1 00:00:08,257 --> 00:00:09,457 Speaker 1: Life audio. 2 00:00:11,137 --> 00:00:14,537 Speaker 2: Find inspiration as close as your phone. Download the Jesus 3 00:00:14,576 --> 00:00:17,416 Speaker 2: Calling app and get started today for free. Look for 4 00:00:17,457 --> 00:00:20,097 Speaker 2: the Jesus Calling app in both the Apple and Google 5 00:00:20,137 --> 00:00:20,776 Speaker 2: Play stores. 6 00:00:24,177 --> 00:00:28,217 Speaker 3: I just remember before she became addicted, she was a 7 00:00:28,257 --> 00:00:30,897 Speaker 3: lot of fun. She had a lot of friends. We 8 00:00:30,937 --> 00:00:33,617 Speaker 3: did a lot of fun things together. She was a 9 00:00:33,657 --> 00:00:37,457 Speaker 3: wonderful mom. And I remember when she became addicted, and 10 00:00:37,497 --> 00:00:41,696 Speaker 3: as that addiction grew, she was very absent, not present. 11 00:00:41,897 --> 00:00:46,776 Speaker 3: But I just remember mostly she was angry, and I 12 00:00:46,937 --> 00:00:49,417 Speaker 3: just was always nervous. 13 00:00:49,297 --> 00:00:51,376 Speaker 4: And I didn't know how to navigate it. 14 00:00:52,417 --> 00:00:55,617 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Jesus Calling Podcast. Joining us this week 15 00:00:55,697 --> 00:00:59,456 Speaker 2: is worship leader turned viral comedian Heatherland. After growing up 16 00:00:59,457 --> 00:01:02,257 Speaker 2: in the shadow of her mother's decades long addiction, Heather 17 00:01:02,377 --> 00:01:06,057 Speaker 2: reflects on how this painful season, alongside her unexpected shift 18 00:01:06,057 --> 00:01:08,657 Speaker 2: from the worship stage to the world of comedy, taught 19 00:01:08,657 --> 00:01:11,897 Speaker 2: her that while our paths may take unforeseen turns, our 20 00:01:11,977 --> 00:01:16,257 Speaker 2: core calling to encourage and uplift others remains constant. Later 21 00:01:16,297 --> 00:01:19,217 Speaker 2: in the episode, we'll hear from Rachel Kessler, an episcopal 22 00:01:19,257 --> 00:01:22,737 Speaker 2: priest in Kenyan College chaplain who completed her PhD in 23 00:01:22,817 --> 00:01:25,977 Speaker 2: medieval studies at the University of Toronto before pivoting to 24 00:01:26,017 --> 00:01:30,337 Speaker 2: seminary after hitting academic burnout. Then built a following as 25 00:01:30,377 --> 00:01:34,057 Speaker 2: the nerdy priest on TikTok after a student secretly downloaded 26 00:01:34,057 --> 00:01:36,897 Speaker 2: the app on her phone. 27 00:01:37,817 --> 00:01:38,937 Speaker 4: My name is Heather Land. 28 00:01:39,217 --> 00:01:44,817 Speaker 3: I am a worship leader turned comedian and travel the 29 00:01:44,897 --> 00:01:51,217 Speaker 3: United States and do comedy shows. I grew up in 30 00:01:51,657 --> 00:01:54,977 Speaker 3: West Tennessee, in a small town, and when I was 31 00:01:55,017 --> 00:01:57,577 Speaker 3: growing up, I always dreamed of being a worship leader 32 00:01:57,577 --> 00:02:00,897 Speaker 3: and I did that for almost twenty years and thought 33 00:02:00,937 --> 00:02:03,057 Speaker 3: I would be doing that for the rest of my life. 34 00:02:03,097 --> 00:02:05,657 Speaker 3: But here we are in the world of comedy. When 35 00:02:05,657 --> 00:02:08,697 Speaker 3: I was in middle school, my mother became heavily addicted 36 00:02:08,737 --> 00:02:12,656 Speaker 3: to prescription drugs and remained that way for many decades. 37 00:02:13,297 --> 00:02:16,897 Speaker 3: She went to her doctor when I was in middle school. 38 00:02:17,137 --> 00:02:19,417 Speaker 3: I think she took me in actually for a physical, 39 00:02:19,497 --> 00:02:23,577 Speaker 3: if I'm not mistaken, and happened to tell our family 40 00:02:23,657 --> 00:02:26,897 Speaker 3: doctor that we were going on. 41 00:02:26,217 --> 00:02:27,817 Speaker 4: A vacation the next day. 42 00:02:27,817 --> 00:02:31,217 Speaker 3: I think we were going to Gatlinburg, and he said, oh, 43 00:02:31,257 --> 00:02:33,177 Speaker 3: you're going to be writing a lot of roller coasters, 44 00:02:33,217 --> 00:02:34,977 Speaker 3: and she said, no, not me. I have a lot 45 00:02:35,017 --> 00:02:37,577 Speaker 3: of anxiety, and he said, oh, I can help you 46 00:02:37,617 --> 00:02:42,017 Speaker 3: with that, and I believe he prescribed her Xanax and 47 00:02:42,057 --> 00:02:45,537 Speaker 3: she took it as prescribed for quite a while, maybe 48 00:02:45,577 --> 00:02:50,497 Speaker 3: a year or two, until she didn't. It was challenging 49 00:02:50,657 --> 00:02:54,897 Speaker 3: growing up in addiction. I think, you know, when you're young, 50 00:02:54,977 --> 00:02:58,097 Speaker 3: you don't necessarily know what's going on. You hear your 51 00:02:58,457 --> 00:03:01,537 Speaker 3: family talking about it, or you know it in theory, 52 00:03:01,657 --> 00:03:03,937 Speaker 3: but you don't know how to piece it together. I mean, 53 00:03:03,977 --> 00:03:06,857 Speaker 3: your brain's not even fully developed. So I think it 54 00:03:06,937 --> 00:03:09,776 Speaker 3: was a process of understanding what I was living in. 55 00:03:09,937 --> 00:03:11,656 Speaker 4: I just remember. 