, say whoever's leading, it goes, Okay, 268 00:13:35,097 --> 00:13:37,017 Speaker 1: you got to do one hundred pushups, two hundred sit ups, 269 00:13:37,017 --> 00:13:40,537 Speaker 1: and three hundred squads. They say, if you finish first, 270 00:13:40,657 --> 00:13:43,897 Speaker 1: go help another guy. So what inevitably happens is the strongest, 271 00:13:43,897 --> 00:13:46,337 Speaker 1: most in shape people come over and go, hey, can 272 00:13:46,377 --> 00:13:47,937 Speaker 1: I give you twenty push ups to help you get 273 00:13:47,977 --> 00:13:50,417 Speaker 1: to your total? And then you, as a man, go yeah, 274 00:13:50,457 --> 00:13:52,617 Speaker 1: I would love that. And what I learned was like, 275 00:13:52,897 --> 00:13:55,977 Speaker 1: the strongest people have the most need to be generous 276 00:13:56,097 --> 00:13:59,577 Speaker 1: because they finished first, they are the most accomplished. And 277 00:13:59,657 --> 00:14:02,337 Speaker 1: if they come back and then they're generous, the whole 278 00:14:02,377 --> 00:14:04,177 Speaker 1: thing works. And then if you, as a man can 279 00:14:04,257 --> 00:14:06,977 Speaker 1: receive that, it's fine because you kind of want to 280 00:14:06,977 --> 00:14:09,697 Speaker 1: be like, no, I got it, I'm greed at push ups. 281 00:14:09,857 --> 00:14:12,617 Speaker 1: I don't need any pushups. And so also, when I 282 00:14:12,697 --> 00:14:17,217 Speaker 1: feel stuck, receiving something from somebody else that I trust, 283 00:14:17,697 --> 00:14:21,137 Speaker 1: being in community is another thing for me that helps 284 00:14:21,177 --> 00:14:22,137 Speaker 1: me get unstuck. 285 00:14:25,497 --> 00:14:28,057 Speaker 2: To learn more about John Acuff and his books, visit 286 00:14:28,297 --> 00:14:33,217 Speaker 2: Johnacuff dot com. Stay tuned to Leland Hittard's story. After 287 00:14:33,257 --> 00:14:43,257 Speaker 2: a brief message celebrate the mothers, grandmothers and mom figures 288 00:14:43,297 --> 00:14:45,737 Speaker 2: in your life with the Jesus. Listens for Mom's Prayer 289 00:14:45,737 --> 00:14:50,017 Speaker 2: devotional by beloved author Sarah Young. Inside you'll find fifty 290 00:14:50,017 --> 00:14:52,297 Speaker 2: prayers that speak to the power of love, the gift 291 00:14:52,337 --> 00:14:56,057 Speaker 2: of strength, trusting God during challenging times, haveing courage, and 292 00:14:56,177 --> 00:15:00,857 Speaker 2: so much more. Accompanying the prayers are beautiful illustrations, scripture, verses, 293 00:15:01,057 --> 00:15:03,697 Speaker 2: and quotes that will uplift women of every age and 294 00:15:03,737 --> 00:15:07,057 Speaker 2: help them talk and walk more close with Jesus, making 295 00:15:07,057 --> 00:15:10,017 Speaker 2: it the perfect gift for mothers Days, birthdays and more. 296 00:15:10,417 --> 00:15:17,897 Speaker 2: Find it today at your favorite retailer. Next, we welcome 297 00:15:17,977 --> 00:15:21,057 Speaker 2: journalist and anchor Leland Viddert, who has written a book 298 00:15:21,097 --> 00:15:24,697 Speaker 2: called Born Lucky. Leland shares the deeply personal story of 299 00:15:24,697 --> 00:15:28,177 Speaker 2: growing up with autism, the profound sacrifices his father made 300 00:15:28,377 --> 00:15:31,017 Speaker 2: to help him navigate the world, and how that dedication 301 00:15:31,137 --> 00:15:34,537 Speaker 2: gave Leland the foundation to flourish. 