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Season Finale: Good Work Around the Table with Tracy Johnson and Katy Stafford
62 Plays3 days ago
We close season four with Tracy and Katy modeling what conversation during a Red Tent Dinner can look like. In this conversation, Katy shares a story about bearing witness, and Tracy engages the story from her own life as well. With a special look at what it looks like to grow community deeply and organically, this episode shows how meaningful conversation can unfold organically through a Red Tent Dinner. Join Tracy and Katy for a rich conversation, and consider signing up to host your own monthly Red Tent Dinner online at Red Tent Living.
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Transcript
Introduction to Season Finale
00:00:00
Speaker
Hello! Hello! Welcome to the last episode of season four. hard to believe. I I know. were... so we were Just talking, we're here together in person because the baby's about to be born.
00:00:16
Speaker
um And our our last episode is actually tied to, we wanted to tie it to the theme of the Red Tent Living dinners. Because that's a way that folks can continue to engage with Red Tent Living content right while we have a longer break before the next season.
00:00:37
Speaker
Mm-hmm.
April's Theme: Bearing Witness
00:00:39
Speaker
So do you want to talk about what the theme is? Yeah, so the theme for the Red Tent dinners for April is bearing witness.
00:00:48
Speaker
and um And so we thought, you know, something that might be interesting would be for us to answer a question that would be one of the questions if you signed up for the dinners for April that would be asked at your table.
00:01:04
Speaker
And...
00:01:07
Speaker
So that was our thought. um And let me find the exact, I have the exact quote. And while your question while you're looking that up, I'm sure that a lot of people who listen know what the Red Tent Living Dinners are.
00:01:22
Speaker
But for those who don't, it's a chance to facilitate intentional conversation around a meal. So...
Invitation to Host Red Tent Dinners
00:01:31
Speaker
You can sign up at redtentliving.com to host a Red Tent Living dinner.
00:01:36
Speaker
um And the thought is that you and anywhere from two to six friends um or people that you'd like to become friends have a dinner party. And everybody contributes to the meal in some form or fashion. um The monthly kit always comes with recommended recipes. So...
00:02:00
Speaker
cocktails if that is your preference, never a requirement of course. I think and there's always there's always a non-alcoholic version of that and different items that you can contribute to the meal and they're just there's suggestions. Yeah, so no requirements. requirement, you can you can serve whatever you want.
00:02:18
Speaker
but But we try to make it easy for you.
Palestinian-Inspired Dinner Suggestions
00:02:21
Speaker
and This month in in particular, as we talk about bearing witness, the the meal has ah a tie to um what is currently happening um in Palestine and and along the Gaza Strip.
00:02:42
Speaker
and So the suggestions for the meal are come straight out of a book of recipes that um that is is tied um to a camp that is taking care of women and children in Palestine. Wow.
00:03:04
Speaker
Um, the, the, you may look at it and if you, if you've signed up to get the dinner, you'll go, wow, like these are some interesting ingredients and yeah these are some interesting measurements for how I do this.
00:03:16
Speaker
Um, and again, you you don't have to, but even just reading what's there, I think is, is an invitation to, sort of step out of, you know, maybe even what you're thinking about um as far as what is happening in that part of the world.
Fostering Meaningful Conversations
00:03:34
Speaker
And I think it just grounds you a little bit more to to think about making a meal and using these ingredients and and knowing that to some extent you're bearing witness in your cooking and in your serving of that meal.
00:03:51
Speaker
ye to something that I think can feel really far away. Yeah. um Yeah, that's that's true. And regardless of what you cook or prepare, every month yeah at a Red Tent Living Dinner, the thought is there's a prompting question, and each woman around the table is invited to share whatever story, light story, a deep story, a recent story, an old story that gets provoked for them.
00:04:21
Speaker
And then it in the time of responding, it's not about asking for additional details or probing. It's just about noticing and enjoying and celebrating whatever you heard from the person who shared. So it's kind of a different style of...
