Shownotes
Have you ever wanted to share your faith more openly, but then the moment the conversation actually comes up, you start wondering, “What do I even say?” 😅
In this episode, I’m sharing some of the things that have helped me feel more confident talking about my Catholic faith without feeling awkward or like I’m trying to turn every conversation into a debate. We’ll talk about sharing our faith naturally, relying on the Holy Spirit, asking good questions, telling our own stories, and remembering that evangelization is an invitation, not an argument.
If you’ve ever felt nervous about bringing up your faith with friends, family, coworkers, or even a stranger, I hope this episode gives you a little more confidence to simply start the conversation. 🤍
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Transcripts
Hey, I'm your host, Mari Wagner, and you're listening to the ever
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be podcast where faith meets lifestyle.
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I'm so excited you're here, whether you're
a new listener or a longtime follower,
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I know there's something here for you.
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Pull up a chair and listen in for
insightful real life conversations and
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actionable steps on how to claim the.
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full life God created you for.
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If you're a woman desiring to live
a Christ centered life in today's
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modern world, then this is for you.
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Welcome to Ever Be.
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mari-wagner_1_02-18-2025_153925:
Welcome to ever be.
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I'm your host, Mari Wagner per usual.
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If you are a listener that tunes in
week to week, then hi, welcome back.
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It's so good to have you again.
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And if you're new here and maybe
this is your first episode tuning
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in, I'm your host, Mari Wagner.
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Well then, hi, I'm Mari and it is
great to have you here as well.
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Welcome for the first time.
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I hope that this episode blesses
you and your faith, and I hope
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that you enjoy this podcast.
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We have a ton of other episodes that
you can listen to and just start
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binge listening if you are new.
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So many topics that are covered here,
faith, homemaking, marriage, clean
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living, prayer, life, friendships,
womanhood, all the things.
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So excited to have y'all here.
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Today we're talking about a common
struggle that I have felt like I've had
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in the past and in many conversations
that I've had with different women,
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it is a struggle that many people face
and that is talking about your faith
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openly with the people around you.
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So if you have been hesitant in the past
to share your faith or just unsure of
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how to sharing your faith with other
people, maybe it's a coworker or.
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We're a friend or even a family member,
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then you are not alone.
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Many of us have experienced that as well.
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And I feel like many of us feel like
sharing our Catholic or Christian
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faith is difficult because it
can be a very deep and personal
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and intimate part of our lives.
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However, it doesn't have to stop there.
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It's not that it doesn't
have to be deep and personal.
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I mean, it obviously is and should be,
but a part of our faith should also
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be public and should also be able to
be shared with the people around us.
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Um, and so it's about finding that
balance of how can we share our faith?
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What do we share about our faith to be
able to share it with other people and
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evangelize or at least just be a light
in this world to the people around us,
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but maybe not have to share the super
deep parts of our lives or not have
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conversations that are, uh, maybe just
not ready for that relationship or
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uncomfortable or yeah, start anything.
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If there's people around you
that have different views, um.
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I'm not saying you shouldn't engage in
conversations like that, but you just have
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to know and discern what conversations are
appropriate for different settings, right?
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However, I feel like there is
just this misconception that you
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cannot talk about your faith in
the way that you like shouldn't
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talk about politics with everybody.
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Um, but I, I disagree because
I think, like I said, there's a
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part of our faith that should be
public, that should be shared.
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And I think there are ways that
we can talk about our faith
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in a very casual, normal way.
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Isn't awkward or weird and it really,
just depends on how we're presenting it
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and our own confidence when we speak of
doesn't have to be heavy or intimidating.
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It just has to come from a
place of confidence in you and
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the way that you're sharing it.
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And honestly, an effort to just make
it sound natural and casual, because
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that shows that you're comfortable with
your faith and comfortable with it.
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So basically what we're going to talk
about today is like how do we talk about
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our faith in the same way that we talked
about like what we did this weekend
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or we where we went out to eat today
or what is your favorite book or what
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show you're currently watching on TV?
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All those normal part of their day.
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Parts of your lives that you feel
like you share naturally with your co
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workers, your friends, your family, the
people that you just talk to regularly.
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Um, in that same way, we're going to
learn how can we talk about our faith?
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How can we incorporate it into different
conversations and talk about it casually?
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And how can we be confident in that?
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Because people are drawn to
your light and your confidence
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and your love for your faith.
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When that shines through,
I really do believe that.
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People see that they perceive
something is different about a
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Christian, a Catholic that is
truly deeply rooted in their faith.
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And there's just this joy that
radiates from within and this
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confidence and just comfortability
in where you stand in your faith.
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And so in this episode, we're going
to dive into why it can be hard to
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share our faith sometimes, and maybe
just some mindset shifts that you can
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make and some practical tools that you
can implement to be able to just be
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more at ease and more confident when
conversations around faith show up.
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Plus I'm going to walk you through how to
handle maybe tough moments that come up
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or maybe even how to answer questions that
you actually don't know the answer to.
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So grab your coffee, your tea,
your drink, and let's dive in.
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First, let's talk about why sharing
our faith and just talking about our
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faith can be so intimidating sometimes.
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I think that, in general, we tie the
faith to a really deep connection.
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Personal and intimate part of our
lives, which is true and absolutely
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there are so many aspects to the faith
that are very deep and personal and
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intimate and we may have had many
experiences or some experiences in
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our faith that That have really gotten
us through hard times in our lives.
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Or maybe we have wrestled with
big questions with the Lord.
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Maybe we have even questioned
our faith ourselves, right?
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Like we have gone through our own
fair share of just like deeply
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emotional experiences within our faith.
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And to enter into that kind of
vulnerability can feel exposing or
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scary, or maybe we have either grown
up around a community that hasn't been
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open to the faith and there are negative
emotions that are tied to talking
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about your faith in public, right?
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Maybe you have received criticism
or persecution or negativity, or
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have just received any sort of like.
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Pushback or hate for being Catholic or
Christian and being open about that.
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And so obviously if you've had
experiences like that, we can also have
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hesitations about talking about our faith.
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on top of all that, I feel like there
is just this, um, kind of in the
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back of our heads, just this fear of
judgment and persecution, even, I don't
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know about you, but I just feel like
the Catholic faith especially is so.
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Criticized and persecuted and
painted so badly in, uh, like
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our popular culture today.
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And I feel like it's just gotten
worse and worse over the years.
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Like, I don't know if it's just cause
I'm older, but I just don't feel
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like I remember in middle school or
high school, or maybe even college.
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Like I don't remember it being so okay
for Hollywood actors or, you know,
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rock stars, like musicians, artists.
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Like, or just people in the public
eye and celebrities to actively mock
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the Catholic faith specifically, or
to be outwardly so satanic and so
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opposed, right, to the Catholic faith.
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Um, and I feel like we see a lot
of that now, um, in music videos,
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we saw it in the Olympics opening
act, um, whatever it was called.
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I forget what it's called.
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The opening opening.
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What's it called?
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Opening ceremony.
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Opening ceremony.
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Um, like I said, we see it in music
videos all the time, in different movies.
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I just feel like if there's ever
like a Catholic priest or a Catholic
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church that's in a movie, it's always
like got like the creepy music in the
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background, or he's the bad guy, or
it's just like creepy, negative vibes
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that are painted around the church.
