Podcasts about story night

Today, doula and peer supporter Terri Dell is sharing her breastfeeding story which ends with her night weaning her daughter Riley on attempt number 3. It's a story that covers some early challenges but ends with a demonstration of how putting some boundaries in place, and getting to grips with nursing manners, can help a breastfeeding journey to continue. As Terri describes, she ‘fell back in love with breastfeeding' once she started to look after her own needs in the nursing relationship.Terri is on instagram as @terridellMy new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents', is out now.You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.comThis podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

WWE WrestleMania XL in depth review. Host Seth Grimes gives his thoughts and heart (star) ratings on every match over the 2 night spectacle. It's The Rock! It's Roman Reigns!! It's Cody finishing the F*$%ing story! We break it all down! Follow Me: twitter.com/SethGrimesMedia facebook.com/SethGrimesMedia tiktok.com/@SethGrimesMedia instagram.com/SethGrimesMedia youtube.com/unitedunderworldmedia Donate: paypal.com/paypalme/unitedunderworld Cash App/ $sethgrimsmedia Crypto Wallet: sethgrimesmedia.cb.id contact me: sethgrimesmedia@gmail.com Seth Grimes is an independent Author, Podcaster, Rapper, Host, Pundit, Journalist, Graphic Designer, Editor, Content Producer, and Hulkamaniac BROTHER! A United Underworld Media production #wweraw #jimcornette #cmpunk #aewdynamite #wwesmackdown #therockwwe reacts reaction review WWE AEW Wrestling ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out more great content The Pro Wrestling Podcast Podcast is a current events clip show covering all of your favorite Pro Wrestling themed Podcasts and YouTube Channels. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbUzxHAbUelDKGzrvoe1MmQZRSw1g9Dgq This video contains unauthorized clips from other content providers which we do not own nor do we claim to own or have created. Nor do we have permission to use. Any clips or other copyright protected content in this video are strictly for the use of parody, reporting, critiquing, or review, legal under section 107 of the Copyright Act otherwise known as the Fair Use Act “the fair use of a copyrighted work […] for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.” View US Copyright Act section 107 Fair Use Act here: https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#107 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **THE GATHERING BOOK** The Gathering: A Bold Journey Into the Belly of the Juggalo Underworld The Debut novel about the world's most hated music festival. Seth is a jaded ex Juggalo who left the Faygo and face paint behind for a miserable middle class existence. But when his marriage and his career fall apart, his best friend Spike offers him a free ticket to one last Gathering of the Juggalos where Seth is once again face to face with the magic of the infamous Dark Carnival. Written By Seth Grimes & Narrated By Henry Shrader BUY NOW! on... Audible: https://amzn.to/3I4weWe Kindle: https://amzn.to/3UQ5NLs Paperback: https://amzn.to/49DC9gN Hardcover: https://amzn.to/3OQQmir -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Affiliate Links: My Microphone: https://amzn.to/3I0kXpY My Camera: https://amzn.to/3OLz9qI Color Lights: https://amzn.to/3UDQTYR Ring Light: https://amzn.to/3wrzg4e --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/prowrestlingpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/prowrestlingpodcast/support

After a wild ride in WWE, Wrestlemania season is finally here as Wrestlemania 40 is on Saturday and Sunday (April 6 and 7). On today's special episode, the Two Dudes With Attitudes (Ryan and Denton) are here to give their predictions on what they think will happen at the WWE's biggest show of the year.Does Cody Rhodes defy all the odds and finish the story and dethrone Roman Reigns to win the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship in the Night Two Main Event? Will The Rock emerge victorious with Roman Reigns in the tag team match against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the Night One Main Event?Find out what we think is going to happen--you might be surprised, especially at our Main Event picks. WWE Wrestlemania 40 Night One Card: The Rock & Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes & Seth RollinsWomen's World Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky LynchIntercontinental Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Sami ZaynJey Uso vs. Jimmy UsoSix-Pack ladder match for Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships: Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Bálor) vs. Awesome Truth (The Miz & R-Truth) vs. DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) vs. New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory & Grayson Waller)Bianca Belair, Naomi & Jade Cargill vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka & Kairi Sane)Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee vs. Santos Escobar & Dominik Mysterio WWE Wrestlemania 40 Night Two Card: Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody RhodesWorld Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyreWWE Women's Championship: Iyo Sky (c) vs. BayleyUnited States Championship Triple Threat: Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin OwensLA Knight vs. AJ StylesBobby Lashley & The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross & The Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar)Follow Ryan on TikTok: Ryan Enjoys WrestlingFollow Denton on TikTok: HBD DentonSubscribe to the show on YouTube: Two Dudes With AttitudesFollow the show on TikTok: Two Dudes With Attitudes TikTok