56 00:03:11,777 --> 00:03:14,697 Speaker 3: Before she became addicted, she was a lot of fun. 57 00:03:14,977 --> 00:03:17,217 Speaker 3: She had a lot of friends. We did a lot 58 00:03:17,257 --> 00:03:20,737 Speaker 3: of fun things together. She was a wonderful mom. And 59 00:03:20,817 --> 00:03:24,377 Speaker 3: I remember when she became addicted, and as that addiction grew, 60 00:03:25,177 --> 00:03:27,937 Speaker 3: it was like walking on eggshells at home. I just 61 00:03:28,057 --> 00:03:33,497 Speaker 3: remember she was very absent, not present, and actually physically 62 00:03:33,537 --> 00:03:36,457 Speaker 3: absent from a few things, a few major events in 63 00:03:36,497 --> 00:03:41,217 Speaker 3: my life. But I just remember mostly she was angry, 64 00:03:41,737 --> 00:03:46,217 Speaker 3: and I just was always nervous, I think is a 65 00:03:46,217 --> 00:03:51,817 Speaker 3: good word, always nervous, and didn't quite understand the world 66 00:03:51,897 --> 00:03:54,297 Speaker 3: I was living in, but definitely knew that I did 67 00:03:54,297 --> 00:03:58,337 Speaker 3: not like it, and it was extremely uncomfortable and I 68 00:03:58,337 --> 00:04:06,057 Speaker 3: didn't know how to navigate it. It's so hard to 69 00:04:06,057 --> 00:04:09,817 Speaker 3: know how to deal with addiction, especially when it's a parent. 70 00:04:10,577 --> 00:04:14,257 Speaker 3: And I think the dynamic in our family became, Oh, 71 00:04:14,257 --> 00:04:16,817 Speaker 3: I'm an only child, so I became sort of my 72 00:04:16,897 --> 00:04:20,137 Speaker 3: dad's confidant. And you know, it was me and him 73 00:04:20,217 --> 00:04:22,176 Speaker 3: right in the trenches, and we were going through this 74 00:04:22,257 --> 00:04:25,537 Speaker 3: thing that nobody fully knew about, and it was me 75 00:04:25,577 --> 00:04:27,936 Speaker 3: and him to the end. So my role with my 76 00:04:28,056 --> 00:04:32,576 Speaker 3: mom just became really weird. I felt this need to 77 00:04:32,657 --> 00:04:35,696 Speaker 3: fix it. I became the one who would sit my 78 00:04:35,897 --> 00:04:39,137 Speaker 3: parents down and have drug talks with my mother, make 79 00:04:39,176 --> 00:04:40,976 Speaker 3: my dad be quiet and listen, and you know. 80 00:04:40,936 --> 00:04:42,416 Speaker 4: It was just very backwards. 81 00:04:42,697 --> 00:04:46,616 Speaker 3: I did feel like the mom in the situation, and 82 00:04:46,936 --> 00:04:49,816 Speaker 3: I lost a lot of respect for my mom because 83 00:04:49,816 --> 00:04:53,777 Speaker 3: of that, just as much as the addiction. And you know, 84 00:04:53,856 --> 00:04:58,537 Speaker 3: she went to many many rehabs and came out. You know, 85 00:04:58,616 --> 00:05:00,856 Speaker 3: she would stay clean for a month or two or 86 00:05:00,897 --> 00:05:03,256 Speaker 3: a year or two, and it was always different, but 87 00:05:03,296 --> 00:05:08,176 Speaker 3: inevitably would go back. Finally she was in rehab. This 88 00:05:08,337 --> 00:05:10,537 Speaker 3: was in twenty twenty. She had been in rehab for 89 00:05:11,217 --> 00:05:14,816 Speaker 3: almost a year, and she was going to be getting 90 00:05:14,856 --> 00:05:20,217 Speaker 3: out right before my wedding to my husband. And I 91 00:05:20,257 --> 00:05:22,137 Speaker 3: was in a lot of therapy at this time and 92 00:05:22,416 --> 00:05:25,856 Speaker 3: was really dreading my mom being at my wedding because 93 00:05:26,777 --> 00:05:29,176 Speaker 3: not just out of fear of you know, is she 94 00:05:29,257 --> 00:05:31,696 Speaker 3: gonna embarrass me or is she going to try to 95 00:05:31,697 --> 00:05:34,856 Speaker 3: get medicine from somebody, But it was also you know, 96 00:05:34,976 --> 00:05:36,577 Speaker 3: is she going to take away from my day? 97 00:05:37,097 --> 00:05:38,736 Speaker 4: Am I going to be focused on her? 98 00:05:38,856 --> 00:05:40,616 Speaker 3: Is she going to make me feel guilty if I 99 00:05:40,657 --> 00:05:43,776 Speaker 3: don't include her to the level that maybe a quote 100 00:05:43,816 --> 00:05:47,897 Speaker 3: unquote normal mother, you know, or mother daughter relationship would 101 00:05:47,936 --> 00:05:49,696 Speaker 3: be at this wedding. So there was a lot of 102 00:05:50,137 --> 00:05:52,777 Speaker 3: fear and a lot of anxiety on my part, and so, 103 00:05:54,337 --> 00:05:56,816 Speaker 3: along with my husband and my therapist, I decided to 104 00:05:57,376 --> 00:06:00,616 Speaker 3: not invite my mom to my wedding. And it was 105 00:06:00,657 --> 00:06:03,296 Speaker 3: a really hard decision. It's not a decision that any 106 00:06:03,376 --> 00:06:06,176 Speaker 3: kid wants to make, and I really felt like it 107 00:06:06,217 --> 00:06:10,456 Speaker 3: was important to really honor my wedding day. And I 108 00:06:10,537 --> 00:06:13,657 Speaker 3: had focused for so many decades on my mom and 109 00:06:13,736 --> 00:06:16,897 Speaker 3: my dad and just trying to be the best kind 110 00:06:16,936 --> 00:06:18,897 Speaker 3: of daughter I could be and be a helper and 111 00:06:18,936 --> 00:06:21,816 Speaker 3: not rock the boat and all the things, and so 112 00:06:21,897 --> 00:06:24,777 Speaker 3: I did. I made the hard decision to not invite 113 00:06:24,777 --> 00:06:28,416 Speaker 3: my mom to my wedding, and in turn, my dad 114 00:06:28,936 --> 00:06:31,936 Speaker 3: chose not to come to my wedding because he was 115 00:06:31,936 --> 00:06:34,337 Speaker 3: a writer, died for my mom, and it was the 116 00:06:34,337 --> 00:06:36,616 Speaker 3: two of them, I guess in it together and he 117 00:06:36,736 --> 00:06:40,657 Speaker 3: just felt sorry for and so he chose not to come. 118 00:06:40,736 --> 00:06:42,416 Speaker 3: So neither one of my parents were at my wedding. 