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Um, and then obviously we have, um,
Different artists that have just totally
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mocked Jesus outwardly, either dressing
as Jesus and, um, just like making a
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fool of themselves or, um, speaking
badly of the name of Jesus or even
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just like horrible sacrilegious things.
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Um, yeah, I've seen in so many music
videos, especially, and I don't feel like.
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That was as much of an openly
accepted thing or as much of a trend,
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almost in this like celebrity world.
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Um, a few years ago, like, I feel
like it's just really been happening
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maybe the past five years or so.
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And for me personally, I feel like
that is what has contributed to.
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If I ever feel on guard with sharing
my faith or if I ever feel, um, just
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more apprehensive regarded about
saying like, yeah, I'm Catholic.
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I think it's because of that.
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I think it's because I just assume
that people who aren't Catholic are.
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Viewing this like pop culture that is
so against the Catholic Church and just
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maybe hearing horrible things being
said about Catholics that are not true
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that I just kind of feel kind of, yeah,
just like a guard of just like, Hey, by
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the way, like, I'm, I'm Catholic, you
know, whatever you think of it is fine.
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Um, and.
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That's part of, I think, why I
wanted to share about this topic,
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um, as well as I feel like it just
came up a lot for me in college.
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And that's when I really put these
practical tips into practice that
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we are going to go through, um,
and talk about on this podcast.
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I started putting these into
practice and it helped me grow in
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confidence to share about my faith.
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So even now when I feel a certain
guardedness, Maybe I'm with somebody
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who's like not practicing at all
or who I feel like might have
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judging opinions about the faith.
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That still doesn't stop me.
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And I'm able to kind of practice these
things that I'm going to teach you
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guys today and kind of walk myself
through these different mindset shifts
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to be like, no, I can still talk about
this and be confident and joyful,
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um, and hopefully be attractive.
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Uh, and paint our faith in an
attractive way in this conversation.
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And a couple more things I want
to say about this is that not
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every conversation about faith has
to become this like deep sermon.
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Or even like a big theological
teaching or conversation.
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It doesn't even have to be a
sharing of like views specifically.
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And I think that's maybe one of the
reasons why, um, it can be scary
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to share about our faith because
we just immediately associate
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it with like opposing views.
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just as we would maybe be careful about
sharing politics with our coworkers.
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Um, but the reality is I really feel
strongly that we can share about
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our faith in a very casual way.
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Um, because if it is a big part of
your life, it should come up honestly.
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Like if the people who you spend a lot of
time with, whether that's your friends,
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your coworkers, or your family don't
know that you're Catholic or don't know
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What that looks like in your life, I
think there's a problem there, or there's
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really an opportunity to open a door that
Jesus is actually probably calling you
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to open, um, and to be more open about
how you live your Catholic faith, because
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evangelization doesn't just mean, um, or
look like us standing on a street corner
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with a sign saying like, Jesus, Jesus.
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wants to save you, right?
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Not that I recommend doing that ever, but
like evangelization doesn't have to be
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this like super aggressive forward thing
where you're trying to convert someone.
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Evangelization is simply sharing the
light of Christ in your own life, and that
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light and that attraction Bringing other
people in because it just, it just does.
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It's just the light of Christ.
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Like it's just, it's not even you,
you know, that's bringing someone in.
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It's just Christ shining through you.
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And how will they ever encounter Christ?
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If you never share about your faith and
how you live it out in your daily life.
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So.
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Just remember, you don't have to turn
every conversation into a debate.
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It can be a really casual thing,
just sharing about your life.
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Okay, so let's dive into a couple mindset
shifts that I want to share with you guys.
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When you feel the hesitation
or doubt of, Can I share this?
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Should I share this?
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Or I feel nervous about sharing this.
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Just kind of try and remember a few of
these pieces of advice that I have for
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you and kind of a mindset for you to
enter into as you share about your faith.
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So you can kind of just gain that
confidence and feel more comfortable
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in talking about your faith.
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So first of all, there is no shame.
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In your faith, right?
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You should not feel any shame or
embarrassment in your faith, whether
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you are Christian or Catholic or
whatever your faith is, right?
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It should be this very
important part of your life.
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And if you truly believe
it wholeheartedly.
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There's no shame around that
and don't let anybody, uh, make
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you feel shameful about that.
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And if you feel shame about that
or you feel embarrassed sharing
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about it, that is not of God.
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And that is something that I encourage
you to pray with and pray through
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and just like reject those spirits.
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00:13:18,045 --> 00:13:22,505
You know, in the name of Jesus Christ, I
reject the spirit of shame around my faith
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00:13:22,875 --> 00:13:25,715
and I Gosh, how do you end that prayer?
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Uh, some people end it with like,
and I demand that it gets sent
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to the foot of the cross of Jesus
Christ or something like that.
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But right.
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But we just reject those spirits
in the name of Jesus Christ.
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I reject the spirit of
embarrassment around my faith, um,
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because that's not up the Lord.
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00:13:38,835 --> 00:13:43,725
And that is the evil one trying to
suppress you from sharing your faith or
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from feeling confident in your faith.
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And then just remember, uh, Like you can
have confidence in God, not in yourself
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when you're sharing about your faith.
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00:13:54,085 --> 00:13:57,965
I think we put so much pressure on
ourselves sometimes about the way that
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00:13:57,965 --> 00:14:03,365
we're going to talk about our faith
or express maybe like a teaching like
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We have so much pressure of like, Oh
my gosh, I hope I say the right thing.
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I hope I don't rub somebody the wrong way.
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00:14:08,230 --> 00:14:11,080
But if we just really have
confidence in the Lord and that
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he is going to speak through us
and just give us the right words.
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And even if you know, you're going to have
a conversation come up soon, maybe even
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00:14:18,860 --> 00:14:21,130
saying a prayer, like come Holy spirit.
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You know, easy come Holy Spirit in, you
know, join me in this conversation or
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00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:30,740
allow my words to be yours, not mine
speak through me, whatever it is, invite
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the Holy Spirit, um, to be with you in
those conversations with people that you
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feel like you want If you are feeling
nervous about what you are going to say.
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Because the truth is, you know, you don't
have to be perfect in what you're saying
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00:14:43,180 --> 00:14:45,000
about your faith and what you're sharing.
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It just has to come from the heart
and people just have to notice a
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genuine, like, authenticity about
you when you talk about your faith.
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So that leads me to my next point.
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Just be authentic because
people are attracted to that.
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People can really just pick up on
when you are genuine and joyful.
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And when you enjoy something or really
love something or are passionate
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00:15:05,650 --> 00:15:08,970
about it, people pick up on that
and they're attracted to that.
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Just think of like, you know,
when your friend is telling you
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about how much she loved going to.
253
00:15:14,655 --> 00:15:18,655
The basketball game on Friday and how
much she loves that team or whatever.
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00:15:18,655 --> 00:15:20,665
You're like, Oh my gosh, like
this girl loves basketball.
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Oh my gosh.
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And I literally don't know why I said
that because I don't even like sports, but
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one of my best friends loves basketball.
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So I just thought of her.
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Um, or when someone's telling you about
like what they're studying and they
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just like kind of nerd out and you
can just tell like, Oh my gosh, like
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they love what they're doing or they
love their job and they're telling
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00:15:38,485 --> 00:15:41,705
you about their job and they're super
passionate about their job or whatever.
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People can feel your authentic energy.
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And if you truly love your
faith, act in that manner, right?