302 00:15:34,697 --> 00:15:37,777 Speaker 3: My name is Leland Viddert. I'm the chief Washington anchor 303 00:15:37,857 --> 00:15:42,257 Speaker 3: for News Nation and most recently the author of a 304 00:15:42,337 --> 00:15:46,377 Speaker 3: book called Born Lucky, which is the story of my 305 00:15:46,577 --> 00:15:50,257 Speaker 3: growing up with autism and my father quitting his job 306 00:15:50,777 --> 00:15:55,937 Speaker 3: and dedicating his life to adapting me to the world. 307 00:15:56,057 --> 00:16:04,777 Speaker 3: Rather than the world to me. I was not brought 308 00:16:04,817 --> 00:16:08,577 Speaker 3: up in a faith based household. My mother had left 309 00:16:08,657 --> 00:16:11,497 Speaker 3: the Christian Science religion when she was a little girl 310 00:16:12,297 --> 00:16:15,217 Speaker 3: or high schooler, and my dad was born Jewish but 311 00:16:15,297 --> 00:16:18,737 Speaker 3: never really practiced. Something that I learned early on as 312 00:16:18,737 --> 00:16:21,137 Speaker 3: a little boy and didn't really know where it came from. 313 00:16:21,217 --> 00:16:23,257 Speaker 3: You know, that's saying it'll always look better in the morning, 314 00:16:23,657 --> 00:16:26,897 Speaker 3: which comes from joy cometh in the morning. And that 315 00:16:27,937 --> 00:16:31,937 Speaker 3: really has stuck with me for so many decades. And 316 00:16:31,977 --> 00:16:34,417 Speaker 3: that was something that my dad always taught me. And 317 00:16:34,457 --> 00:16:38,257 Speaker 3: I think it's interesting that you have my father who 318 00:16:38,777 --> 00:16:42,137 Speaker 3: really does not have a religion but is still a 319 00:16:42,297 --> 00:16:46,217 Speaker 3: deeply I think, faithful man and faithful to his own 320 00:16:46,297 --> 00:16:51,097 Speaker 3: values and too the core character traits that are so important. 321 00:16:52,777 --> 00:16:55,337 Speaker 3: I grew up in Saint Louis, Missouri. When I was 322 00:16:55,377 --> 00:16:58,097 Speaker 3: about eight years old, my parents were told they needed 323 00:16:58,097 --> 00:17:02,057 Speaker 3: to have me evaluated, which is the worst thing any 324 00:17:02,097 --> 00:17:04,936 Speaker 3: parent can hear. So they take me to one of 325 00:17:04,977 --> 00:17:10,057 Speaker 3: those little medical office buildings, linoleum floors, stale coffee, old magazines, 326 00:17:10,097 --> 00:17:11,976 Speaker 3: We've all been there. It's before cell phones. So my 327 00:17:12,057 --> 00:17:15,257 Speaker 3: parents really have nothing to do but worry for a 328 00:17:15,297 --> 00:17:19,936 Speaker 3: couple of hours and they sit there. The woman brings 329 00:17:19,977 --> 00:17:23,097 Speaker 3: me back and says, boy, your son has a lot 330 00:17:23,097 --> 00:17:26,377 Speaker 3: of problems. He has big behavioral problems. At that point, 331 00:17:26,377 --> 00:17:28,337 Speaker 3: I was never getting invited to a birthday party or 332 00:17:28,417 --> 00:17:31,177 Speaker 3: play date. But if I saw a kid that looked 333 00:17:31,177 --> 00:17:33,177 Speaker 3: at me the wrong way or ran into me in 334 00:17:33,257 --> 00:17:36,017 Speaker 3: line or whatever, I would turn around and sluggle. I 335 00:17:36,017 --> 00:17:38,417 Speaker 3: had big sensory issues. So if I had anything on 336 00:17:38,457 --> 00:17:41,057 Speaker 3: my ankles or a jacket I didn't like, socks I 337 00:17:41,097 --> 00:17:42,817 Speaker 3: didn't like, I would just melt down and the day 338 00:17:42,817 --> 00:17:46,217 Speaker 3: would be over. And big learning disabilities. So they gave 339 00:17:46,257 --> 00:17:48,736 Speaker 3: me an IQ test, and an IQ test is the 340 00:17:48,817 --> 00:17:54,497 Speaker 3: average of the two scores of different tests. My score 341 00:17:55,257 --> 00:17:59,697 Speaker 3: represented a spread of seventy points between the two halves. 