119 00:06:42,457 --> 00:06:44,856 Speaker 3: And while it was not a choice that I wanted 120 00:06:44,856 --> 00:06:47,296 Speaker 3: to make or something I ever wanted to face, I 121 00:06:47,376 --> 00:06:49,736 Speaker 3: can look back and say my wedding day was beautiful 122 00:06:49,777 --> 00:06:52,897 Speaker 3: and peaceful and exactly what it needed to be. But 123 00:06:53,097 --> 00:06:56,897 Speaker 3: that was a really hard decision and that would lead 124 00:06:56,936 --> 00:06:59,616 Speaker 3: to me not talking to my mom or having a 125 00:06:59,657 --> 00:07:02,296 Speaker 3: relationship with her for four years. I didn't have a 126 00:07:02,296 --> 00:07:05,017 Speaker 3: relationship with my dad for three years. You know, when 127 00:07:05,056 --> 00:07:08,816 Speaker 3: you're in a codependency is just alive and well, and 128 00:07:09,577 --> 00:07:13,177 Speaker 3: I think it makes the best of people act extremely 129 00:07:13,297 --> 00:07:15,217 Speaker 3: erratic and say things they don't mean. And that was 130 00:07:15,257 --> 00:07:18,297 Speaker 3: definitely the case in my relationship with my dad, and 131 00:07:18,337 --> 00:07:20,377 Speaker 3: so we didn't talk for about three years and it 132 00:07:20,417 --> 00:07:24,576 Speaker 3: was very hurtful. But my mom, I think Finally, after 133 00:07:24,617 --> 00:07:27,177 Speaker 3: about four years, we saw each other at a Christmas 134 00:07:27,217 --> 00:07:29,457 Speaker 3: event that I was very much dreading, but I felt 135 00:07:29,497 --> 00:07:31,777 Speaker 3: like I was supposed to extend an olive branch and 136 00:07:32,777 --> 00:07:33,777 Speaker 3: made my parents a cake. 137 00:07:33,816 --> 00:07:35,457 Speaker 4: It was very simple, but I made them a cake. 138 00:07:36,057 --> 00:07:40,776 Speaker 3: And this opened the door for conversation, and my mom 139 00:07:41,097 --> 00:07:44,897 Speaker 3: asked me, what do you need from me? And I 140 00:07:44,937 --> 00:07:47,576 Speaker 3: remember saying this, I need you to ask me what 141 00:07:47,697 --> 00:07:50,857 Speaker 3: I need because I've always lived my life around what 142 00:07:50,897 --> 00:07:52,697 Speaker 3: you need, and I need you to be a mom. 143 00:07:53,377 --> 00:07:56,337 Speaker 3: And that day She's never been the same in the 144 00:07:56,377 --> 00:07:59,337 Speaker 3: greatest way. She's been a wonderful mom. She's just a 145 00:07:59,337 --> 00:08:04,537 Speaker 3: wonderful friend to me now and she texts me. We 146 00:08:04,577 --> 00:08:07,097 Speaker 3: talk on the phone frequently, but she will text me 147 00:08:07,577 --> 00:08:10,217 Speaker 3: on the anniversary of her sobriety date every year and 148 00:08:10,217 --> 00:08:12,377 Speaker 3: say thank you for cutting me off. It's what got 149 00:08:12,377 --> 00:08:15,777 Speaker 3: me clean every year, and I think she'll tell you. You know, 150 00:08:15,816 --> 00:08:19,297 Speaker 3: that was a brutal time for our family, but I 151 00:08:19,337 --> 00:08:23,337 Speaker 3: think it paved the way for sobriety. And again I'm 152 00:08:23,377 --> 00:08:25,576 Speaker 3: certainly not patting myself on the back. I had no 153 00:08:25,697 --> 00:08:27,737 Speaker 3: idea what I was doing or how to do it. 154 00:08:28,137 --> 00:08:31,177 Speaker 3: That was just our journey and my mom chose sobriety. 155 00:08:31,257 --> 00:08:34,297 Speaker 3: And I asked her one time, what keeps you sober 156 00:08:34,497 --> 00:08:39,537 Speaker 3: this time? And she, without hesitation, said, this time, I 157 00:08:39,577 --> 00:08:41,617 Speaker 3: finally decided to stop living in shame. 158 00:08:42,097 --> 00:08:43,537 Speaker 4: That shame always drove. 159 00:08:43,417 --> 00:08:45,697 Speaker 3: Me back to drugs because I couldn't handle what I 160 00:08:45,737 --> 00:08:47,497 Speaker 3: had done and what I had put my family through. 161 00:08:47,537 --> 00:08:51,017 Speaker 3: And I finally decided to stop living in shame. And 162 00:08:51,497 --> 00:08:53,377 Speaker 3: I was not a good mom, but I can't take 163 00:08:53,377 --> 00:08:55,217 Speaker 3: that back now, and I'm going to be one from 164 00:08:55,217 --> 00:08:59,017 Speaker 3: here on out. And yeah, so a beautiful redemption story there, 165 00:08:59,097 --> 00:09:00,737 Speaker 3: and a great relationship. 166 00:09:00,137 --> 00:09:01,417 Speaker 4: That I have with my mom. Now. 167 00:09:04,577 --> 00:09:06,657 Speaker 3: I wanted to be a worship bleader. I did that 168 00:09:06,697 --> 00:09:08,977 Speaker 3: for a long time. A lot of people don't know 169 00:09:09,017 --> 00:09:12,697 Speaker 3: that I've lost my voice. A lot of hormonal, perimenopausal 170 00:09:12,817 --> 00:09:15,657 Speaker 3: great stuff in there that's made me lose my voice. 