How Humiliation Affects Us - Story Night: Miracles - Nouman Ali Khan

Defying Dictators - Story Night | Nouman Ali Khan

Defying Dictators - Story Night - Nouman Ali Khan

Youtube vesion https://youtu.be/DIrAKV0NAEs www.karengarton.com.au What's my why? I discovered a passion for storytelling after deciding I wanted to be a public speaker, I figured live storytelling was a good place to hone my craft. Like too many others, I experienced childhood sexual abuse, and later in my life shifted my beliefs from denial about its impacts, to embracing a process of healing. I developed an urge to speak about it, a kind of public service announcement. Through storytelling I discovered the salve of being witnessed in speaking our truths in front of an audience and now host spaces where women can share their stories and ideas through their voice. My book Speaking From The Scar, where I share my journey of healing, my experiences and the modalities that have supported me to be able to speak from the scar is available on Amazon: Speaking From the Scar. And my next project is a meditation program filled with the meditations that have supported me to heal … stay tuned! I do hope to meet you at a Story Night soon. I'd love to hear your story because your story matters.

The Leader of the Opposition has now assigned the responsibilities of the Shadow Cabinet. Newcomer Joelle Ladislaus takes charge of two big portfolios - health and Justice. She will also monitor the uniformed services - police, fire, customs and borders and Coastguards and is with us today.We are covering an evening of spooky stories in a haunted library, in a production designed to chill you, thrill you and make you chuckle darkly... and it is being organised by Theatre Makers. ‘Tales to Tell at Midnight' will be performed in the style of an ‘Old time radio' show from the 1940s.Andrew Dark is directing, he joins us, as well as cast member Harry Kumar. Off the back of the recent Bosom Buddies 'Model for a Day' fashion show, which raised over £7,000, the charity is back already with another fundraiser.A "Golden Opportunity" for fashion, dance, song and music is taking place next Wednesday at the Sunborn Hotel. The show's producer William Gomez, as well as Jackie Dalli who will be working backstage are in the studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In honor of Mother's Day, this week we're sharing stories about the journey to becoming a mom. Part 1: Discouraged by the medical approach to pregnancy, Julia Whitehouse decides to have a home birth. Part 2: When Nessa Goldman splits with her husband, her dream of having children by age 35 is in jeopardy. Julia Whitehouse is a writer and comedian and mother and daughter. She has written for New Yorker Daily Shouts, McSweeney's, Splitsider, Mutha Magazine, and POPSUGAR. She hosts Manhattan's longest running weekly storytelling open mic at The Duplex every Monday at 7 pm. She enjoys figuring out how to build things without looking up tutorials but will always look up a recipe before deciding whether or not to follow it. Nessa Goldman is a middle school math and science teacher in Sequim, Washington. She grew up in Toronto, Canada, but prefers small towns closer to the ocean and mountains. She relocated to the Pacific Northwest as soon as she graduated college and now lives at the doorstep of the Olympic National Park. The wilderness is her church and she often spends the weekends hiking and surfing. When the sun goes down, she is the host of a bi-monthly local storytelling event, the Out Loud Story Slam. Her stories have been shared on the Risk! Podcast and Story Night. You can find her online at www.outloudstoryslam.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Fox Valley librarian has created a monthly event at a local brewery to help even the busiest people continue to be lifelong readers. WPR’s Joe Schulz has more on how Short Story Nights in Neenah have fostered a sense of community for five years.

Why Muslim Countries Are Safe - Nouman Ali Khan - A Deeper Look Series -Story Night

Story Story Night returns on November 29 with a feast for the senses. The show's 13th season will kick-off with an exploration of taste, from finger-licking good food to cocktails.