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Share it with love and joy and confidence
because people are going to pick up
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on that and that's attractive to them.
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00:15:53,105 --> 00:15:59,905
And on the opposite front, if you act
awkward or uncomfortable or nervous
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00:15:59,905 --> 00:16:04,375
when people ask about your faith,
or if the topic comes up, or if you
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share about it naturally and you
act kind of uncomfortable about it,
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people are going to read that too.
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And people are going to read
that negative energy surrounding
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the topic of your faith.
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00:16:15,345 --> 00:16:16,795
So it's either going to come off as.
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00:16:17,345 --> 00:16:20,225
Oh, they're not very confident in their
faith or they're not very practicing
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00:16:20,235 --> 00:16:24,755
or they feel, you know, kind of an
awkwardness or an embarrassment about
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00:16:24,755 --> 00:16:28,465
their faith, you know, or it just like
gives off this negative vibe of like,
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00:16:28,495 --> 00:16:32,855
Oh yeah, like faith is a negative thing
when it really doesn't have to be.
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00:16:33,175 --> 00:16:38,155
And so some examples that I want to
talk about are like, Integrating it
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00:16:38,165 --> 00:16:43,745
into your everyday life conversation and
being able to bring it up more often.
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00:16:43,755 --> 00:16:47,525
If you are someone that's really actively
pursuing your faith and practicing your
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00:16:47,525 --> 00:16:52,455
faith, then there's probably several
times a day or a week that you're coming
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00:16:52,455 --> 00:16:57,000
into contact with Some sort of faith
related activity, whether that be a
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00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:00,620
morning offering or your daily rosary,
or you're going to mass on Sunday
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or a daily mass, or you're going to
adoration, or maybe you have a small
285
00:17:03,810 --> 00:17:07,680
group or a Bible study that you're a
part of, or you're going on retreat
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00:17:07,700 --> 00:17:09,829
or you're reading a spiritual book.
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00:17:10,150 --> 00:17:12,150
You know, those are a million examples.
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00:17:12,150 --> 00:17:17,369
I just gave right there of very casual
day to day activities that as a Catholic,
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00:17:17,380 --> 00:17:20,170
you might be doing in your daily life.
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00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:22,690
So how do we incorporate
that into conversation?
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00:17:23,395 --> 00:17:23,815
Easy.
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00:17:24,145 --> 00:17:26,875
Someone's like, Hey, how's your day going?
293
00:17:27,165 --> 00:17:30,025
You know, or they're like, Hey,
what were you up to this weekend?
294
00:17:30,045 --> 00:17:33,975
They just ask about what you
did that day or that weekend.
295
00:17:34,625 --> 00:17:38,115
Incorporate your faith activity
into the conversation, right?
296
00:17:38,785 --> 00:17:44,685
Oh, yeah, on Sunday, I went to church in
the morning, and then I went to brunch,
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00:17:44,735 --> 00:17:50,115
and then I, you know, hung out on the
couch and watched a show with my husband.
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00:17:50,185 --> 00:17:52,095
We just chilled, right?
299
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It might end there.
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00:17:53,300 --> 00:17:55,620
It might just be like, you just
share that you went to church.
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00:17:55,850 --> 00:17:57,910
Or maybe your coworker might
be like, Oh, that's great.
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00:17:57,920 --> 00:17:59,310
Where do you go to church?
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00:17:59,350 --> 00:18:03,560
And then you can share, Oh my gosh,
we go to Christ the King, or St.
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00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:07,200
Mary's, or John of the Cross,
whatever your church is called.
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00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:10,190
Um, and then you, you kind
of have an open door there.
306
00:18:10,190 --> 00:18:13,220
If somebody asks the question,
Oh, what church do you go to?
307
00:18:13,310 --> 00:18:14,540
You have an open door.
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00:18:14,705 --> 00:18:17,065
An open door to give more detail.
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00:18:17,385 --> 00:18:18,225
Oh, we go to St.
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00:18:18,225 --> 00:18:18,665
Mary's.
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Yeah.
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We love it there.
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00:18:20,105 --> 00:18:23,075
We've been going, you know, for
X amount of years, we usually go
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00:18:23,355 --> 00:18:26,995
to the 8am morning mass and the
priest there actually is so good.
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00:18:26,995 --> 00:18:31,535
His homilies are always super
informative or super inspirational,
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00:18:31,755 --> 00:18:35,795
or you can be like, yeah, we just,
I love the music at the 5pm mass.
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00:18:35,795 --> 00:18:40,085
And so that's why we go in the
evenings and whatever it is that
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00:18:40,115 --> 00:18:43,205
open door allows you to share just
a little bit more information.
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00:18:43,570 --> 00:18:45,040
About how you're practicing your faith.
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00:18:45,510 --> 00:18:49,880
And you can see that in that example,
I just gave, I just shared about like,
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00:18:50,060 --> 00:18:54,160
what are the things you love about your
church and why you go to that church?
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00:18:54,550 --> 00:18:58,020
Those are all positive things
that are now associated with
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00:18:58,020 --> 00:18:59,470
your faith and with that church.
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00:18:59,490 --> 00:19:03,570
And you're just sharing a little bit of
the beauty of your faith and a little
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00:19:03,580 --> 00:19:05,140
bit of the beauty of the Catholic faith.
326
00:19:05,140 --> 00:19:09,430
Another thing could be like sharing
your small group or Bible study.
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00:19:09,700 --> 00:19:13,420
And possibly allowing that to lead to an
invitation at some point if you feel like
328
00:19:13,420 --> 00:19:17,980
that comes up naturally or God is like
tugging on your heart to invite someone.
329
00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:22,760
So I just remember when I was in college,
sometimes I would feel weird about
330
00:19:22,770 --> 00:19:24,570
sharing that I was going to Bible study.
331
00:19:24,870 --> 00:19:27,510
And when people asked me like,
Oh, what are you doing tonight?
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Or like, Hey, do you want to go do this?
333
00:19:28,740 --> 00:19:29,840
And I had Bible study.
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00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:34,430
I remember kind of feeling like,
Oh, I'm, you know, I'm going to,
335
00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,180
and I would kind of pause and I'd be
like, I can't really lie about it.
336
00:19:38,180 --> 00:19:40,240
Or I'd be like, Oh, I'm just
going to the thing tonight.
337
00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:44,050
Or, you know, and so, or sometimes
I'd be like, Oh yeah, I'm, yeah, I'm
338
00:19:44,050 --> 00:19:47,290
kind of like going to this Bible study
thing or this like small group thing.
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00:19:47,850 --> 00:19:51,130
And if I said it awkwardly,
it was received awkwardly.
340
00:19:51,130 --> 00:19:53,735
It was like, Oh, Okay, nice.
341
00:19:53,785 --> 00:19:56,125
You know, or like, what, what
do you mean like smog or like,
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00:19:56,125 --> 00:19:56,825
what are you talking about?
343
00:19:56,825 --> 00:19:58,065
Or like, what's your thing?
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00:19:58,385 --> 00:20:02,035
Like the more elusive you were about
it, it was kind of like, it was awkward.
345
00:20:02,345 --> 00:20:07,945
And when I just challenged myself to be
confident about sharing that part of my
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00:20:07,945 --> 00:20:10,625
life, The reaction was so much different.
347
00:20:10,855 --> 00:20:14,805
A lot of the times, I promise it was like,
Oh yeah, I'm going to Bible study tonight.