171 00:09:15,737 --> 00:09:18,577 Speaker 3: But you know, it was never about the worship. It's 172 00:09:18,617 --> 00:09:21,177 Speaker 3: never about the music. And I always thought, oh, I'm 173 00:09:21,177 --> 00:09:24,377 Speaker 3: going to be known for my music. It was never 174 00:09:24,457 --> 00:09:27,337 Speaker 3: about that. It was about encouraging people. I talk about 175 00:09:27,337 --> 00:09:29,937 Speaker 3: this a lot from the stage in a joke setting, 176 00:09:30,017 --> 00:09:32,937 Speaker 3: but you know, I went through a divorce twelve years 177 00:09:32,977 --> 00:09:35,577 Speaker 3: ago and I was married for fourteen years to the 178 00:09:35,577 --> 00:09:39,697 Speaker 3: father of my kids, and I just remember thinking, I've 179 00:09:39,737 --> 00:09:42,457 Speaker 3: got two kids and they need me to be stable 180 00:09:42,617 --> 00:09:48,897 Speaker 3: and solid for them. Stepping into that season took a 181 00:09:48,937 --> 00:09:52,177 Speaker 3: lot of faith. I had to really look fear in 182 00:09:52,217 --> 00:09:55,417 Speaker 3: the eyes and move through it. I had no idea 183 00:09:55,537 --> 00:09:57,377 Speaker 3: what was coming. I did not have a job, I 184 00:09:57,417 --> 00:09:59,777 Speaker 3: did not have a dime to my name. I haven't 185 00:09:59,777 --> 00:10:02,297 Speaker 3: really openly talked about this. I went through a little 186 00:10:02,297 --> 00:10:05,497 Speaker 3: season where my faith was I really questioned my face. 187 00:10:06,257 --> 00:10:07,177 Speaker 4: I had a lot of doubt. 188 00:10:07,497 --> 00:10:10,337 Speaker 3: I think I was undoing some messed up theology that 189 00:10:10,377 --> 00:10:11,937 Speaker 3: I needed to deconstruct. 190 00:10:12,537 --> 00:10:14,817 Speaker 4: This was no surprise to God, and. 191 00:10:14,777 --> 00:10:17,057 Speaker 3: I'm really glad that I went through that because I 192 00:10:17,137 --> 00:10:19,937 Speaker 3: was able to experience a little bit of life when 193 00:10:19,977 --> 00:10:23,857 Speaker 3: I wasn't connected, and it's made the need to be 194 00:10:23,977 --> 00:10:27,937 Speaker 3: connected daily even stronger. And it really did show me 195 00:10:28,577 --> 00:10:31,257 Speaker 3: just how necessary it was for me to be grounded 196 00:10:31,697 --> 00:10:35,897 Speaker 3: and believe in something. And Jesus Calling has always been 197 00:10:36,457 --> 00:10:38,817 Speaker 3: It's been a huge part of my world since my 198 00:10:38,897 --> 00:10:41,817 Speaker 3: kids were little. And I think I read it to them, 199 00:10:42,097 --> 00:10:43,937 Speaker 3: you know, as an encouragement to them, But the truth 200 00:10:44,017 --> 00:10:46,177 Speaker 3: is it was an encouragement to me as well, and 201 00:10:46,257 --> 00:10:48,457 Speaker 3: it always has been. You know, when you've had a 202 00:10:48,457 --> 00:10:52,017 Speaker 3: certain life for fourteen years or however long, and you 203 00:10:52,057 --> 00:10:54,897 Speaker 3: aren't banking on living the rest of it by yourself, 204 00:10:54,977 --> 00:10:58,457 Speaker 3: or you're walking into the unknown, it is very scary 205 00:10:58,817 --> 00:11:02,897 Speaker 3: and having to redefine yourself and check the single box 206 00:11:02,977 --> 00:11:05,457 Speaker 3: on your taxes from now, I mean that is that's 207 00:11:05,537 --> 00:11:09,817 Speaker 3: that's new, and that's so it's so frightening. And I 208 00:11:09,897 --> 00:11:11,737 Speaker 3: remember feeling like, who am I? 209 00:11:12,577 --> 00:11:13,177 Speaker 4: Who am I? 210 00:11:13,257 --> 00:11:13,577 Speaker 3: Now? 211 00:11:13,817 --> 00:11:14,417 Speaker 4: What am I? 212 00:11:15,337 --> 00:11:18,097 Speaker 3: And that was a question that was there for a 213 00:11:18,137 --> 00:11:22,177 Speaker 3: long time. Until my life just went on and continued, 214 00:11:22,217 --> 00:11:24,737 Speaker 3: and I continued walking through doors that got opened for me. 215 00:11:25,017 --> 00:11:27,177 Speaker 3: I was able to go, oh, okay, my life is 216 00:11:27,217 --> 00:11:32,737 Speaker 3: not over. When I was back in my hometown after 217 00:11:32,777 --> 00:11:35,977 Speaker 3: my divorce, I was not leading worship at this time. 218 00:11:36,457 --> 00:11:39,457 Speaker 4: I was working for a friend of mine. And during 219 00:11:39,457 --> 00:11:41,697 Speaker 4: this time when I was working, my son. 220 00:11:41,537 --> 00:11:46,137 Speaker 3: Showed me Snapchat and I got on Snapchat with a 221 00:11:46,137 --> 00:11:48,457 Speaker 3: couple of my girlfriends. It Snapchat was very new to 222 00:11:48,497 --> 00:11:51,257 Speaker 3: the scene, and there were, as you know, all of 223 00:11:51,297 --> 00:11:55,577 Speaker 3: these horrendous filters and funny filters, and so we found 224 00:11:55,617 --> 00:11:58,177 Speaker 3: this ugly filter and we would make videos for each 225 00:11:58,177 --> 00:12:00,817 Speaker 3: other back and forth, and we did this for months 226 00:12:00,857 --> 00:12:04,297 Speaker 3: and months just between the three of us, and one 227 00:12:04,377 --> 