Many of us Boomers can recount at least a dozen different jobs and career paths since we first entered the job market. And our next guest - Rod Baker - is no different. Rag baler, able seaman, tugboat deckhand, shipwright, businessman, college instructor, psychotherapist, executive director for mental health organizations...are just a few of the many hats Rod has worn in his life.But here's what makes Rod different. He has not only been willing to turn misfortune into opportunity, he's also been brave enough to put his exploits into a series of delightful memoirs. In this episode he recounts the terrors of going to sea as a young man and finding himself shipwrecked in the middle of night. Tune in. You won't be disappointed.  15qha7Xp2mjVJkUHWpPPStay In Touch with Boomer Bedtime Stories: If you have a great story you'd like to share on our podcast, drop us a line giving us an overview of your Boomer tale at: Stories@BoomerBedtimeStoryRadio.com Get episode details or subscribe at: www.BoomerBedtimeStoryRadio.com Join the Facebook page to share Boomer stories of your own: www.facebook.com/BoomerBedtimeStories Production: Boomer Bedtime Stories is a creation of Michele Hall, a former TV and Radio Producer Episodes are hosted and produced by Michele Hall and/or Guest Co-hosts

In this recording of a live Story Night event from October 2022, Sarah shares her story of searching for love in all the wrong places. This search led to a life of drugs, addiction, and bad company that ultimately landed her in jail. Little did she know how God would transform her life in her jail cell, because no one is too far gone for His love and grace. To watch the video version of this event, click here.

It's my sister and cohost KT's birthday on the day this comes out (October 14th)! Unfortunately, she's been down HARD with illness this past week and we were unable to get her half of today's episode recorded. Instead we have an hour long episode on the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and 90s. It was a wild time in contemporary history (did it ever really end?) and you may even have your own memories about the moral panic. Settle in, light up your joints OR make yourself a devilishly good cocktail or cuppa tea and hear all about the Satanic Panic *~*~*~*~*~ Mentioned in the Story: Night on Bald Mountain/Chernabog Chicago Tribune 1989 Article (also listed first in source materials below) *~*~*~*~ The Socials! Instagram - @HightailingHistory TikTok- @HightailingHistoryPod Facebook -Hightailing Through History or @HightailingHistory Twitter - @HightailingPod *~*~*~*~ Source Materials: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-02-26-8903080940-story.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/31/us/satanic-panic.html https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/18/us/when-dungeons-dragons-set-off-a-moral-panic.html https://www.vox.com/culture/22358153/satanic-panic-ritual-abuse-history-conspiracy-theories-explained https://www.people.vcu.edu/~dbromley/undergraduate/spiritualCommunity/SatanicCults.html https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/472-satanic-panic *~*~*~*~ Intro/outro music: "Loopster" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/laurel-rockall/message

It's my sister and cohost KT's birthday on the day this comes out (October 14th)! Unfortunately, she's been down HARD with illness this past week and we were unable to get her half of today's episode recorded. Instead we have an hour long episode on the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and 90s. It was a wild time in contemporary history (did it ever really end?) and you may even have your own memories about the moral panic. Settle in, light up your joints OR make yourself a devilishly good cocktail or cuppa tea and hear all about the Satanic Panic *~*~*~*~*~ Mentioned in the Story: Night on Bald Mountain/Chernabog Chicago Tribune 1989 Article (also listed first in source materials below) *~*~*~*~ The Socials! Instagram - @HightailingHistory TikTok- @HightailingHistoryPod Facebook -Hightailing Through History or @HightailingHistory Twitter - @HightailingPod *~*~*~*~ Source Materials: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-02-26-8903080940-story.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/31/us/satanic-panic.html https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/18/us/when-dungeons-dragons-set-off-a-moral-panic.html https://www.vox.com/culture/22358153/satanic-panic-ritual-abuse-history-conspiracy-theories-explained https://www.people.vcu.edu/~dbromley/undergraduate/spiritualCommunity/SatanicCults.html https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/472-satanic-panic *~*~*~*~ Intro/outro music: "Loopster" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/laurel-rockall/message

Overcoming Negative Thoughts and Feelings - Story Night Clip - Nouman Ali Khan

Story Night Tour Bosnia/Kosovo - Nouman Ali Khan - Docu Vlog Series

Julie was a guest on episode 71, during which she promised to "tell you more." In this recording of a live Story Night event from May 2022, Julie shares the rest of her story, offers a Q&A session for the attendees, and provides important insight about abuse. Despite horribly dark chapters, Julie's story is one of hope... because there is nothing too big for God to heal. For more about ARMS, visit https://abuserecovery.org For more from Julie, visit https://www.juliebonnblank.com To access the video version of this event, email jcampbell@calvarymac.com