Breaking Surface-Level Conversations
00:04:40
Speaker
Listening and I and I think we've found like the feedback that we get when red tint living dinners happen is that people really enjoy what it feels like to be listened to in that way to have a space to share a story and to be heard and responded to in a way that lets them know oh people were really paying attention to what I said.
00:05:00
Speaker
Right. And i I think the other thing that it does is it breaks you out of maybe some typical communication patterns when you get together with people where we tend to talk about, you know, whatever's in the news or, ah you know, what what vacation did you go on? Or maybe what's happening with your kids or what's happening at your work?
00:05:22
Speaker
And it can, i think it can sometimes feel challenging in ah in a group of women to go a little bit deeper when that maybe isn't, you know, kind of your norm yeah with people.
Creating Spaces for Women
00:05:34
Speaker
And so this is an opportunity to do that, to share something, um maybe, you know, a little more, a little more connected to who you actually are, not so much what you do.
00:05:49
Speaker
in the world And that's a value for us, you know, that we we try to create spaces that aren't about women's titles or roles or education, but where where we're connecting over more shared experiences. Yes.
00:06:06
Speaker
And so not...
The Art of Listening
00:06:07
Speaker
I think there can be a habit in conversation, and I have even been guilty of it before. It's like what I call like the stair-stepping conversation where somebody starts to share a story from their life. It reminds you of a story from your life. And so you step on their story with your story and the conversation progresses. And that's not to say that somebody's feelings get hurt or even that that's wrong, but to do it differently ensures that you're really just staying present with the original person sharing something and they get to hear something back before you just jump to the next topic. And that, I think when that happens to you, you realize like, oh, this is actually very meaningful to just have people stay with me in my story for a little bit.
Community Growth and Impact
00:06:58
Speaker
Right. And at this point at Red Tent Living, that we we haven't intentionally chosen to to sort of platform the dinners and to really invite women to to make the choice to participate with us. And it's been really fun over You know, the last year, we're coming up on the one year, i mean, I guess it is sort of the one year anniversary of us doing this. We started in in January 2024, sort of with the monthly dinner packets going out. And I think initially we had like 50 women who signed up to host dinners and get those packets. And we have over 200 now. So this is what women who are part of the Red Tent Living community are doing. Mm-hmm. And, um, and I just, I, I, I love that. I think that that's the place where transformation and friendship is, is birthed and and grown around the table. so
00:08:00
Speaker
With that need, engage in one of those stories to kind of close out this season. So there's two, these are the questions that that are the options for this month.
Questions for Reflection
00:08:13
Speaker
Tell us more about what you feel compelled to bear witness to these days. What does it stir in you? Or what would you like to ask this table of women to bear witness with you on your behalf or on behalf of someone you love?
00:08:32
Speaker
I love those questions. I think the idea of bearing witness is ah is so fascinating. And one aspect of bearing witness is that you're choosing to be impacted by what you're hearing or what you're seeing.
00:08:52
Speaker
It's an intentional choice. to not just haphazardly listen or pass someone by or go, Oh, thanks for sharing.
00:09:03
Speaker
ah Like I, I want to bear witness. I want to be impacted or I want to be disturbed or I want to be celebratory with you about what you're talking about.
00:09:17
Speaker
So I think it's a, think it's a, I think it's a great invite this month and And really a broad, there are a lot of places that people could go with that.
Katie's Experience with Community Support
00:09:30
Speaker
Yeah. right personally, because i as I was thinking about the two questions, there were stories that came to mind for both, but I ended up leaning into the second one.
00:09:44
Speaker
So I guess I'm asking you to bear witness. um And the space that I've been in, and you know, it it feels even familiar to like where you and I have been right up to recording this podcast because we're close to my kitchen. There's tons of food out everywhere, tons of ingredients out everywhere because you're and prepping meals for my husband and I and our family as the babies being born. And so like, there's lots of prep, there's been lots of conversation, there's been lots of spooning things and savoring things.