00:12:07,617 Speaker 3: day one of my girlfriend said, oh, please post this 228 00:12:07,657 --> 00:12:09,817 Speaker 3: on social media. It is so funny. And I said, 229 00:12:09,897 --> 00:12:13,017 Speaker 3: absolutely not. I don't want to be single forever and 230 00:12:13,057 --> 00:12:16,577 Speaker 3: this will surely create a single environment for me. And 231 00:12:16,617 --> 00:12:19,297 Speaker 3: so I did not post anything for a while, and 232 00:12:19,337 --> 00:12:22,617 Speaker 3: then on some dare I can't even remember what it was, 233 00:12:22,697 --> 00:12:25,697 Speaker 3: but on a dare, because I was, you know, obviously 234 00:12:25,737 --> 00:12:28,137 Speaker 3: a mature woman in my forties, I took a dare 235 00:12:28,217 --> 00:12:31,457 Speaker 3: and I posted my first video on my personal Facebook 236 00:12:31,497 --> 00:12:34,137 Speaker 3: page and people started watching it and they said, oh, 237 00:12:34,177 --> 00:12:35,897 Speaker 3: what are you going to call this video? I ain't 238 00:12:35,937 --> 00:12:37,737 Speaker 3: doing it and I thought, well, I'm not going to 239 00:12:37,817 --> 00:12:39,817 Speaker 3: call it anything. Why are they asking me this? And 240 00:12:39,897 --> 00:12:42,377 Speaker 3: my girlfriend said, well, you said I ain't doing it 241 00:12:42,377 --> 00:12:44,377 Speaker 3: in your video and I said, well, I didn't even. 242 00:12:44,177 --> 00:12:44,857 Speaker 4: Know I said that. 243 00:12:45,337 --> 00:12:47,737 Speaker 3: But people asked could I make more? And I was like, sure, 244 00:12:47,897 --> 00:12:49,897 Speaker 3: I can make a few more. And so I started 245 00:12:49,937 --> 00:12:52,577 Speaker 3: making these videos. On my lunch break. I would just 246 00:12:52,617 --> 00:12:54,537 Speaker 3: go sit out in my car or at the school 247 00:12:54,617 --> 00:12:58,337 Speaker 3: drop offline or a pickup line. And a blogger named 248 00:12:58,377 --> 00:13:01,937 Speaker 3: Susannah Lewis reached out to me and said, somebody sent 249 00:13:01,977 --> 00:13:03,817 Speaker 3: me your video. Can I post it? And at this 250 00:13:03,857 --> 00:13:05,977 Speaker 3: point I was like, sure, do what ever you want. 251 00:13:06,337 --> 00:13:08,417 Speaker 3: And so she said, well, you need to start a 252 00:13:08,417 --> 00:13:11,377 Speaker 3: fan page and I said one hundred I ain't doing it, 253 00:13:11,497 --> 00:13:12,297 Speaker 3: absolutely not. 254 00:13:12,417 --> 00:13:12,937 Speaker 4: I refuse. 255 00:13:13,257 --> 00:13:14,937 Speaker 3: And you know, she had a lot of followers, and 256 00:13:14,977 --> 00:13:17,097 Speaker 3: she said, I promise you're going to want to do this. 257 00:13:17,577 --> 00:13:21,617 Speaker 3: So on a Wednesday morning in September twenty seventeen, I 258 00:13:21,657 --> 00:13:24,937 Speaker 3: went to work. I started a fan page Heatherland I 259 00:13:24,977 --> 00:13:27,537 Speaker 3: ain't doing it the same as it is today, and 260 00:13:27,777 --> 00:13:31,177 Speaker 3: I posted some videos and I went to church that 261 00:13:31,297 --> 00:13:33,857 Speaker 3: night because we still go to church in my hometown 262 00:13:33,897 --> 00:13:36,937 Speaker 3: on Wednesday nights. And there were seven hundred and fifty 263 00:13:36,937 --> 00:13:38,977 Speaker 3: followers on my page, and when I got out of church, 264 00:13:39,017 --> 00:13:42,577 Speaker 3: there were one hundred and fifty thousand, and that started 265 00:13:42,577 --> 00:13:46,617 Speaker 3: the ball rolling and it was nuts. A month to 266 00:13:46,697 --> 00:13:49,017 Speaker 3: the day that I started this page, it hit a 267 00:13:49,057 --> 00:13:52,457 Speaker 3: million followers. I stepped into comedy, something I would have 268 00:13:52,577 --> 00:13:58,097 Speaker 3: never imagined. Having to lay down leading worship was really 269 00:13:58,137 --> 00:14:02,817 Speaker 3: difficult for me, and picking up the comedy microphone was 270 00:14:02,977 --> 00:14:06,817 Speaker 3: actually at first embarrassing for me. I went through a 271 00:14:06,817 --> 00:14:09,457 Speaker 3: lot of emotions about it, and I think part of 272 00:14:09,457 --> 00:14:13,977 Speaker 3: that was fear insecurity, not feeling good enough. I realized 273 00:14:13,977 --> 00:14:16,777 Speaker 3: that it was never really about the worship. I feel 274 00:14:16,817 --> 00:14:19,617 Speaker 3: like the Lord said, hey, I'm not surprised by your 275 00:14:19,817 --> 00:14:22,537 Speaker 3: loss of your voice. That was never the point. The 276 00:14:22,577 --> 00:14:24,497 Speaker 3: point was for you to be able to encourage people. 277 00:14:24,577 --> 00:14:29,457 Speaker 3: So that's the similarity in leading worship and doing comedy. 278 00:14:29,537 --> 00:14:34,217 Speaker 3: It's all about encouraging people. One encourages people on Sundays 279 00:14:34,337 --> 00:14:37,297 Speaker 3: or in a conference environments or wherever worship is led. 280 00:14:37,497 --> 00:14:40,897 Speaker 3: The other one, I notice, is about opening people's hearts 281 00:14:40,977 --> 00:14:44,137 Speaker 3: up to then receive encouragement. But it has been such 282 00:14:44,177 --> 00:14:47,257 Speaker 3: a blessing for me, so I think it just takes time, 283 00:14:47,897 --> 00:14:52,057 Speaker 3: the evolution of things progressing and new jobs coming and 284 00:14:52,057 --> 00:14:56,057 Speaker 3: new opportunities coming, and it takes faith that I didn't 285 00:14:56,057 --> 00:14:59,257 Speaker 3: always have. But God is so gracious during those times. 