348
00:20:14,805 --> 00:20:16,665
I have a Bible study every
Tuesday or something.
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00:20:16,715 --> 00:20:18,995
People would be like, Oh, cool.
350
00:20:19,235 --> 00:20:20,945
Who, like, where's that Bible study?
351
00:20:20,955 --> 00:20:21,975
You know, like, do you lead it?
352
00:20:21,985 --> 00:20:22,815
Are you part of it?
353
00:20:22,815 --> 00:20:24,905
Like they would ask questions
like, Oh, that's awesome.
354
00:20:24,905 --> 00:20:26,505
I've always wanted to be in a Bible study.
355
00:20:26,765 --> 00:20:29,115
Or people were like, Ooh, I've
never been in a Bible study.
356
00:20:29,135 --> 00:20:32,105
Or, you know, like it just like
opened the door for conversation.
357
00:20:32,455 --> 00:20:36,640
And so one thing I always Um, and so
what I would recommend is at first you
358
00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:38,470
just have to fake it till you make it.
359
00:20:38,530 --> 00:20:39,320
And that's the truth.
360
00:20:39,350 --> 00:20:45,490
You just literally have to make yourself
not awkward and make yourself speak
361
00:20:45,500 --> 00:20:49,730
in a confident manner even if you feel
uncomfortable until you don't feel
362
00:20:49,730 --> 00:20:53,050
uncomfortable because the more you do
it, the more comfortable you will feel
363
00:20:53,690 --> 00:20:58,490
and just have the mindset of this is
just like any other part of my life.
364
00:20:58,540 --> 00:21:01,680
In fact, it's more important,
but it can be shared just
365
00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:02,500
like I shared about my life.
366
00:21:03,410 --> 00:21:05,390
How I went to Chipotle for lunch.
367
00:21:05,740 --> 00:21:10,930
Like I don't think twice about sharing
where I went to lunch or What I did over
368
00:21:10,930 --> 00:21:16,460
the weekend or you know anything like
what movie I saw I share about it casually
369
00:21:16,490 --> 00:21:21,050
and I don't think oh My gosh, what if
they like Qdoba more than Chipotle?
370
00:21:21,060 --> 00:21:24,320
This is gonna be awkward now we have
differing opinions, you know, if you're
371
00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:29,430
like someone's not a denominational
Christian and I'm Catholic or Someone's
372
00:21:29,430 --> 00:21:32,985
Jewish and I'm Catholic like It's
going to be so weird if I said, I
373
00:21:32,995 --> 00:21:35,095
went to mass or I love my church.
374
00:21:35,595 --> 00:21:36,865
No, it's not.
375
00:21:36,935 --> 00:21:38,605
It's just part of who you are.
376
00:21:38,885 --> 00:21:43,725
And I mean, nobody, nobody should be
making you feel bad for who you are.
377
00:21:43,725 --> 00:21:44,015
Right.
378
00:21:44,015 --> 00:21:47,195
And I really highly doubt, especially if
the way you're bringing it up is just a
379
00:21:47,195 --> 00:21:53,635
casual conversation that any Friction is
going to arise in the conversation and so
380
00:21:53,635 --> 00:21:57,825
just as you shared, you know, I went to
Qdoba for or Chipotle for lunch Maybe your
381
00:21:57,825 --> 00:22:01,345
friend is like, uh, I like Qdoba so much
better and you're just like, okay, great.
382
00:22:01,345 --> 00:22:02,475
That's fine We can move on.
383
00:22:02,735 --> 00:22:07,545
You can also share like yeah, I also went
to Bible study on Wednesday and Maybe they
384
00:22:07,555 --> 00:22:09,395
have their own thoughts about Bible study.
385
00:22:09,395 --> 00:22:11,775
I highly doubt they're going to
share those with you in that moment.
386
00:22:11,775 --> 00:22:12,915
They're probably gonna be like, Oh, nice.
387
00:22:13,345 --> 00:22:16,815
Um, and then you can move on and you
can just continue to share about your
388
00:22:16,815 --> 00:22:21,025
day, but you were able to share kind
of a little positive moment about
389
00:22:21,035 --> 00:22:24,750
your faith life and just kind of
Share an example of how you're living
390
00:22:24,770 --> 00:22:26,230
your faith life out in your life.
391
00:22:27,093 --> 00:22:32,903
Two more things that I want to share about
when entering into this mindset of I'm
392
00:22:32,903 --> 00:22:34,263
going to share my faith with confidence.
393
00:22:34,803 --> 00:22:39,863
One, approach these conversations
about faith as an invitation
394
00:22:39,883 --> 00:22:41,413
and not an argument.
395
00:22:41,843 --> 00:22:44,933
This might apply more if you're
having a more in depth conversation
396
00:22:45,173 --> 00:22:48,683
with somebody about the faith or if
you mentioning, you know, Oh yeah, I
397
00:22:48,683 --> 00:22:51,933
pray the rosary every day, or I'm in
a Bible study where I went to mass.
398
00:22:52,223 --> 00:22:56,993
Those casual things, if that opens the
door to maybe a longer conversation
399
00:22:57,003 --> 00:23:01,683
or, um, yeah, more of a dialogue
about your faith, approach it as
400
00:23:01,683 --> 00:23:04,133
an invitation, not an argument.
401
00:23:04,443 --> 00:23:11,633
And don't assume people have negative
opinions or thoughts about your faith
402
00:23:12,083 --> 00:23:15,363
because approaching as an invitation
will allow you to kind of let that
403
00:23:15,363 --> 00:23:17,213
guard down and not be on the defense.
404
00:23:17,583 --> 00:23:22,053
And in fact, be more comfortable and
open and actually eager to share more.
405
00:23:22,053 --> 00:23:26,463
And if a dialogue does open or if
whoever you're speaking to does ask more
406
00:23:26,463 --> 00:23:32,133
questions about your faith, I want you to
remember that your job is to plant seeds.
407
00:23:32,443 --> 00:23:36,903
It's not to convince the other
person, um, especially not in
408
00:23:36,913 --> 00:23:38,903
initial conversations you're having.
409
00:23:39,153 --> 00:23:42,753
Because you're not necessarily trying
to, you know, the purpose of these
410
00:23:42,753 --> 00:23:46,333
conversations or the purpose of you
talking about your faith isn't solely
411
00:23:46,333 --> 00:23:50,023
to win someone over and that's really
not the purpose most of the time.
412
00:23:50,033 --> 00:23:51,823
Like, you're not trying to
like win somebody over or
413
00:23:51,823 --> 00:23:53,183
convert somebody on the spot.
414
00:23:53,513 --> 00:23:58,723
You're just trying to be an authentic
example of Christ and be an authentic,
415
00:23:59,053 --> 00:24:01,178
um, just to like show the light of God.
416
00:24:01,198 --> 00:24:05,498
Christ in your life and just how your
life is so much more joyful and bright
417
00:24:05,498 --> 00:24:09,788
and beautiful and made better because
of your faith and because of Jesus.
418
00:24:10,048 --> 00:24:11,678
And that's what's going to be contagious.
419
00:24:11,938 --> 00:24:16,228
Not you saying the perfect thing or
trying to convince them of anything.
420
00:24:16,228 --> 00:24:19,088
So I feel like I'm going back and
forth here between my practical
421
00:24:19,088 --> 00:24:21,568
tips and mindset shift advice.