00:10:22
Speaker
And it has hit a very sweet, spot in my heart that has just been contemplative because as we've been walking up to the birth of the baby, I have been very aware that because we're not in a church community right now, there is no meal train. Like nobody's reached out to say, you know, Katie, what are the things you're allergic to? And you know, like we want to organize this you. Give us your email list. Yeah. Um, what, what days would be good? And
00:10:56
Speaker
you know, having been raised in church, spent all of my twenties in church. i I, mean, I remember meal trains for you when the babies were born. And I remember being a part of a meal train, even as a young woman where it's like, Oh, this member of the worship team had a baby. I'm gonna, I'm only 24, but I know how to make lasagna, you know, like I'm going to drop this off. And, um I always, i think that's,
00:11:25
Speaker
a really beautiful part of church. um I always loved that, like that we surround our people and provide in times of need.
00:11:38
Speaker
um And I think that has felt like a gap and an ache in this season of like, ah certainly like Aaron and I have our faith stories and we are in relationship with people who share that faith story with us, but we're not, we're not somewhere at 9 30 in pews. And right there's, there is no organized train for us.
00:12:06
Speaker
um And so like, i I have been thinking about that. I've talked about that on the podcast before, like this is the season that we're in And I guess what I want to bear witness to what I, what I'd love to be seen in is like, and,
00:12:25
Speaker
I do have rich, caring community. I mean, the meals are happening. You're making it right now. am your meal train. You're my meal train. And so, like, how do we how do we sit in the, like, recognition of a of a shift and even a loss?
00:12:42
Speaker
um And how do I lean into and maybe ask for from my family? train from my community what I need. Because it, like, I don't look around and go, oh, we're isolated. Oh, we're, we've been forgotten.
00:12:58
Speaker
um But it's just not quite as it's not the polite thing that people do, right? Where, like, there's there's no automatic, Meal train for us.
00:13:10
Speaker
Right. Um, it's so interesting because even even today, as we were out running errands, you know, your, your phone is pinging. You're like, Oh, it's the friend group. Yeah. And that is your, that is your church.
00:13:24
Speaker
I mean, those are the people that you, those are the people that you, that you do life with. Those are the people that you, uh, pray for and with that you share community with. Um, and I,
00:13:37
Speaker
I mean, i've I've met those people. They bore witness at your wedding. ah you know, some participated. one of your dearest friends officiated.
00:13:49
Speaker
um Just, you know, a month ago, they were here for your baby shower. It's like... Those friends are your church community and, and they are the ones that, you know, have, have walked with you and Aaron, you know, through a lot.
00:14:07
Speaker
Yeah. And, and even today, like you know, they're very aware of you and when are you going to the hospital and what is happening? That was totally what was happening. So Aaron had shared with the text, he stopped by the fire station today to make sure that the Car seat was properly installed. Yes.
00:14:27
Speaker
And it was a very humorous exchange because ah the fire department was so ready. They had a dummy baby, had different manuals. Aaron snapped a picture of them like coaching him through it all.
00:14:40
Speaker
And the whole group was responding, but the whole... the whole chain started with Aaron just saying like, yeah, the fire department was a good call. And my friend Kaylee was worried that EMS had been called to deliver the baby at our home. She like, I'm going to need explanations. I need some context. Right now.
00:14:56
Speaker
And then he sent the picture. So it totally true. Yes. Like very, very invested, aware, like present. hah um And not, not, not traditional sort of,
00:15:13
Speaker
I don't even want to say like traditional Christian community. I'm going say traditional churchy community.
Church Culture and Support Norms
00:15:19
Speaker
Right. ah You know, yeah it actually, it makes me, it it, it, it, it reminds me of like one of the most popular red tent living pieces, most red pieces ever, um, came from Jill English, another dear friend of yours who wrote the casserole rules and talked about, ah you know, it was, it was so widely received.
00:15:43
Speaker
because anybody who's grown up in church knew exactly what she was talking about. Yes. This is when you get a casserole and she was writing about, and when you get divorced, no one brings you a casserole. Right. Right. It's not, it's, you don't start the meal train.