286 00:14:59,337 --> 00:15:01,857 Speaker 3: I find that even when we doubt him, and even 287 00:15:01,897 --> 00:15:03,937 Speaker 3: when we're like, ah, yeah, I don't know about this, 288 00:15:04,577 --> 00:15:06,337 Speaker 3: the Lord is still like, we'll just hang on. 289 00:15:06,777 --> 00:15:08,017 Speaker 4: I've got something up, musclee. 290 00:15:08,217 --> 00:15:10,857 Speaker 3: And I just think that's such a beautiful story of 291 00:15:10,897 --> 00:15:12,657 Speaker 3: who God is and how faithful he. 292 00:15:12,577 --> 00:15:17,497 Speaker 2: Is to keep up with Heatherland. Visit her on Instagram 293 00:15:17,697 --> 00:15:22,097 Speaker 2: at Heatherland underscore I Ain't doing It. Stay tuned to 294 00:15:22,177 --> 00:15:33,217 Speaker 2: Rachel Kessler's story after a brief Message. With more than 295 00:15:33,257 --> 00:15:36,857 Speaker 2: fifty million copies sold, the original classic edition of Jesus 296 00:15:36,857 --> 00:15:39,697 Speaker 2: Calling is your daily guide to living a more peaceful life. 297 00:15:40,417 --> 00:15:43,657 Speaker 2: Experience a deeper relationship with Jesus as you savor the 298 00:15:43,657 --> 00:15:46,537 Speaker 2: presence of the one who understands you perfectly and loves 299 00:15:46,537 --> 00:15:50,577 Speaker 2: you forever. With scripture and personal reflections, Jesus Calling is 300 00:15:50,617 --> 00:15:53,097 Speaker 2: your year long guide to living a more peaceful life. 301 00:15:53,537 --> 00:15:56,137 Speaker 2: Its price and size also make it the perfect gift 302 00:15:56,337 --> 00:16:00,137 Speaker 2: for anyone who needs encouragement. Find Jesus Calling wherever you 303 00:16:00,177 --> 00:16:08,977 Speaker 2: buy books. Our next guest is Rachel Kessler, an episcopal 304 00:16:09,017 --> 00:16:10,817 Speaker 2: priest who lives by a phrase from one of her 305 00:16:10,857 --> 00:16:13,737 Speaker 2: favorite writers, Tell the Truth, which has been the backbone 306 00:16:13,777 --> 00:16:17,137 Speaker 2: of her highly popular posts as the Nerdy Priest on TikTok. 307 00:16:18,577 --> 00:16:21,977 Speaker 5: I am the Reverend Rachel Kessler. I am an episcopal 308 00:16:21,977 --> 00:16:26,217 Speaker 5: priest and I wear several different hats in my vocation. 309 00:16:26,937 --> 00:16:31,097 Speaker 5: I am the Rector of Harcourt Parish Episcopal Church in Gambia, Ohio, 310 00:16:31,177 --> 00:16:34,697 Speaker 5: which is the episcopal community on the campus of Kenyon College, 311 00:16:35,097 --> 00:16:38,417 Speaker 5: which is also my undergraduate alma mater. I am a 312 00:16:38,417 --> 00:16:42,217 Speaker 5: campus chaplain and co director of Religious Life at Kenyon. 313 00:16:42,337 --> 00:16:45,777 Speaker 5: I also teach part time in the English department, and 314 00:16:46,017 --> 00:16:50,897 Speaker 5: in my free time, I make content online as the 315 00:16:50,897 --> 00:16:59,617 Speaker 5: Nerdy Priest. One of my friends from graduate school was 316 00:16:59,657 --> 00:17:03,137 Speaker 5: feeling spiritually drawn back to church wanted to check out 317 00:17:03,697 --> 00:17:06,016 Speaker 5: a church down the street from her, which which was 318 00:17:06,137 --> 00:17:08,857 Speaker 5: an Anglican church. She and I started going to that 319 00:17:08,977 --> 00:17:14,456 Speaker 5: church together and I ultimately started getting drawn more and 320 00:17:14,537 --> 00:17:18,696 Speaker 5: more into the life of that church. And as I 321 00:17:18,737 --> 00:17:22,417 Speaker 5: was feeling more and more burnt out in my graduate work, 322 00:17:22,977 --> 00:17:27,057 Speaker 5: sort of compensating by getting more and more involved in 323 00:17:27,097 --> 00:17:28,097 Speaker 5: the life of the church. 324 00:17:28,337 --> 00:17:30,657 Speaker 1: And one of the things that I think happened is. 325 00:17:30,577 --> 00:17:35,097 Speaker 5: As I came to determine, Okay, this tradition, this expression 326 00:17:35,137 --> 00:17:37,857 Speaker 5: of faith is where I feel at home. I think 327 00:17:37,897 --> 00:17:42,456 Speaker 5: there is a vocation to more here, and that sense 328 00:17:42,457 --> 00:17:44,976 Speaker 5: that I had always had of wanting to be a 329 00:17:45,017 --> 00:17:51,857 Speaker 5: teacher really shifted from academia to pastoral ministry and preaching. 330 00:17:52,417 --> 00:17:55,617 Speaker 5: Once I accepted I think this is actually the path 331 00:17:55,657 --> 00:17:55,857 Speaker 5: that I. 332 00:17:55,937 --> 00:17:56,617 Speaker 1: Meant to be on. 333 00:17:56,857 --> 00:18:01,057 Speaker 5: It felt like kind of a release to some degree, 334 00:18:01,537 --> 00:18:05,377 Speaker 5: that is how I found myself in the pulpit as 335 00:18:05,617 --> 00:18:09,696 Speaker 5: were from academia to the pulpit. What got me through 336 00:18:09,937 --> 00:18:14,696 Speaker 5: the harder seasons of faith I think going into having 337 00:18:14,777 --> 00:18:20,617 Speaker 5: the experience in college of many people who were Christian 338 00:18:20,857 --> 00:18:23,057 Speaker 5: in a very very different way than I was Christian. 