Highlights from the Tour

Jessica from the Story Night Podcast is our guest host this week. Beth will return soon. To hear more from Jessica, visit the Calvary Mac Story Night Podcast: Apple Podcast link Browser link The episode where Jessica interviews Beth For more about Sarah's Laughter, please visit our website at sarahs-laughter.com. You can follow us on social media linked here: Sarah's Laughter on Facebook & Instagram, and @sarahs_laughter on Twitter. Sarah's Laughter is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity. If you'd like to help support what we do, including this podcast, please visit sarahs-laughter.com/give. Thank you. Want to share your infertility story on this podcast? Email us at podcast@sarahs-laughter.com

In this throwback episode from a live Story Night in 2016, Jill shares her story of health struggles, a marriage in crisis, and adopting her children. She then joins us for an update on the past 6 years of her life. Whether our journey brings us or our loved ones into a wilderness season, God calls us to surrender and trust Him because the wilderness is never too much for Him to handle.

Jessica from the Story Night Podcast is our guest host this week. Beth will return soon. To hear more from Jessica, visit the Calvary Mac Story Night Podcast: Apple Podcast link Browser link The episode where Jessica interviews Beth For more about Sarah's Laughter, please visit our website at sarahs-laughter.com. You can follow us on social media linked here: Sarah's Laughter on Facebook & Instagram, and @sarahs_laughter on Twitter. Sarah's Laughter is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity. If you'd like to help support what we do, including this podcast, please visit sarahs-laughter.com/give. Thank you. Want to share your infertility story on this podcast? Email us at podcast@sarahs-laughter.com

https://storiesfrommuscat.eventbrite.com

In this very special throwback episode from the very first Story Night event ever, Magdalene Popp shares her story of escaping East Germany after WWII. Whether protecting her from Russian soldiers or providing her a heel for her shoe, Jesus was so precious to Magdalene. There was nothing too big or too small for her to share with her Jesus.

Melissa shared her story on the Sarah's Laughter Infertility Podcast and now the recording is available for the Story Night listeners. After rounds and rounds of IVF, Melissa and her husband were still without a baby in their arms. But sometimes what feels like a NO from God is actually a NOT YET.

The Story Night Ministry offers a special free service to anyone in the final season of life who wants to get his/her story recorded for the private use of the family. We had the honor of recording Shirley's story right before she turned 100 years old! She kindly allowed us to share on the podcast so our listeners could hear an example of this type of recording. It's such a treasure for younger generations to have their ancestors' stories preserved. For more information, or to schedule a recording, please email jcampbell@calvarymac.com

Interactive Story for Kids. Join the Tiny Little TV on a fun kids action story about the Night before Christmas. Christmas bedtime stories for children.Dance like SugarplumsWiggle your fingers and make it snowPrance like a reindeerJump down the chimneyOpen Santa's sackLaugh like SantaFly around in the sleighTiny Little TV is a great resource for parents and teachers looking for  stories for kids. Kids listen and act it out at home or perfect for indoor activities at school. Daycare, PreK, Kindergarten, Early Elementary and great for Distance Learning.Please like and subscribe to Tiny Little TV for more holiday stories, learning videos and activities.Search Tiny Little TV on YouTube for more kids fitness, fun and learning.

We have a few spooky stories for you, told by people from across the multiverse! First is Nesi with "The Squeeze" by Willian Shar, Second is Fizzle with "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe, Second with have Argathon with "The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe, and lastly we have Kona with "Antigonish" by William Hughes Mearns.

, I'm Mort. I narrate true scary stories on my YouTube channel called Mortis Media 4 times a week, If you'd like to hear more spooky storiesTom Ogden resides in haunted Hollywood, California. He can be contacted attom@tomogden.com or through his “Ghost Guy” Facebook page(www.facebook.com/theghostguy).