342 00:17:59,777 --> 00:18:02,577 Speaker 3: Twenty points is a learning disability. I had seventy points. 343 00:18:03,057 --> 00:18:05,897 Speaker 3: The woman said to my parents, that's the big spread 344 00:18:05,937 --> 00:18:09,057 Speaker 3: they'd ever seen. In her words, it's very difficult to 345 00:18:09,217 --> 00:18:13,337 Speaker 3: understand what's going on inside my head. And at that 346 00:18:13,457 --> 00:18:15,617 Speaker 3: point my dad said, as any father would, well what 347 00:18:15,617 --> 00:18:19,377 Speaker 3: do we do? And the woman said, well, there's not 348 00:18:19,537 --> 00:18:21,257 Speaker 3: much you can do, and I have to meet him 349 00:18:21,257 --> 00:18:24,217 Speaker 3: where he is. And where I was was an absolute disaster, 350 00:18:24,857 --> 00:18:27,897 Speaker 3: and Dad said, well, that's just not an option. He 351 00:18:27,937 --> 00:18:29,377 Speaker 3: didn't know how it was going to end up, but 352 00:18:29,457 --> 00:18:34,177 Speaker 3: he knew that him being there every day and becoming 353 00:18:34,537 --> 00:18:37,257 Speaker 3: my only friend still is my best friend, was my 354 00:18:37,337 --> 00:18:41,537 Speaker 3: only hope. That word resilience isn't what I understood as 355 00:18:41,537 --> 00:18:46,256 Speaker 3: a kid. I now know how important it is, and 356 00:18:46,337 --> 00:18:54,617 Speaker 3: it's just not quitting. I got to interview my dad 357 00:18:54,897 --> 00:18:58,897 Speaker 3: so much for the book, right, And one of the 358 00:18:58,937 --> 00:19:00,936 Speaker 3: real reasons to write is I wanted to let my 359 00:19:01,057 --> 00:19:04,817 Speaker 3: dad know I understood the sacrifices he made and how 360 00:19:04,897 --> 00:19:08,337 Speaker 3: much he dedicated to me, and to say thank you. 361 00:19:08,457 --> 00:19:10,817 Speaker 3: And the other reason is to give hope to so 362 00:19:10,937 --> 00:19:15,377 Speaker 3: many parents who are struggling the way my parents did 363 00:19:15,417 --> 00:19:19,937 Speaker 3: in the way my father did. Everybody needs to feel 364 00:19:20,017 --> 00:19:23,417 Speaker 3: like they have somebody who believes in them, and for me, 365 00:19:23,577 --> 00:19:25,417 Speaker 3: that was my dad. He was the only person who 366 00:19:25,457 --> 00:19:30,937 Speaker 3: believed in me. And after I was diagnosed, he realized 367 00:19:31,377 --> 00:19:32,936 Speaker 3: that I was not going to be able to have 368 00:19:32,977 --> 00:19:38,017 Speaker 3: self esteem in any of the normal ways a child 369 00:19:38,257 --> 00:19:39,936 Speaker 3: gets self esteem. I wasn't going to be good at 370 00:19:39,937 --> 00:19:42,537 Speaker 3: school because of learning disabilities. I wasn't gonna have friends 371 00:19:42,577 --> 00:19:46,736 Speaker 3: because of the behavioral issues and social awkwardness, and I 372 00:19:46,737 --> 00:19:49,457 Speaker 3: wasn't gonna be good athletics because of hand eye coordination 373 00:19:49,537 --> 00:19:52,617 Speaker 3: issues that I still have. So he's like, how do 374 00:19:52,737 --> 00:19:55,337 Speaker 3: I give this kid a sense of self and a 375 00:19:55,377 --> 00:19:57,937 Speaker 3: sense of self esteem and teaching him that hard work 376 00:19:58,497 --> 00:20:01,137 Speaker 3: really pays off. And it started by doing push ups 377 