339 00:18:23,537 --> 00:18:26,857 Speaker 5: I think there's often this idea of the earnest Christian 340 00:18:26,897 --> 00:18:30,897 Speaker 5: student going off to the liberal academy and having their 341 00:18:30,897 --> 00:18:34,976 Speaker 5: faith destroyed. What I found was not atheists who were 342 00:18:35,057 --> 00:18:37,696 Speaker 5: challenging my faith, but other Christians who were challenging my 343 00:18:37,817 --> 00:18:39,657 Speaker 5: faith and what it meant to be a Christian. And 344 00:18:39,697 --> 00:18:42,297 Speaker 5: I think that raised a lot of questions for me 345 00:18:43,017 --> 00:18:45,017 Speaker 5: and what I had been brought up to think that 346 00:18:45,097 --> 00:18:48,937 Speaker 5: Christianity had to look like. And when I left college 347 00:18:49,017 --> 00:18:52,897 Speaker 5: and I moved to Toronto, there was again this sense 348 00:18:53,017 --> 00:18:56,057 Speaker 5: of I showed up to church because that was what 349 00:18:56,097 --> 00:18:58,817 Speaker 5: I knew how to do. I had been so formed 350 00:18:58,817 --> 00:19:01,577 Speaker 5: in just you go to church. What got me through 351 00:19:01,777 --> 00:19:07,097 Speaker 5: that sort of more fallow, more spiritually dis stince time 352 00:19:07,577 --> 00:19:09,777 Speaker 5: was kind of just the habit. There is something to 353 00:19:09,817 --> 00:19:14,777 Speaker 5: be said for the habits of faith when we're not 354 00:19:15,337 --> 00:19:21,497 Speaker 5: necessarily feeling that deep connection to God for just still 355 00:19:21,777 --> 00:19:25,777 Speaker 5: showing up. And that's not to say that our faith 356 00:19:25,857 --> 00:19:29,657 Speaker 5: should be stale, and some people, certainly, as a college chaplain, 357 00:19:30,137 --> 00:19:33,257 Speaker 5: I know people who need to step away from the 358 00:19:33,337 --> 00:19:37,337 Speaker 5: church or faith for a time, and I think God 359 00:19:37,657 --> 00:19:38,817 Speaker 5: certainly honors that. 360 00:19:39,457 --> 00:19:41,657 Speaker 1: For me, it was there was something about the. 361 00:19:43,137 --> 00:19:46,337 Speaker 5: Just habit of continuing to show up that I think 362 00:19:46,857 --> 00:19:57,337 Speaker 5: kept me from walking away Entirely. I did not build 363 00:19:57,497 --> 00:20:02,297 Speaker 5: the Nerdy Priest platform with any kind of intentionality behind it. 364 00:20:02,457 --> 00:20:06,897 Speaker 5: My TikTok platform was created for me a student who 365 00:20:06,937 --> 00:20:10,857 Speaker 5: stole my phone and downloaded TikTok on my phone because 366 00:20:10,857 --> 00:20:14,537 Speaker 5: they really wanted me to be on TikTok. Then, about 367 00:20:14,577 --> 00:20:18,857 Speaker 5: a year into the COVID pandemic, I, like many people, 368 00:20:19,017 --> 00:20:23,417 Speaker 5: was feeling super burnt out vocationally and needing something to 369 00:20:23,537 --> 00:20:28,097 Speaker 5: be an outlet in ministry, and I just started randomly 370 00:20:28,737 --> 00:20:32,976 Speaker 5: making content on TikTok. I was talking about actually the 371 00:20:33,017 --> 00:20:36,337 Speaker 5: struggles that I'd had in faith, specifically around things like 372 00:20:36,537 --> 00:20:40,777 Speaker 5: fear of the rapture, fear of salvation in my evangelical background, 373 00:20:40,817 --> 00:20:47,617 Speaker 5: realizing that those really resonated with people. My online platform 374 00:20:47,737 --> 00:20:51,777 Speaker 5: really is just an authentic representation of who I am. 375 00:20:52,417 --> 00:20:54,736 Speaker 5: I think you get burnt out in ministry when you 376 00:20:54,817 --> 00:20:59,976 Speaker 5: are focusing on the ends as opposed to the means. 377 00:21:00,017 --> 00:21:06,657 Speaker 5: And what's been an incredible gift online are really amazing 378 00:21:06,857 --> 00:21:10,777 Speaker 5: friendships and relationships I have built with people that I 379 00:21:10,777 --> 00:21:15,577 Speaker 5: would never have connected with outside of the digital space. 380 00:21:16,257 --> 00:21:22,017 Speaker 5: And in terms of prayer, life and ministry and being grounded. 381 00:21:22,737 --> 00:21:24,777 Speaker 5: One of the things that I think about a lot 382 00:21:25,137 --> 00:21:31,497 Speaker 5: is Rachel held Heavens, the late writer blogger was known 383 00:21:31,657 --> 00:21:35,377 Speaker 5: for keeping a post it note on her computer. 384 00:21:35,577 --> 00:21:37,777 Speaker 1: I believe that said tell the truth. 385 00:21:38,497 --> 00:21:42,697 Speaker 5: And I really I like that because it is so 386 00:21:42,857 --> 00:21:46,697 Speaker 5: easy to get caught up in writing a good sermon 387 00:21:47,297 --> 00:21:50,777 Speaker 5: or making a good post that goes viral and getting 388 00:21:50,857 --> 00:21:51,697 Speaker 5: the engagement. 389 00:21:52,977 --> 00:21:56,617 Speaker 1: What so critical is staying grounded in the truth. 