In this recording of a live Story Night event on September 19th, 2021, Nora, an author and interpreter for the deaf, shares her story of finding the blessings in her life, despite a flood of scars. Life doesn't always go as we plan, but God is faithful. To watch the video version of this event: https://calvarymac.com/sermons?sapurl=Lytucmo3L2xiL21pLytxYzlncXAzP2JyYW5kaW5nPXRydWUmZW1iZWQ9dHJ1ZSZyZWNlbnRSb3V0ZT1hcHAud2ViLWFwcC5saWJyYXJ5Lmxpc3QmcmVjZW50Um91dGVTbHVnPSUyQjZxOHI4bnA= Nora's books can be found on Amazon Promises: https://www.amazon.com/Promises-Nora-Peacock/dp/0692908420/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=nora+peacock+promises&qid=1633562653&sr=8-1 Released: https://www.amazon.com/Released-Crescent-Ridge-Nora-Peacock/dp/0578571315/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=nora+peacock+released&qid=1633562702&sr=8-1

A group of paranormal investigators tell terrifying, creepy, spooky, and true tales of ghostly encounters. Plus, there's some snark and shade thrown from time-to-time.  This roundtable originally appeared on Mystic Moon Cafe on September 8th, 2021. Visit MysticMoonCafe.com for more paranormal tales.

In this recording of a live Story Night event from August 15th, 2021, Heidi shares her incredible story of relationships and mission work. Despite horrendous trials during her time abroad, Heidi's heart remained focused on serving a culture other than her own. With every struggle, God reminded her that He offers the one relationship that matters most. To register for the next live Story Night on September 19th, 2021, visit https://calvarymac.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/971494 For more on the Safe Families Movement, visit https://safe-families.org Or if you are in the McMinnville, OR area, visit https://calvarymac.com/for

What do you do when you are in fear of doing something? Would you still go for it? Tonight, I shared my story of fear of the water. Sleep W/ Purpose Journal is out now! It's as if Destination Sleep Podcast had a baby! It is an evening self-care routine you'd wanna add to your lifestyle! What is it?

Can you imagine being in a supermarket and the whole atmosphere changing into a demonic one, the cashier Miss Margaret stared down at the 2 teenagers with a blank expression. Then Miss Margaret chased and ran after them both, what happened next? stay tuned. She was going crazy and did not want to give up, why is she so angry? James and Kim were terrified and did not know what was going on. James saw his father, racing down the street with blood coming down the hood/bonnet, not slowing down, is he going to kill his wife and kids? Why is all this happening in 1 night? Ms Margaret and the father, both full of anger and rage. James and Kim have to protect themselves by any means, will they find a weapon and if so will they use it?

I think the common reading of the new Joker film is, “Look how society grinds down a person and eventually causes some to snap.” But the better question is - why do some snap and others don't? It should be noted that when Arthur kills the 3 men who attack him on the subway, he does it in self defense and rage. It's only later that he begins to buy into the larger poetic causal narrative that others concoct in an attempt to make sense of the killings. In this sense what creates the Joker is not the contingent circumstances of his life, but rather his interpolation into an ideological structure or meta narrative. In the same way Hitler had lots of bad things happen to him and we say, “If only he had not been rejected from art school…” "If only he had a better upbringing…" and so on. But we could make that argument for anyone -- everyone faces hardships and rejection. It was rather Hitler's fascination with a poetic vision of a non antagonistic whole, unified society that drove him. That vision (of a unified society, obviously not his other goals) should inspire us as well -- we should strive to bring about a future in which the poor are not forgotten and overlooked, but we should always be on the lookout for rationalizing the existence of problems within our society as the effect of a cause that stems from a particular people group as Nazis did with the Jews. We must be careful not to scapegoat. Our fight is not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities. Whether in this presidency or the last, we easily think, “If only this administration were out, then we could set things straight.” But what if the antagonism is not contingent to the current “bad actors” but rather is constitutive of human life itself? Again my point is, we shouldn't merely critique the person in power (though we should call a spade a spade, we should oppose oppressive speech and acts, and there are better and worse ways of governing), but rather we should each think hard about the underlying narratives that drive us. The stories we tell ourselves about ourselves are usually not true. As Slavoj Zizek contends: it's false to think that without God, bad people would not do good things. On the contrary, it's actually only something like God or some other poetic meta narrative that can make good people do bad things. This is what we saw on 9/11. If you perceive yourself as an instrument of God, then of course you can employ whatever means necessary to reach the end you feel called towards. This is what Kierkegaard referred to as the teleological suspension of the ethical -- that God's plan trumps human morality. In other words, it's possible that God could call you to do something that you would never be able to reconcile with humanity's notion of right and wrong, like being called to sacrifice one's own son. Therefore a leap of faith is required.  Personally, I'm more and more convinced that the underlying temptation and super-egoic imperative for each of us is: To have it all. We run ourselves ragged fearing we'll miss out. Fearing we'll be seen as less than. Fearing we'll let others down. We see this temptation (to have it all) in the biblical garden story. We desire to be like God. That is: we desire a non antagonistic existence. We desire to lack nothing.  I pray that we might each take a second to stop, breathe, and experience grace for who we already are -- lacking, imperfect beings -- remembering that Jesus himself did not count equality with God as something to be grasped. We need communities in which we can lay bare our struggles and imperfections with others. I'd argue that Story Night is one such community. AA is another. My fear is this: now that this Joker movie exists -- if poorly understood -- it may become the poetic narrative which downtrodden citizens may find themselves in the grips of and will use to justify acts of violence.  We too must be very careful in the way we see ourselves as instruments of some higher vision. Ultimately, I am for giving one's self to a higher goal, but we must take extremely seriously what that higher goal is.  We should search earnestly, just as Soren Kierkegaard did, for, "the idea for which I can live and die." And if we find it, pursue it with fear and trembling -- seeking justice, loving truth, and walking humbly with our G(g)od.