422
00:24:21,638 --> 00:24:23,238
So we're just going to
keep going back and forth.
423
00:24:23,548 --> 00:24:25,688
Some more tips that I have for you.
424
00:24:26,118 --> 00:24:30,478
Number one, share stories, not sermons.
425
00:24:30,798 --> 00:24:38,143
So Um, in the right moments with a close
friend that's asking more, that might
426
00:24:38,143 --> 00:24:41,903
be an appropriate time to really kind
of like preach your heart out and be
427
00:24:41,903 --> 00:24:43,993
like, this is what the Lord wants of you.
428
00:24:43,993 --> 00:24:47,453
And this is what he's taught
us and all this amazing stuff.
429
00:24:47,783 --> 00:24:54,563
But people generally aren't ready
to hear all of those big truths.
430
00:24:55,153 --> 00:24:56,293
Um, and so.
431
00:24:56,673 --> 00:25:00,793
In fact, people are actually
just more attracted to how
432
00:25:00,813 --> 00:25:02,793
the faith impacts your life.
433
00:25:03,083 --> 00:25:08,703
So sharing stories about your life and
how the faith has impacted you or how you
434
00:25:08,703 --> 00:25:13,183
live it out is going to be more attractive
and open a more natural conversation.
435
00:25:13,183 --> 00:25:17,133
And again, it can be really casual and
depending on the conversation you're
436
00:25:17,133 --> 00:25:20,633
having or the level of relationship
you have with the person you're talking
437
00:25:20,633 --> 00:25:24,943
to, you can share more, but it can
really be as simple as, you know, I was
438
00:25:24,943 --> 00:25:29,243
really feeling really anxious yesterday
because of X, Y, Z, or you don't have
439
00:25:29,283 --> 00:25:33,743
to share why, But I was really feeling
anxious and so I prayed a rosary and
440
00:25:34,183 --> 00:25:37,593
it actually brought me so much peace
and just made me feel so much better.
441
00:25:37,763 --> 00:25:39,573
That right there is just simple.
442
00:25:39,603 --> 00:25:40,523
It's authentic.
443
00:25:40,783 --> 00:25:41,993
It's relatable.
444
00:25:42,013 --> 00:25:43,653
We all feel anxiety
about different things.
445
00:25:43,693 --> 00:25:45,973
We all get nervous about different
things and we all try and find
446
00:25:45,973 --> 00:25:47,793
different ways to cope with that.
447
00:25:47,803 --> 00:25:52,243
And so just by sharing that, it's
such a natural and authentic way
448
00:25:52,243 --> 00:25:53,923
to just share how your faith is.
449
00:25:54,248 --> 00:25:57,748
served you and how your faith
blessed you in a moment of need.
450
00:25:57,798 --> 00:26:02,138
And what that does is it just opens
naturally a door and the conversation
451
00:26:02,188 --> 00:26:03,728
and plants a little seed, right?
452
00:26:03,938 --> 00:26:08,328
If the other person doesn't really have
faith, or maybe was Catholic and fell
453
00:26:08,328 --> 00:26:12,318
away, or maybe is Catholic, but is trying
to practice their faith more, but doesn't
454
00:26:12,328 --> 00:26:14,388
know how it plants a little seed of.
455
00:26:14,573 --> 00:26:18,353
Oh, didn't know Mari prayed the rosary
when she felt nervous, you know, or I
456
00:26:18,353 --> 00:26:19,703
didn't know she prayed the rosary at all.
457
00:26:19,713 --> 00:26:22,553
It seems like she does that
when she feels anxious.
458
00:26:22,553 --> 00:26:23,963
Like, maybe I should do that next time.
459
00:26:23,963 --> 00:26:25,183
Or like, I wonder what that's like.
460
00:26:25,183 --> 00:26:28,463
I wonder if that helps, you know, it seems
like it seems like it really helped her.
461
00:26:28,463 --> 00:26:31,263
So those are the just, That's
the kind of, um, just natural
462
00:26:31,263 --> 00:26:34,553
ways that you can weave it into a
conversation or share stories, right?
463
00:26:34,553 --> 00:26:38,843
You can share a story about the
homily on Sunday and why that stood
464
00:26:38,843 --> 00:26:41,563
out to you and how you've been
pondering that throughout the week
465
00:26:41,573 --> 00:26:45,853
or an activity that you did at Bible
Study that you thought was super fun.
466
00:26:45,853 --> 00:26:50,613
Or how meeting weekly with your small
group is super helpful for you to find
467
00:26:50,633 --> 00:26:55,413
community in the faith or to, yeah, just
connect with other women who are striving
468
00:26:55,413 --> 00:27:00,233
for the same things or have those shared
beliefs and can walk with you in your
469
00:27:00,233 --> 00:27:03,253
journey of the faith, Those just are
different ways that you can share how
470
00:27:03,253 --> 00:27:07,883
the faith is blessing you and your life
and be a light to the people around you.
471
00:27:07,883 --> 00:27:12,683
And those are just casual comments that
don't feel forced or don't feel negative
472
00:27:12,693 --> 00:27:18,943
or don't feel like too dangerous or
too, too sensitive of a topic to touch.
473
00:27:18,943 --> 00:27:22,653
And then two, I think it's
good to ask questions yourself.
474
00:27:22,683 --> 00:27:25,983
If you feel like a dialogue is opening
up or the person you're talking
475
00:27:25,983 --> 00:27:28,493
to shows a little bit of interest,
476
00:27:28,733 --> 00:27:31,393
that is an open door for then
you to continue the dialogue
477
00:27:31,413 --> 00:27:32,703
and maybe ask a question.
478
00:27:32,703 --> 00:27:36,523
You can ask in return, yeah,
what church do you go to?
479
00:27:36,553 --> 00:27:38,863
Or what do you do when you feel anxious?
480
00:27:38,863 --> 00:27:40,513
Do you have anything that helps you?
481
00:27:40,863 --> 00:27:43,483
Or did you grow up in a faith at all?
482
00:27:43,483 --> 00:27:44,743
You know, do you practice a faith?
483
00:27:45,533 --> 00:27:47,893
And just kind of, again, ask it.
484
00:27:48,043 --> 00:27:52,133
Casually and ask it in a really normal
way, as if you were asking like,
485
00:27:52,173 --> 00:27:53,653
where did you eat for lunch today?
486
00:27:54,013 --> 00:27:57,913
Um, and obviously there is a certain level
of respect that has to come about the
487
00:27:57,923 --> 00:28:02,773
conversation when you're talking about
your faith, but don't be weird or awkward
488
00:28:02,773 --> 00:28:04,253
when you're asking about the faith.
489
00:28:04,253 --> 00:28:07,033
Don't be like, Oh yeah, sorry.
490
00:28:07,543 --> 00:28:08,543
Are you Christian?
491
00:28:08,593 --> 00:28:10,973
You know, like that's kind
of a weird way to ask it.
492
00:28:10,993 --> 00:28:13,253
And in turn, someone's going to
feel weird and feel like, Oh, this
493
00:28:13,253 --> 00:28:14,533
is no topic we can talk about.
494
00:28:15,003 --> 00:28:19,953
But the more comfortable you are when
you talk, and when you ask a question,
495
00:28:20,233 --> 00:28:23,523
the more comfortable the person you're
talking to is going to feel and the more
496
00:28:23,523 --> 00:28:24,983
comfortable the dialogue it's going to be.