00:15:57
Speaker
Right. For the woman who is recently divorced. Right. Um, and, and, and she, and she wrote about that for herself. But I think, um,
00:16:10
Speaker
Yeah, it it's just, it's it is it is like a thing that inside churchy spaces. Yeah. You know, it it it happens. And um yeah, I don't remember the last time somebody brought us a casserole. I have to have to think about that. ah Yeah, I don't know.
00:16:33
Speaker
But it prompts for me, Katie, and this is interesting. Like, so as as I'm cooking for you today, like my friends and, ah and sort of, you know, that I would say absolutely make up the, the women that I think of when I think of my own church are texting me aware, you know, what's happening, what's going on, ah you know, and I'm, I'm sending pictures of me cooking. And one, one of those women was Jennifer,
00:17:02
Speaker
Um, my very good friend, Jennifer, who came when dad had his, uh, cancer surgery, ah you know, over two years ago now. And she, she did this.
00:17:12
Speaker
She cooked, I had chicken Parmesan for days. Yeah. So much chicken parm. Yeah. Because Jennifer was my meal train. Yeah. I, it was, it was like she knew and she just, she just did it. Yeah. Um,
00:17:29
Speaker
And today, you know, she's, she's not here, but she's bearing witness. She's bearing witness to me and, and what's happening in my life. And, and Shelly texted me today. Jamie texted me today.
00:17:43
Speaker
It's, um, I think, ah and I have sat in this space where it's like for this season where Aaron and I do not attend a regular church,
00:17:57
Speaker
there's been certainly grief and loss in that.
Reevaluating Community Expectations
00:18:01
Speaker
um But I think what you're talking about and like what I'm acutely aware of is like, there are so many people who religiously attend church and are there in the pews at nine 30 and incredibly lonely and missed.
00:18:17
Speaker
Right. Like, and that is not true of me. And that is not true of you. Like, In this season where I think there are a lot of people, it seems like it started in a pronounced way with COVID and it has continued who are just intently looking at their community, their religious community, their family community, their relationships going like, what do I really want and need from my community?
00:18:47
Speaker
And um wanting more, wanting more than just the meal train, wanting the com community, wanting the text, wanting the end, kind of celebrating that a little bit that like, yeah, we have all had to get more intentional about bearing witness to each other. It's, you know, it's interesting. I, I think it actually started before COVID. I think that what happened during COVID was, um,
00:19:21
Speaker
we realized that there was a different way. people People found different ways to do things. And I think a lot of those people who felt lonely but kept going decided, like I don't think I'm going to do this anymore.
00:19:37
Speaker
Um, and um'm I'm, I'm thinking about, I've been in both of those places. There have been seasons where, uh, seasons where I would walk into the church, but I would walk into a church building.
00:19:52
Speaker
This is certainly true. Like all the years that we were in San Antonio Um, and, and I sat with the people that I was in community with, yeah you know? And so as I, as I looked around at who was, who was seated around me, it was people that I had had dinner with or met for coffee.
00:20:11
Speaker
Uh, we'd had play dates. You'd been to their house, their kids had been to our house. Like but it it was my community. And so it was both the building and the place that we went to, to hear a message and to worship,
00:20:25
Speaker
And it was the place where our our deepest friendships were also. And so we had all of that in one place. um and And then, you know, we we left there and ah and and slowly over time, we we built that here.
00:20:48
Speaker
And it was a little bit different. Our family was a little bit different. Allison wasn't part of that. She didn't live here. yeah and ah and And you were in and out of that based on what you were doing. But we really haven't we really haven't had that since.
00:21:05
Speaker
um And Dad's on staff now. And I think Riverbend is a great church. And for us, for me, it it hasn't reproduced that anymore.