“It is by grace you have been saved.” -- Though I saw these words written by the apostle Paul long ago, I only just now feel their vibration within me. I contend that regardless of whether or not one believes in God or an afterlife, it is possible to experience the truth of these words. Setting aside any hope of future heavenly treasures or fear of condemnation and the agony of eternal torment, I believe the existential power, thunder, and life giving meaning of these words can be brought into this life here and now.  Because of the work of the great 20th century theologian Paul Tillich, I've come to understand sin in a new way. Tillich defines sin as separation -- separation from God, from self, from our neighbor. Because some of us do not believe in the existence of the divine, I won't write of the notion of separation from God but will instead focus on separation from self and separation from others and then will return to the apostle Paul's words that I've included above.  That we feel separation from our own selves at first seems nonsensical. How can I be separate from myself? But upon second consideration I realize that so often I do in fact feel separation between who I am and who I wish was. I wish I was taller. I wish I was in better shape. I wish I was richer. I wish I was in a loving, exciting, romantic relationship. I wish I was bigger, better, and stronger at just about anything I can imagine. The distance between these two selves: my actual self, and my idealized self creates within me sadness and guilt for having fallen short. (Sin also translates: to miss the mark) The distance between my present self and my future self that will one day face death, and the fact that I lack the knowledge of what death will be like, how it will happen, whether or not loved ones will hold my hand as I pass, and the enigma of what lies beyond produces in me anxiety. I'm worried by the questions: Am I living up to my potential? Will I ever find love? Does painting or anything even matter? The separation I've felt at times from my friends, my mother, my father, my brother, and ex-girlfriends has led to the most torturous days and sleepless nights -- the grinding of teeth and the wishing that I or they hadn't said what was said or done what was done fills me with longing and regret. But when I return to those words, “It is by grace you have been saved,” and read Tillich's definition of grace as acceptance, and then ask myself: can I accept that I am not who I wish I was? Can I be okay with being misunderstood? Can I be okay being alone? Can I be okay with the fact that there is separation between they and I? Can I be okay with not having certainty in the midst of life's unceasing questions? I take in a deep breath, and a ‘yes' rises within me and the guilt of having missed the mark and having fallen short of my ideal self melts away.  And so if the power of grace is, as Tillich claims, the acceptance of acceptance, and if sin is separation -- I can thus say it truly is by grace that I am saved from this lonely, separated, sinful heart of mine.  When thought of in these terms, I see the radical saving power of acceptance at every Story Night when someone -- in vitality of spirit and with the courage to be -- steps forth and shares. It's one thing to be in a room of acceptance, it's another to find oneself having accepted that acceptance. I see it in every love-filled conversation between two or more people. I know it's present when two heartbroken friends find consolation in the warm embrace of the other. To witness someone accept the acceptance is nothing short of a miracle and is, I believe, the manifestation of the Kingdom of God and the joy of my heart. Tyler

This week I want to share a little about Story Night and how it orriginated, why I think it's special, and then I want to tell you guys my story about my recent struggle with anxiety.