00:20:01,137 --> 00:20:02,937 Speaker 3: two order push ups a day, five days a week 378 00:20:03,177 --> 00:20:04,936 Speaker 3: for three months, and you got some prize. I mean, 379 00:20:04,977 --> 00:20:09,617 Speaker 3: simple bride, right, But it taught me that hard work 380 00:20:10,377 --> 00:20:15,257 Speaker 3: yields results. And the way that lesson was taught right 381 00:20:15,377 --> 00:20:17,696 Speaker 3: is because thanks to being able to interview dad and 382 00:20:17,697 --> 00:20:20,577 Speaker 3: talk to him. You see that he grew up very 383 00:20:20,657 --> 00:20:22,977 Speaker 3: differently with a father who was very loving but very tough. 384 00:20:23,057 --> 00:20:26,497 Speaker 3: Died when he was sixteen, the defining time in his life. 385 00:20:26,977 --> 00:20:29,777 Speaker 3: You see, the night that my grandfather died, that my 386 00:20:29,857 --> 00:20:32,377 Speaker 3: dad was getting ready for a date, and his older brother, 387 00:20:32,377 --> 00:20:34,737 Speaker 3: who didn't live at the house has already grown, came 388 00:20:34,777 --> 00:20:38,457 Speaker 3: in and said to my dad, our dad died. And 389 00:20:38,537 --> 00:20:42,657 Speaker 3: they go down to the family office. My grandfather had 390 00:20:42,657 --> 00:20:45,456 Speaker 3: a small construction company, and they opened the safe in 391 00:20:45,497 --> 00:20:47,216 Speaker 3: the office, and then there was a letter to my 392 00:20:47,337 --> 00:20:51,057 Speaker 3: father and his brother, my uncle, about how to live 393 00:20:51,097 --> 00:20:56,537 Speaker 3: their lives, and it was about how one is defined 394 00:20:56,617 --> 00:21:00,897 Speaker 3: by character, not by accolades or achievements or personal wealth, 395 00:21:01,577 --> 00:21:04,057 Speaker 3: but by who they are as a man. And that 396 00:21:04,537 --> 00:21:08,777 Speaker 3: challenge is one that my dad took and decided he 397 00:21:08,817 --> 00:21:11,737 Speaker 3: would be a different kind of father to me, obviously, 398 00:21:12,457 --> 00:21:16,777 Speaker 3: and then tried to impart to me those very same 399 00:21:16,857 --> 00:21:20,456 Speaker 3: lessons about character. He has no expectations, or had no 400 00:21:20,577 --> 00:21:24,057 Speaker 3: expectations about the future, and that is true. He said 401 00:21:24,057 --> 00:21:26,297 Speaker 3: that as his advice to parents who were dealing with 402 00:21:26,577 --> 00:21:30,097 Speaker 3: difficult issues with their kids. But he followed that up. 403 00:21:30,617 --> 00:21:34,417 Speaker 3: I think with me there were no expectations, but there 404 00:21:34,657 --> 00:21:38,977 Speaker 3: was standards, and the number one standard was about character 405 00:21:39,057 --> 00:21:41,697 Speaker 3: and being a good person and living up to his 406 00:21:41,937 --> 00:21:47,097 Speaker 3: father's challenge. I grew up, I guess, in the words 407 00:21:47,097 --> 00:21:50,777 Speaker 3: of today, with a relative amount of privilege, my parents 408 00:21:50,857 --> 00:21:53,177 Speaker 3: had done well. My dad did very well as an entrepreneur. 409 00:21:53,737 --> 00:21:55,497 Speaker 3: I later asked him, you know, if you couldn't have 410 00:21:55,537 --> 00:21:58,897 Speaker 3: quit your job, what would you have done to be 411 00:21:58,937 --> 00:22:00,457 Speaker 3: able to be with me, And he said, well, he said, 412 00:22:00,457 --> 00:22:04,817 Speaker 3: I knew your only hope was to have me there 413 00:22:04,817 --> 00:22:06,976 Speaker 3: with you, So I would have worked the night shift 414 00:22:07,097 --> 00:22:09,417 Speaker 3: so I could have been there every morning. And every night. 