00:21:17
Speaker
Um, and the community that I have felt closer to that, that was, um, tied to Riverbend, one of the classes that dad teaches that class has, has kind of disintegrated as for various reasons, people have felt like, you know, they needed to do something different, go somewhere different. And, um, and so um,
00:21:41
Speaker
you know, when I walk into the sanctuary on Sunday morning, I feel
Shifts in Church Experiences
00:21:46
Speaker
lonely. i i don't, i I don't look around and go, oh I'm going to you know, there, there's the so-and-sos and the so-and-sos and the so-and-sos, and I'm going to go sit with them, you know, because those are my people.
00:21:59
Speaker
um It's, it's just a very, it's a very different experience. And, um and there are certainly people there that I, you know, are dear and that we do grab dinner with, but I'm just saying like, it's not, it's not what, what was true in these other times in our life. Yeah. um And so ah my, my definition of, of church and who I consider my church to be
00:22:32
Speaker
has has shifted. And so there's an experience of where I might go to hear a message on Sunday morning right and, you know, and and hear worship songs and and run into people that I know.
00:22:47
Speaker
But those aren't the people that I think of when I think of, you know, my my people that I know are like praying for me, invested with me, counting the days up to your due date, holding that due date. You know what I mean? That's just, that's different. And so I think the the reasons are probably different, but ah but neither one of us would be getting a meal train right now.
00:23:13
Speaker
Right. There's no meal train. There are no casserole rules. Yeah. Right? Yeah. um That's just, and and maybe that, maybe some of that is ah is a cultural shift. But I know inside the Red Tent Living community that resonates ah because it has been,
00:23:30
Speaker
ah Part of what we have heard from women over years, ah you know over the last decade, many of the women that have found their way to us and that have found solace and refuge and belonging in our midst are those that lost that sort of traditional, this is this is the building and the place where I go, this is my church and everybody who is with me in my life is here with me also.
00:24:01
Speaker
Um, so i I think it's, I think it's a good thing for us to name and recognize. Yeah.
00:24:12
Speaker
Do you, you miss what was true in San Antonio? Absolutely. I do. um, Oh, I was a little tearful about it. I mean, i and i've I've said this, i think I've said it to you. Your brother and i talked about it in the last month. We've talked about this, that I miss.
00:24:37
Speaker
what it felt like to, I miss what it felt like to drive into the church parking lot with anticipation. i miss what it felt like to come through the back doors and hear the music and be anxious to get to my seat because I wanted to participate in the worship.
00:24:56
Speaker
I absolutely miss that. Yeah. Um, the, the knowing for sure we're, we're going to lunch after church with people. Yeah.
00:25:08
Speaker
You know, are we going to, are we, are we going to Jason's deli? Are we going to Beijing Chinese? Are we like, where are we going? Because of course we're going somewhere. And, um, or are we going to Qdoba here with the Starks and the Staubs, you know, because it was just a known, i miss all of that. i miss the sweetness of that.
00:25:29
Speaker
Um, I miss when we would, uh, I miss communion here at Mars Hill. um When the way that they would do it, you you you could go up to the communion table. And when we went, it was our whole group. It was all of us. And we went. And either dad or Jason or Chris was the one that, you know, served the elements. And we all looked at one another. And there was that shared, like, there was nothing going on in one another's lives that we didn't know about.
00:26:04
Speaker
as we took communion. Yeah. And that just, what, what a gift. I mean, I i feel today, i think I, I think I felt then like, this is so sweet.
00:26:17
Speaker
And today I'm like, Oh man,
00:26:22
Speaker
that was, that was such a gift from God for that season. And, and I think it feels so sweet because you know, what we're naming in that is what i I think, you know, church was supposed to be.
00:26:41
Speaker
Community.
Everyday Community Interactions
00:26:42
Speaker
it's It's not about, wasn't ever about the synagogue or, you know, the building where you go and hear the big message and everybody is there. It was, I've been in those places now. I've been in those places in Ephesus and in Cappadocia where the early church started and and and I've seen, you know, this is the kind of space that you were in There's always a table.