497
00:28:24,983 --> 00:28:30,203
Next, I would say practice, maybe a
little elevator pitch, like just maybe
498
00:28:30,203 --> 00:28:36,183
a one liner or a one sentence of how
your faith has impacted you or the fact
499
00:28:36,183 --> 00:28:40,853
that you're Catholic or Christian and
why, you know, just maybe like a one
500
00:28:40,853 --> 00:28:43,883
liner that you feel like you can pull
in conversations when someone asks
501
00:28:43,993 --> 00:28:46,723
you like, Oh, I didn't know you were
Catholic or, Oh, I didn't know you went
502
00:28:46,723 --> 00:28:50,613
to church or whatever that you can share.
503
00:28:51,753 --> 00:28:55,443
Just kind of have that stamp of
joy and confidence come across
504
00:28:55,803 --> 00:28:57,213
when talking about your faith.
505
00:28:57,213 --> 00:29:00,703
For example, you can just be like,
yeah, actually I grew up Catholic, but
506
00:29:00,713 --> 00:29:04,863
it wasn't a really big part of my life
until, you know, my later college years.
507
00:29:04,863 --> 00:29:08,833
And then I really felt like I took
the faith on as my own and my life
508
00:29:08,833 --> 00:29:11,123
has been totally different ever since.
509
00:29:11,213 --> 00:29:13,953
Um, it's just really kind of
like the foundation of my life.
510
00:29:13,953 --> 00:29:18,113
And I've just found so much joy and
peace and confidence in living this way.
511
00:29:18,113 --> 00:29:19,813
So my faith is super important to me.
512
00:29:20,129 --> 00:29:21,679
Took like 30 seconds.
513
00:29:21,799 --> 00:29:23,329
It told a little bit of a story.
514
00:29:23,329 --> 00:29:28,289
It gave people an insight as to why you
practice your faith and where you're
515
00:29:28,329 --> 00:29:32,119
at in your faith and just the way that
it's benefiting and blessing your life.
516
00:29:32,939 --> 00:29:36,509
And if said with confidence, it's
going to come across that way and it's
517
00:29:36,509 --> 00:29:38,999
going to open the door for dialogue.
518
00:29:38,999 --> 00:29:44,559
And if you're able to dive more into your
story and if somebody asks questions,
519
00:29:45,059 --> 00:29:47,159
Don't be afraid of vulnerability.
520
00:29:47,449 --> 00:29:50,909
You don't have to include
really difficult details.
521
00:29:50,909 --> 00:29:54,399
If that's part of your story or really
personal details that you're not ready to
522
00:29:54,399 --> 00:30:00,189
share, but sharing how your faith got you
through some of your toughest times, or
523
00:30:00,219 --> 00:30:02,348
maybe how it took hitting a rock bottom.
524
00:30:02,349 --> 00:30:06,689
bottom moment to finally realize
that you, you know, had lost
525
00:30:06,689 --> 00:30:08,589
your faith and wanted to go back.
526
00:30:08,589 --> 00:30:12,329
Like those moments are really powerful
and sharing from the heart and sharing
527
00:30:12,329 --> 00:30:15,359
from our brokenness is really relatable.
528
00:30:15,679 --> 00:30:21,389
And this could be me just
inferring or assuming, but we
529
00:30:21,389 --> 00:30:23,769
all have brokenness, right?
530
00:30:24,079 --> 00:30:29,439
And I think that a lot of people that
don't have faith perceive Christians.
531
00:30:29,979 --> 00:30:35,829
to maybe be judgmental about
that brokenness or their past
532
00:30:35,859 --> 00:30:38,719
or their sinfulness or, you
know, how they live their lives.
533
00:30:39,199 --> 00:30:44,079
And when you're able to be vulnerable and
share, like, yeah, my life isn't perfect.
534
00:30:44,089 --> 00:30:45,469
My faith hasn't been perfect.
535
00:30:45,469 --> 00:30:48,919
You know, when I share with people,
like, yeah, I did not live a of Christ
536
00:30:48,919 --> 00:30:53,769
in College, and it took a really, you
know, rock bottom night to realize that
537
00:30:53,769 --> 00:30:56,309
I was not on the path God wanted me to.
538
00:30:56,689 --> 00:31:01,139
When I share that, I feel like there's
just a guard that has come down from the
539
00:31:01,139 --> 00:31:05,809
person I'm talking to because then they
realize, Oh, Oh, I can relate to that.
540
00:31:05,809 --> 00:31:09,769
Like, I am, I've not lived a perfect life
and, you know, clearly she hasn't either.
541
00:31:09,769 --> 00:31:12,209
Like she has experience in that,
but then they can kind of see
542
00:31:12,209 --> 00:31:15,699
like, wow, but like, look how
important the faith is to her now.
543
00:31:15,699 --> 00:31:17,679
Look how much she practices her faith now.
544
00:31:17,679 --> 00:31:19,969
Like, I wonder how she got there.
545
00:31:19,999 --> 00:31:24,479
You know, I wonder what that shift
was, but just sharing invulnerability,
546
00:31:24,489 --> 00:31:29,204
um, Parts of your story, parts of
your brokenness can really just allow
547
00:31:29,224 --> 00:31:32,824
people's walls to come down to feel
like they can relate and then kind of
548
00:31:32,824 --> 00:31:34,624
have more trust in that conversation.
549
00:31:34,624 --> 00:31:37,174
And just be ready for questions.
550
00:31:37,194 --> 00:31:40,084
I think this is one of the
things that really pushed me
551
00:31:40,084 --> 00:31:41,824
to learn more about my faith.
552
00:31:42,214 --> 00:31:47,599
In high school, I was friends with a
lot of Mormon friends and, um, I think
553
00:31:47,599 --> 00:31:50,549
I was just so attracted to them because
they lived really, really good lives.
554
00:31:50,579 --> 00:31:54,599
They're really good people and had
really amazing standards, especially
555
00:31:54,609 --> 00:31:59,679
for high schoolers where people just
want to fit in and it's hard to say no.
556
00:31:59,679 --> 00:32:01,779
And everybody just wants to
do what everybody's doing.
557
00:32:02,399 --> 00:32:05,119
These friends that I had were
really inspiring to me because they
558
00:32:05,119 --> 00:32:06,849
lived really amazing moral lives.
559
00:32:06,909 --> 00:32:10,489
And for some reason I was just
really attracted to that even in high
560
00:32:10,489 --> 00:32:12,199
school and really impressed by them.
561
00:32:12,529 --> 00:32:13,639
And so I would hang out with them a lot.
562
00:32:13,689 --> 00:32:15,219
Um, but they would ask
me a lot of questions.
563
00:32:15,219 --> 00:32:19,164
They would be like, Oh, Why do you
say the words in the Our Father?
564
00:32:19,164 --> 00:32:20,934
Or what is, what are
the words of the creed?
565
00:32:20,944 --> 00:32:21,984
And why do you say those?
566
00:32:22,014 --> 00:32:22,954
And what do they mean?
567
00:32:23,364 --> 00:32:25,654
And what does the church teach about Mary?
568
00:32:25,684 --> 00:32:29,184
And, you know, if you don't worship
Mary, what does it look like then?
569
00:32:29,204 --> 00:32:30,594
And what do you do in your mass?