390 00:22:01,577 --> 00:22:05,177 Speaker 5: I can remember going to the Episcopal Church for the 391 00:22:05,217 --> 00:22:08,657 Speaker 5: first time in that chapel and just thinking, Oh, this 392 00:22:08,777 --> 00:22:12,097 Speaker 5: all feels right. I love this expression of faith. I 393 00:22:12,137 --> 00:22:16,257 Speaker 5: love the ritual of the liturgy. I love the physical 394 00:22:16,377 --> 00:22:21,936 Speaker 5: appearance of the space, I love the art. What I 395 00:22:22,137 --> 00:22:25,337 Speaker 5: had to process is also having in the back of 396 00:22:25,377 --> 00:22:28,497 Speaker 5: my head what the faith of my upbringing was always 397 00:22:28,537 --> 00:22:30,937 Speaker 5: telling me is like, Okay, those things are distractions those 398 00:22:30,937 --> 00:22:35,897 Speaker 5: are distractions from a real relationship with Christ. That's human institution, 399 00:22:36,337 --> 00:22:40,817 Speaker 5: that's not pure belief in Jesus. And I think what 400 00:22:40,857 --> 00:22:43,857 Speaker 5: I came to realize is that there aren't rules on 401 00:22:44,817 --> 00:22:50,057 Speaker 5: how we are meant to relate to Jesus through ritual, 402 00:22:50,177 --> 00:22:53,817 Speaker 5: through the traditions of the church. Those are the ways 403 00:22:54,377 --> 00:22:57,936 Speaker 5: that I communicate with Jesus, which brings us back to 404 00:22:57,977 --> 00:23:02,417 Speaker 5: the idea of connecting through daily prayer, connecting through a 405 00:23:02,457 --> 00:23:08,537 Speaker 5: devotional like Jesus Calling right, I'm reading from Jesus Calling 406 00:23:08,777 --> 00:23:13,937 Speaker 5: June sixth. Seek my face and you will find fulfillment 407 00:23:14,177 --> 00:23:19,137 Speaker 5: of your deepest longings. My world is filled with beautiful things. 408 00:23:19,777 --> 00:23:23,697 Speaker 5: They are meant to be pointers to me, reminders of 409 00:23:23,737 --> 00:23:29,736 Speaker 5: my abiding presence. The earth still declares my glory to 410 00:23:29,857 --> 00:23:33,537 Speaker 5: those who have eyes to see and ears that hear. 411 00:23:34,617 --> 00:23:38,537 Speaker 5: You had a darkened mind before you sought me wholeheartedly. 412 00:23:39,497 --> 00:23:42,577 Speaker 5: I chose to pour my light into you so that 413 00:23:42,617 --> 00:23:46,177 Speaker 5: you can be a beacon to others. There is no 414 00:23:46,377 --> 00:23:50,377 Speaker 5: room for pride in this position. Your part is to 415 00:23:50,417 --> 00:23:53,657 Speaker 5: reflect my glory. I am the Lord. 416 00:23:56,177 --> 00:23:59,737 Speaker 2: To learn more about Rachel Kessler, visit Nerdypriest dot com 417 00:24:00,057 --> 00:24:02,137 Speaker 2: if you'd like to hear more stories about doubt leading 418 00:24:02,137 --> 00:24:05,337 Speaker 2: to deeper faith. Check out our interview with Cole Arthur Iley. 419 00:24:09,697 --> 00:24:12,177 Speaker 2: Next time on the Jesus Calling podcast, we're sitting down 420 00:24:12,177 --> 00:24:15,297 Speaker 2: with Corey and Kobe Cotton, the founders behind the global 421 00:24:15,337 --> 00:24:18,297 Speaker 2: phenomenon Dude Perfect. They'll take us back to the early 422 00:24:18,417 --> 00:24:21,497 Speaker 2: uncertain days of the business, sharing the pivotal moment they 423 00:24:21,537 --> 00:24:23,696 Speaker 2: had to decide whether they should walk away from their 424 00:24:23,737 --> 00:24:27,017 Speaker 2: steady jobs to pursue an unproven dream. 425 00:24:27,817 --> 00:24:30,417 Speaker 6: I remember we talked about I think, I think we 426 00:24:30,457 --> 00:24:34,297 Speaker 6: could each make like eight thousand dollars this year if 427 00:24:34,337 --> 00:24:36,377 Speaker 6: we quit our jobs and do do Perfect. 428 00:24:36,737 --> 00:24:40,057 Speaker 1: But we genuinely felt like if we didn't. 429 00:24:39,817 --> 00:24:42,777 Speaker 6: Try it, how would we ever know if it could 430 00:24:42,817 --> 00:24:44,897 Speaker 6: be something that God had for us. And so we 431 00:24:44,937 --> 00:24:49,297 Speaker 6: prayed about it, and we fondly remember now how in 432 00:24:49,297 --> 00:24:51,497 Speaker 6: those first couple of months it felt like God was 433 00:24:51,537 --> 00:24:53,057 Speaker 6: providing in some really cool way. 434 00:25:03,057 --> 00:25:05,537 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to the Jesus Calling Stories of Faith 435 00:25:05,697 --> 00:25:09,537 Speaker 2: podcast on the Live Audio Network. Every week, we'll bring 436 00:25:09,577 --> 00:25:12,137 Speaker 2: you stories from people who share their journeys of faith 437 00:25:12,497 --> 00:25:16,177 Speaker 2: and how prayer and a relationship with God transformed their lives. 438 00:25:16,977 --> 00:25:20,337 Speaker 2: Be sure to follow us on Apple Spotify, iHeart, or 439 00:25:20,377 --> 00:25:23,657 Speaker 2: wherever you listen to podcasts and leave us a review 440 00:25:23,737 --> 00:25:27,937 Speaker 2: so others can be inspired weekly by these stories of faith. Finally, 441 00:25:28,257 --> 00:25:31,777 Speaker 2: you can find encouragement resources and more on the Jesus 442 00:25:31,777 --> 00:25:35,017 Speaker 2: Calling website at Jesus Calling dot com