00:27:11
Speaker
There's always a meal. There was always a meal that was part of what was happening at church. That's, I think that's what I'm mindful of is like,
00:27:26
Speaker
I think about that season in San Antonio and it's like what happened on Sunday actually felt like the side dish to what was really rich, which is, i mean, you know, when, when you guys were doing ministry in San Antonio, it was like, well, Monday nights we have all, it started with a vision of recognizing like, wow, there's a lot of young military folks here who don't ever get a home cooked meal.
00:27:56
Speaker
And so we're just going to start Monday night dinner. um And it grew, that you didn't have to be in the military to join. And it it grew so much that it's like, we we had to set up more tables everywhere. We're pulling out card tables and folding chairs just to seat these people. right I mean, I think it got, we were we were pretty regularly, we'd serve 40 people.
00:28:16
Speaker
Yeah, easily. On Monday night. Easily. And so there were just all of these mostly men, pouring in you know, to the house um and like laughing and breaking bread, you know, eating tacos, eating lasagna, whatever it was.
00:28:33
Speaker
But the conversations that were happening and they weren't always deep. ah No, no. But... But they were regular and you could count on them. Yep.
00:28:43
Speaker
And people remembered what you had said last week. And circled back. Yeah. How'd that go this week? How'd that test flight, you know, did you get your next set of orders or how that meeting you were having at work go or how was that exam or. Right.
00:28:59
Speaker
Yeah. And then, and then that circled into then later in the week, right? It's like, whatever's going on. Cause with you guys, there were often like, there were Bible studies or one-on-ones or let's get coffees. So it's like then a Thursday night or a Wednesday morning, or like you're circling up again and it's like, all right, let's go a little deeper. So there, there were these, um frequent and like weekly interactions that were building. And like,
00:29:32
Speaker
that That was the heart of it. And that's what made a Sunday morning feel so sweet. Right. I think that that's a great way. I love the way that you put that, that Sunday morning was the side dish. It wasn't, or maybe it was the dessert, right? it wasn't the main course.
00:29:48
Speaker
It's not, it Sunday morning was never what cemented relationships.
Continuous Community Engagement
00:29:54
Speaker
Yeah. Sunday morning was just an an opportunity to to see everyone and you know, in in a common space. And I, I do value deep, thoughtful, um, socially engaged, um, ah sermons or books or like well thought out, um, challenges, exhortations from people who share my face.
00:30:23
Speaker
Um, and like i don't I don't need to time box that to a Sunday morning. like that Especially in our world today. could be a podcast. that could That could be a book. That could be... So it feels like that piece too is why perhaps there have been more and more people who are like, I'm not going to show up at this building anymore because I'm not getting that rich experience that we had in San Antonio where it's like,
00:30:53
Speaker
Yeah, i'm I'm in it with people who think different things than me and feel different things than me and have different life experiences than me. And we all share a core belief that is hopefully making us kinder and gentler in the world and and honoring a God who created humanity because he...
00:31:15
Speaker
Loves them. As you're speaking, I'm thinking that i think that I think that when we choose to... If we choose to look around, just like I said, so, you know, on a Sunday morning, i can feel lonely.
00:31:34
Speaker
um and And is that the totality of my experience of the body of Christ? Is that the totality of my church experience? Mm-hmm.
00:31:45
Speaker
And the answer is no, it's not. but But it could be, if that was my focus, if my focus was on, you know what, I just don't have what I had in those years that felt so sweet, and so i guess I have nothing.
00:32:03
Speaker
and um And to sit instead and go, okay, so it is different, and I have not lost, I have not lost the people who bear witness to my life. I have not lost my church.
00:32:20
Speaker
I have, I have lost an experience in, in a couple of different ways that, that was so, so good while I had it.
00:32:32
Speaker
And I don't know that that's coming again. Yeah.
00:32:38
Speaker
I don't know that that's coming again. theyre And there is sweetness and there is goodness available. And and i can turn towards it and celebrate it and be grateful for it. And and maybe maybe grateful because how precious it is is even more palpable yeah for me.
00:33:08
Speaker
Yeah. I don't want to, um, I want to mark the shifts in my life. I want to notice them and I want to be, um, attuned to and receptive to like the really so sweet possibilities of my now.