570
00:32:30,624 --> 00:32:32,194
And why did they do that in the mass?
571
00:32:32,194 --> 00:32:33,174
And why do you stand up?
572
00:32:33,174 --> 00:32:33,874
And why do you kneel down?
573
00:32:34,104 --> 00:32:35,164
All these questions, right?
574
00:32:35,514 --> 00:32:40,694
And I began to realize, oh my gosh, I grew
up Catholic and went to Sunday school.
575
00:32:40,694 --> 00:32:42,924
And yet I don't know how
to answer these questions.
576
00:32:43,304 --> 00:32:45,984
And that could be a whole other
podcast episode in itself about.
577
00:32:46,389 --> 00:32:51,969
Making sure that our church is
catechized well, um, which so many
578
00:32:51,969 --> 00:32:53,409
of us are not catechized well.
579
00:32:53,779 --> 00:32:58,809
Um, but that pushed me
to learn about my faith.
580
00:32:58,879 --> 00:33:02,529
And I started listening to talks,
listening to Father Mike Schmidt's videos
581
00:33:02,549 --> 00:33:08,959
on YouTube, um, reading different books
and trying to learn more about my faith.
582
00:33:09,364 --> 00:33:09,834
my faith.
583
00:33:09,874 --> 00:33:14,174
I started reading different parts of the
catechism, reading the Bible more, just
584
00:33:14,174 --> 00:33:18,134
to really understand, like, why do we
do these things in the Catholic faith?
585
00:33:18,604 --> 00:33:22,544
And it strengthened my faith, and it
strengthened my belief in the Catholic
586
00:33:22,554 --> 00:33:26,264
Church as the one true church, because
I found an answer to everything.
587
00:33:26,664 --> 00:33:28,664
Because nothing is done just because.
588
00:33:28,804 --> 00:33:35,339
Everything stems from scripture or
tradition, and There is richness
589
00:33:35,399 --> 00:33:39,729
and meaning behind all of the
ways that we practice our faith.
590
00:33:39,739 --> 00:33:44,689
And so when I was able to learn that,
and then I was able to share that with
591
00:33:44,719 --> 00:33:51,249
friends whenever they asked and sharing
confidently what I had learned made
592
00:33:51,289 --> 00:33:53,229
them more confident in my faith, right?
593
00:33:53,239 --> 00:33:55,369
And made them respect me.
594
00:33:55,984 --> 00:34:00,074
And so this is an encouragement
to you to actively seek out
595
00:34:00,074 --> 00:34:01,874
more knowledge in your faith.
596
00:34:01,914 --> 00:34:04,184
Trust me, you are never going
to run out of things to learn.
597
00:34:04,194 --> 00:34:09,174
There is so much written about our
faith from saints in the catechism,
598
00:34:09,464 --> 00:34:14,083
um, different, you know, popes and
bishops and encyclicals and everything
599
00:34:14,083 --> 00:34:17,574
in the past, um, you know, that
has been written about our faith.
600
00:34:17,804 --> 00:34:24,744
So there's always more to learn and
that gives you just like So much more
601
00:34:25,074 --> 00:34:27,554
authority to be able to share as well.
602
00:34:28,143 --> 00:34:33,684
Now, I also just want to say, don't
be afraid to say that you don't
603
00:34:33,684 --> 00:34:35,474
know the answer to that question.
604
00:34:35,833 --> 00:34:39,833
It is better to say that than to kind
of try and make up a shifty answer that
605
00:34:39,833 --> 00:34:43,444
you're like, I don't know if that's true
or I don't know if I'm saying it right.
606
00:34:43,744 --> 00:34:45,974
Because you're probably not
going to come across confident.
607
00:34:45,974 --> 00:34:48,444
You're probably going to come across
like you don't know your faith.
608
00:34:48,884 --> 00:34:52,143
Um, and it's actually, I think
more respectable to be like,
609
00:34:53,109 --> 00:34:54,188
That's a really good question.
610
00:34:54,688 --> 00:34:57,699
I actually don't know if
I know the answer, but let
611
00:34:57,699 --> 00:34:58,529
me get back to you on that.
612
00:34:58,529 --> 00:34:59,279
I'm going to look into that.
613
00:34:59,279 --> 00:35:02,559
Cause I, I'm, I'm interested in
knowing what the answer to that is too.
614
00:35:03,079 --> 00:35:05,899
And so by just admitting like, Hey,
I actually don't think I know the
615
00:35:05,899 --> 00:35:08,449
answer to that, but I want to find
out, I'm going to get back to you.
616
00:35:08,819 --> 00:35:10,199
That's more respectable.
617
00:35:10,519 --> 00:35:16,289
And you can now come back to the
conversation at a later time with the
618
00:35:16,289 --> 00:35:18,569
answer and open the conversation back up.
619
00:35:18,819 --> 00:35:20,109
You can go do your homework.
620
00:35:20,264 --> 00:35:24,704
Learn about whatever they had asked about
or what you didn't fully understand about
621
00:35:24,704 --> 00:35:29,104
your faith and come back and share what
you found and continue the conversation,
622
00:35:29,104 --> 00:35:32,194
I think just one of the biggest things
I want y'all to walk away with is that
623
00:35:32,194 --> 00:35:36,784
sharing your faith brings glory to God
and sharing the ways that he is working
624
00:35:36,784 --> 00:35:38,594
in your life brings glory to God.
625
00:35:38,984 --> 00:35:39,664
And.
626
00:35:40,059 --> 00:35:43,419
Even sharing little God moments,
right, of how God's working in your
627
00:35:43,419 --> 00:35:47,209
life, little God winks, coincidences,
or signs that you see, ways that you
628
00:35:47,209 --> 00:35:50,829
feel like God is showing up in your
life, sharing those with your friends
629
00:35:50,829 --> 00:35:54,359
around you, um, especially, yeah,
even people who are Christian, right?
630
00:35:54,864 --> 00:35:57,514
You should still be talking about
your faith with people who share
631
00:35:57,514 --> 00:35:59,094
the faith and that's so encouraging.
632
00:35:59,504 --> 00:36:04,114
To share, yeah, to share those different
moments, um, brings glory to God because
633
00:36:04,114 --> 00:36:08,834
it shows how God is bringing joy into
your life, how he is blessing your
634
00:36:08,834 --> 00:36:12,474
life, how he is bringing peace into your
life, how he is helping you overcome
635
00:36:12,874 --> 00:36:17,954
anxiety or fear, um, or whatever it
is that you're going through brings
636
00:36:18,004 --> 00:36:20,164
so much glory and honor to the Lord.
637
00:36:20,164 --> 00:36:24,764
And that not only just honors God,
but I think just sparks inspiration
638
00:36:24,774 --> 00:36:28,964
in other people, sparks intrigue in
other people, and even just allows
639
00:36:28,964 --> 00:36:34,254
people to admire you for your faith
and just how, yeah, your faith and
640
00:36:34,274 --> 00:36:37,654
your trust and your belief in God.
641
00:36:37,654 --> 00:36:42,834
And, you know, lastly, I also just want to
say, if you feel awkward, if you mess up,
642
00:36:42,854 --> 00:36:46,594
if you say the wrong thing, or if you walk
away from a conversation thinking, Oh my
643
00:36:46,594 --> 00:36:48,644
gosh, that could have gone so much better.