415 00:22:10,817 --> 00:22:13,936 Speaker 3: With that said, I went out into the world as 416 00:22:13,977 --> 00:22:16,777 Speaker 3: a young reporter out of college, having really no understanding 417 00:22:16,817 --> 00:22:19,216 Speaker 3: of what the real world was. And I think, especially 418 00:22:19,217 --> 00:22:21,137 Speaker 3: when I was in the Middle East, there are no 419 00:22:21,217 --> 00:22:26,617 Speaker 3: atheists in a foxhole, and I remember distinctly being in 420 00:22:26,857 --> 00:22:32,497 Speaker 3: those moments in different places asking for protection. And when 421 00:22:32,537 --> 00:22:35,456 Speaker 3: I left Jerusalem four years in the Middle East for 422 00:22:35,497 --> 00:22:40,657 Speaker 3: Fox News, I went down to the Whaling Wall, the 423 00:22:40,737 --> 00:22:44,297 Speaker 3: western wall of the Temple, which is the Temple Mount, 424 00:22:44,297 --> 00:22:46,857 Speaker 3: which is where Jews believed to be the holiest place 425 00:22:47,017 --> 00:22:50,817 Speaker 3: on earth, and people put notes in the wall, always 426 00:22:50,857 --> 00:22:55,657 Speaker 3: with prayer requests, something I didn't really ever do. But 427 00:22:56,137 --> 00:22:59,297 Speaker 3: I went down there the day I left and left 428 00:22:59,297 --> 00:23:01,657 Speaker 3: a note in the wall that just said thank you 429 00:23:02,057 --> 00:23:04,817 Speaker 3: for watching over me and for protecting me. And I've 430 00:23:04,817 --> 00:23:09,017 Speaker 3: always felt well the power of gratitude and of being 431 00:23:09,057 --> 00:23:13,016 Speaker 3: thankful for being alive and knowing where the people you 432 00:23:13,057 --> 00:23:18,777 Speaker 3: love are and being safe is so important. When I 433 00:23:18,817 --> 00:23:21,696 Speaker 3: was diagnosed with autism, there was no therapist, there was 434 00:23:21,737 --> 00:23:24,697 Speaker 3: no counselors, there were no accommodations. My parents didn't tell anyone. 435 00:23:24,737 --> 00:23:28,977 Speaker 3: They didn't tell my teachers, my principles, their friends, nobody 436 00:23:29,177 --> 00:23:31,737 Speaker 3: They did not want me to be defined by a label, 437 00:23:31,857 --> 00:23:33,936 Speaker 3: or be able to define myself by a label or 438 00:23:34,017 --> 00:23:35,736 Speaker 3: use a label as an excuse. So that was the 439 00:23:35,777 --> 00:23:38,976 Speaker 3: decision that had been made in going to therapy on 440 00:23:39,057 --> 00:23:41,897 Speaker 3: national television at forty three years old and sharing the deepest, 441 00:23:41,937 --> 00:23:45,337 Speaker 3: darkest secrets of my life and darkest moments of my 442 00:23:45,417 --> 00:23:50,137 Speaker 3: life is not a lot of fun, right, but it's 443 00:23:50,217 --> 00:23:54,456 Speaker 3: worth it because it is given so many people hope. 444 00:23:54,857 --> 00:23:58,297 Speaker 3: And when we first started talking to publishers about this book, 445 00:23:59,137 --> 00:24:02,177 Speaker 3: they kept talking about it as an autism book, and 446 00:24:02,337 --> 00:24:04,897 Speaker 3: I took a step back and I said, you know, 447 00:24:04,937 --> 00:24:07,737 Speaker 3: this isn't an autism book. This is a love story 448 00:24:07,777 --> 00:24:10,936 Speaker 3: about a father and a son. Most of the people 449 00:24:10,977 --> 00:24:16,857 Speaker 3: reading this have children, and it's about what every parent 450 00:24:17,017 --> 00:24:20,817 Speaker 3: can do and how love really can conquer so much 451 00:24:21,417 --> 00:24:25,577 Speaker 3: and really can mean so much. What's meant the most 452 00:24:25,937 --> 00:24:28,817 Speaker 3: is how many parents have written me now saying that 453 00:24:28,857 --> 00:24:31,976 Speaker 3: they don't feel alone, that they feel like they're in 454 00:24:32,017 --> 00:24:35,777 Speaker 3: this fight with others. And that is so true. That 455 00:24:36,497 --> 00:24:40,297 Speaker 3: there are so many people in this fight for their 456 00:24:40,417 --> 00:24:43,696 Speaker 3: kids who all feel alone and who don't know in 457 00:24:43,817 --> 00:24:47,177 Speaker 3: those moments whether they're making a difference. Is my dad said, 458 00:24:47,177 --> 00:24:48,417 Speaker 3: I didn't know how it was going to turn out, 459 00:24:48,417 --> 00:24:51,216 Speaker 3: but I knew I had to try. And it is 460 00:24:51,497 --> 00:24:54,817 Speaker 3: a father son loves story about a father who just 461 00:24:54,857 --> 00:24:56,737 Speaker 3: wanted the best for a son and was going to 462 00:24:56,777 --> 00:24:57,257 Speaker 3: fight for that. 463 00:25:01,497 --> 00:25:04,697 Speaker 2: To learn more about Leland Viddert, visit born Lucky dot 464 00:25:04,737 --> 00:25:07,377 Speaker 2: com and be sure to check out his book Born Lucky. 465 00:25:07,577 --> 00:25:10,456 Speaker 2: A Dedicated Father, A Grateful Son, and My Journey with 466 00:25:10,497 --> 00:25:13,776 Speaker 2: Autism at your favorite retailer. If you'd like to hear 467 00:25:13,817 --> 00:25:27,017 Speaker 2: more stories about resilience, check out our interview with Ken Abraham. 468 00:25:27,297 --> 00:25:29,937 Speaker 2: Next time on the Jesus Calling podcast, we'll hear from 469 00:25:29,977 --> 00:25:33,377 Speaker 2: Rebecca Saint James, a Grammy winning artist who shares about 470 00:25:33,377 --> 00:25:35,417 Speaker 2: the leap that brought her family from Australia to the 471 00:25:35,537 --> 00:25:37,737 Speaker 2: US and the challenges she faced on the road to 472 00:25:37,737 --> 00:25:39,216 Speaker 2: becoming a Christian music artist. 473 00:25:40,897 --> 00:25:43,377 Speaker 1: I've been really doing music on and off for my 474 00:25:43,417 --> 00:25:48,137 Speaker 1: whole life and just being on a pretty amazing adventure 475 00:25:48,137 --> 00:25:50,177 Speaker 1: with God. You know, lots of highs, lots of loaths, 476 00:25:50,617 --> 00:25:53,577 Speaker 1: but just seeing Him in my life leading me that 477 00:25:53,657 --> 00:25:54,177 Speaker 1: whole time. 478 00:25:59,857 --> 00:26:02,377 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to the Jesus Calling Stories of Faith 479 00:26:02,457 --> 00:26:06,417 Speaker 2: podcast on the Life Audio Network. Week will bring you 480 00:26:06,457 --> 00:26:09,337 Speaker 2: stories from people who share their journeys of faith and 481 00:26:09,457 --> 00:26:12,936 Speaker 2: how prayer and a relationship with God transformed their lives. 482 00:26:13,737 --> 00:26:17,097 Speaker 2: Be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or 483 00:26:17,137 --> 00:26:20,417 Speaker 2: wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave us a review 484 00:26:20,537 --> 00:26:24,737 Speaker 2: so others can be inspired weekly by these stories of faith. Finally, 485 00:26:25,017 --> 00:26:28,537 Speaker 2: you can find encouragement resources and more on the Jesus 486 00:26:28,537 --> 00:26:31,777 Speaker 2: Calling website at Jesus Calling dot com