Episode 74: Panelist Essays

Wow, amazing essays across the board. Well done to you all. Thoughtful, honest, sincere, moving are just a few words that come to mind.

Jon, I don’t think your thoughts on Jesus’ suffering are at all blasphemous. In fact, they’re quite Biblical. The Bible says that Jesus actually became sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) and became cursed (Galations 3:13) on our behalf.

For me, the idea that some guy (Jesus, the one God of everything according to John 1:14) has complete empathy with us has been crucial in dealing with the difficulties of life. I totally agree we should take care of each other and I think most people would also agree that we should. The obvious question in my mind is why don’t we then?

Glenn, what an awesome testimony! I smiled and even chuckled all the way through. You are one clever dude with an awesome, wry, dry sense of humor.

George, your story mirrors my own in many ways. I agree with your advice and can testify that counseling has saved my marriage too. My wife and I are not better off than *ever* before because of it, (she may never forgive me for ceasing to believe in the Church) but at least we are still together and sometimes happy.

Tom, you sound like the guy I always wanted in a friend and brother. (My brothers are great, I have two, so this isn’t meant as a slam on them in any way – just in case they read this one day in the future.) I admire you very much for what you stand up for and all that you do. You’re a good example to us all.

Zilpha, I so wanted to hear you sing you hymn!! What a downer that you decided not to. Maybe you could hire a singer to do it for us? I’ll pay.

John, I’m glad you saved yours for last. It was the one that reflects my views best. But you are so much more eloquent in your ability to put it to words. Kudos!

You guys blew us all out of the water. I’m so glad we don’t have to go up against you in the contest. One of these would have won it for sure!

Btw, where are Jim’s and Nyal’s essays!?? Those slackers!

This podcast was worth waiting for. Each essay was unique and interesting. You can’t know what it does to hear your words put voice to the things we have all endured, even when we can’t do it ourselves. Hearing the common experiences, varied and unique as they may be, helps ease some of the internal pain I suffered during my crisis of faith.

I second a lot of what has been said. Richard hit the nail on the head more than once. John’s sincerity comes through loud and clear. Zilpha, your experience at Adam-Ondi-Ahman brought back memories of a Seminary trip I took, which resulted in a spiritual experience involving a cow. Long story. But the point is similar. It was just a cow.

Glenn was clever and entertaining as usual. George’s essay reminded me of the first few weeks after we resigned. It was a glass of cold water in the face to realize we were now living without training wheels. Like you, it has made all the difference in our marriage. There is something about loving your spouse more deliberately that changes everything.

Tom, Richard was dead on. You are the stand up guy we all need in our corner. And I disagree. You are not a cartoon jackass. No way.

Thanks once again for your efforts and time. I’m sure I speak for others as well when I say my life has been made better as a result of your dedication and hard work.

jax

I have a testimony that this podcast is true. Perhaps even the One True and Everlasting Podcast.

Thank you all for those essays. Each of you managed to enlarge my own understanding and perspective by bringing up valid points and ways of looking at things that might otherwise never have occurred to me. I will do much pondering on what you have said.

This was an excellent idea for a podcast. I enjoyed every single one of them. I can especially relate to Tom’s.

I was a bit skeptical of how this essay thing would turn out. Nice to be surprised by such a variety of concepts and stories.

Glenn – yours was brilliant.

Great stuff, all. I appreciate you sharing your ideas — and I found little gems in all the essays.

Glenn specifically, you are my new hero. Your piece was wickedly funny and insightful. I can relate to your concern about being struck by lightning for indulging in a little irreverent sarcasm. It’s a temptation I find hard to resist and at the same time one that has been indispensable in dealing with my disaffection.

Again good stuff. Thanks all.

Wonderful essays! I thoroughly enjoyed them.

Glenn, you are a funny guy. My kids laughed throughout as we listened to your ‘testimony’ for the second or third time. Classic.

I already told Glenn and Zilpha how much I loved their essays, but it’s worth reiterating here. Glenn’s essay reminded me a lot of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EieFdXy_HwM

Great work by everyone else, as well. Listening to this episode really made me want to write record my own story.

Just got caught up to this episode and wanted to let all the participants know how amazing this was to listen to. I have been riding through a particularly rough patch lately and this really hit me hard, in a good way.

Geroge, I can relate to your story in so many ways, thanks for reminding me that it is possible to work through this.

Tom, your story to I can relate to other than I no longer attend. I do admire you for that, one think I wondered is do you ever end up walking out of meetings in disgust? Or in heated debates on certain topics? I am very passive myself so I used to go for the walking out option, now I just don’t attend at all.

Thanks to all of you!