Gratitude and Faith Experience
00:33:27
Speaker
Right. Where it's like, it does look different and,
00:33:32
Speaker
there' there's a lot to enjoy and a lot to invite and ask for in what I have now. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:33:44
Speaker
So, what will you take into this week?
00:33:50
Speaker
Do you think it's something it's something about, like, my faith experience and community being...
00:34:01
Speaker
broader than it used to be and
00:34:06
Speaker
staying awake and practicing gratitude for that. Um, and leaning into that rather than, and this isn't to say that, you know, I won't ever go back to a church. I don't think that's true. Um, but, um, really,
00:34:28
Speaker
Practicing some intentionality with the way that I experience community and faith today and enjoying it. And not just having this backward...
00:34:40
Speaker
oh Oh, to be back in the days.
Rethinking Worship Spaces
00:34:43
Speaker
And maybe Katie, you know, when, when the time comes that you, that you guys do find that you're stepping back through the doors of a more traditional Sunday morning in space, that you'll enter it without, you know,
00:34:59
Speaker
as much expectation for what it needs to be. Right. Right. What that single Sunday morning that needs to contain. doesn't have to. And I think and I say that because that, that is part of where I've needed to, be to be is like, you know what, this is okay. Even as I name how it can feel for me at Riverbend, I don't feel bitter or unsatisfied right or like they need to be doing something different or better to,
00:35:26
Speaker
make it that for me it's like how about this just gets to be what it is yeah and and it doesn't have to bear the expectation of being all of these other things yeah you know that has been important for me um i think
00:35:48
Speaker
I think what i I'm going to carry into the next week is really even just around the prompt, ah noticing and practicing gratitude for the spaces where I have people who bear witness.
00:36:08
Speaker
to my life. um ah My brother and I had an exchange, you know, about an hour ago, and he he was sharing that he had a conversation with his pastor today about what's going on you know, with my Patty, and that the pastor was sharing that, you know, his mom, too, had dementia, and he just...
00:36:32
Speaker
bore witness to some of what Uncle JR was telling him. And ah and it it felt so helpful. You know, it left him feeling a little less alone and a little more like, okay. and um And I have that too. I texted back to him and said, you know,
00:36:54
Speaker
my friend, Chris Bruno, his mom passed away after suffering with dementia. And he has been such a help, ah such a great voice for me in that process.
00:37:05
Speaker
And, and I think it's probably happening, you know, more often than I'm even always aware of that, that that gift of having people who bear witness and staying awake to the gratitude for
Recognizing Silent Witnesses
00:37:19
Speaker
it.
00:37:19
Speaker
Yes. Yeah. I feel like that's, that's a huge thing. Like, Very likely we have people... Bearing more witness than we realize. I think so.
00:37:30
Speaker
I have been... I've been attuned to that the last couple of days with just... um There's one girl at work who just had a baby. And she's just been additionally attentional intentional and attentive yeah to me.
00:37:46
Speaker
Like sending things where it's like, oh, you're holding space for me. Yes. A different kind of space. yep And if I was... caught in a different train of thought, a more negative train of thought, it would probably roll off my back right now. Right. You wouldn't even notice. Wouldn't even notice. Right.
00:38:03
Speaker
And instead, like this could be one of the things that fills my cup the most today. Right. It's like, oh, yeah, I'm seen and known. Mm-hmm. It's good.
00:38:13
Speaker
Good stuff. Well, it's been a good season and I'm excited for what comes next after after a space to let some other life happen. Yes.
Episode Credits and Listener Invitation
00:38:28
Speaker
The Red Tent Living podcast is produced by myself, Katie Stafford, and edited by Erin Stafford. Our cover art is designed by Libby Johnson, and all our guests are part of the Red Tent Living community.
00:38:42
Speaker
You can find us all at redtentliving.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram. If you love the stories shared here, we would be thrilled if you left us a review.
00:38:54
Speaker
Until next week, love to you, dear ones.