644
00:36:48,964 --> 00:36:50,444
Have grace with yourself.
645
00:36:50,624 --> 00:36:51,474
It's okay.
646
00:36:51,664 --> 00:36:52,014
Right?
647
00:36:52,014 --> 00:36:53,874
Like you get better at it.
648
00:36:53,884 --> 00:36:57,594
The more that you do it and the more
you talk about your faith, the more
649
00:36:57,594 --> 00:36:58,874
comfortable you're going to feel.
650
00:36:59,224 --> 00:37:01,557
Like I said, at first,
fake it till you make it.
651
00:37:01,872 --> 00:37:05,642
You might not feel super confident at
first, but just fake it till you make it.
652
00:37:05,642 --> 00:37:06,422
You will get there.
653
00:37:06,432 --> 00:37:08,842
And if you have some
awkward moments, rub it off.
654
00:37:09,102 --> 00:37:09,922
It's okay.
655
00:37:09,942 --> 00:37:11,092
Don't worry about it.
656
00:37:11,442 --> 00:37:16,692
Um, I remember just last spring, I
think I was at one of my favorite coffee
657
00:37:16,692 --> 00:37:20,302
shops and it is a Christian coffee shop.
658
00:37:20,322 --> 00:37:22,272
And I was wearing my West coast Catholic.
659
00:37:22,612 --> 00:37:24,642
See you in the Eucharist crew neck.
660
00:37:24,912 --> 00:37:29,162
So it says, see you in the, uh, And
then there's a little Eucharist symbol.
661
00:37:29,162 --> 00:37:31,152
It's like a circle with a cross
in the middle, so it doesn't
662
00:37:31,162 --> 00:37:32,212
actually spell Eucharist.
663
00:37:32,212 --> 00:37:33,802
It just shows the Eucharist symbol.
664
00:37:34,342 --> 00:37:38,292
And I went up to pay for my coffee
and the guy's like, Ooh, see you
665
00:37:38,292 --> 00:37:41,072
in the circle with the cross.
666
00:37:41,132 --> 00:37:41,992
What does that mean?
667
00:37:42,442 --> 00:37:45,442
And I was like, Oh, I don't want
to talk about this right now.
668
00:37:45,442 --> 00:37:47,462
I just like need to grab
my coffee and go to work.
669
00:37:47,462 --> 00:37:50,902
Like, I don't, I just like, didn't
want to enter the conversation.
670
00:37:50,902 --> 00:37:53,612
I was like, Oh yeah, it's
just, it's a Catholic thing.
671
00:37:53,612 --> 00:37:57,422
And, and he was like, And then I
kind of just brushed it off and I
672
00:37:57,422 --> 00:37:58,772
was like, Oh, how much do I owe you?
673
00:37:58,772 --> 00:38:01,302
You know, I like, I changed the
conversation and then he pressed on.
674
00:38:01,302 --> 00:38:02,082
He was like, cool.
675
00:38:02,082 --> 00:38:02,752
What does it mean?
676
00:38:02,762 --> 00:38:04,352
Like, what's the Catholic thing?
677
00:38:04,412 --> 00:38:05,952
Like he like asked me more about it.
678
00:38:05,952 --> 00:38:10,482
And I was like, all right, Jesus, this
is you opening the door right here.
679
00:38:10,482 --> 00:38:12,052
Like, no, I have to talk about it.
680
00:38:12,482 --> 00:38:14,362
And so then I proceeded to share about.
681
00:38:14,792 --> 00:38:18,232
As Catholics, we believe that the
Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ,
682
00:38:18,252 --> 00:38:23,422
and it's the source and summit of our
faith, and there's this belief that,
683
00:38:23,422 --> 00:38:26,502
you know, we all make up the body of
Christ, and when we go receive him in the
684
00:38:26,502 --> 00:38:30,352
Eucharist, we're all united to the body
of Christ, and, you know, all that stuff.
685
00:38:30,382 --> 00:38:33,127
And so I'm sharing this with him,
and he actually was like, wow.
686
00:38:33,677 --> 00:38:34,807
That's super cool.
687
00:38:35,217 --> 00:38:36,067
Thanks for sharing that.
688
00:38:36,837 --> 00:38:39,337
And I walked away and I was just
like, why did I make that so much
689
00:38:39,337 --> 00:38:40,317
more awkward than it needed to be?
690
00:38:40,317 --> 00:38:41,737
Like, why did I try and brush it off?
691
00:38:41,757 --> 00:38:44,197
I'm sure by brushing it off and being
like, Oh yeah, it's a Catholic thing.
692
00:38:44,647 --> 00:38:47,827
It's just kind of like came off
as, Oh, I don't know how to talk
693
00:38:47,827 --> 00:38:49,647
about this as weird question.
694
00:38:49,647 --> 00:38:52,777
Don't ask me, you know, but he was
interested and I'm glad he asked again.
695
00:38:52,777 --> 00:38:56,537
And I am glad that I got to share about
that beautiful truth of our faith.
696
00:38:56,877 --> 00:39:00,667
Um, but that's all just to say you might
have some awkward moments and that's okay.
697
00:39:00,667 --> 00:39:02,827
Have grace with yourself, brush it off.
698
00:39:03,537 --> 00:39:04,967
And keep going and try again.
699
00:39:05,467 --> 00:39:07,877
I hope that this was
all very helpful to you.
700
00:39:07,877 --> 00:39:11,807
I know that I've had this conversation
in person with several friends
701
00:39:11,817 --> 00:39:14,287
and the girls that I used to walk
with when I was a missionary.
702
00:39:14,317 --> 00:39:18,097
And I felt like it was about time
to chat about it on the podcast.
703
00:39:18,117 --> 00:39:22,027
It had been on my like topics,
brainstorm list for a long time.
704
00:39:22,047 --> 00:39:26,197
And didn't feel like the right time, but
today as I was recording, I'm like, this
705
00:39:26,197 --> 00:39:27,587
is totally what we need to talk about.
706
00:39:27,587 --> 00:39:29,357
So hope that was the Holy Spirit.
707
00:39:29,367 --> 00:39:32,677
I hope that this is helpful to you
and your life and that you got a
708
00:39:32,677 --> 00:39:34,117
lot of practical tips out of it.
709
00:39:34,247 --> 00:39:38,517
And if there are any topics that you
were like, I want Mari to talk about
710
00:39:38,517 --> 00:39:42,947
this so bad on the podcast or that you
have a lot of questions about, please DM
711
00:39:42,957 --> 00:39:49,922
me, whether it's on my podcast Instagram
at ever be podcast or on my podcast at
712
00:39:50,092 --> 00:39:52,842
Personal blog at Mari dot C dot Wagner.
713
00:39:53,142 --> 00:39:55,292
I read as many of those as I can.
714
00:39:55,322 --> 00:39:59,562
And I love when I get podcast,
uh, topic suggestions, because
715
00:39:59,572 --> 00:40:01,722
obviously I'm here to serve you.
716
00:40:01,812 --> 00:40:02,832
I want to walk with you.
717
00:40:02,832 --> 00:40:05,232
And if there's something that you're
really struggling in or that you have
718
00:40:05,232 --> 00:40:08,662
questions on, I want to know, and I
would love to create content on that.
719
00:40:08,662 --> 00:40:11,532
So if there's anything on your
mind, send me a message and
720
00:40:11,542 --> 00:40:12,702
we'll see you all next week.
