Live from the Pathway Studios in Johnston proper. You are live from the path.

And you're listening to Live From The Past coming from the Pathway Studios here in Johnston proper. There we go. It's gonna be with you this this fine evening. Here we go. There's there's a it's a special show. I

was abandoned. I was abandoned by nearly everyone. But but well, no. Actually, everybody. So if you think of all the folks you're used to hearing on the on the show here, old Mike, Dan, Buva, and Nathaniel, every one of them at least made the case that they had something better going on this evening. So here's here's what we're gonna do. We've got something special set up for you.

Emma Emma Foust is in studio. Hi, Emma. Hello. Okay. So Emma has has been on the program before, and what we've decided to do is we're just gonna give you a taste of a program. And so the format is one big question. One big question and probably, like, three three advices, and then we're gonna cut you loose. K? So you just get a little bit of a tickle, a little tangle of life from the path just to keep your week going, and then and then we'll catch up with the full show with all the fellas here. I don't know. Whatever they show up, I guess. Okay. Seem like that seemed like a good format, Emma. Sounds pretty good to me. Okay. So did you have you landed on your big question?

Well, I don't know if it's necessarily big, but I think it's the best I'm gonna be able to come up with. So Okay. So I'll go first. Okay. And and then why did you know, don't feel like you have to rethink your question. Okay? But I'll go first with the big big question. So and it's okay if the answer to this question is not yet or I'm not sure. Okay? But my question is,

you are about to turn 17. Mhmm. Is there a time where you felt like

your faith became yours, not just something that

you had learned about or that your parents or people in your community or family had, do you feel like you've had the experience that you can remember where your your faith, yeah, became something that belonged to you or that you experienced as opposed to just something you knew about that was given to you?

I would say yes. It has happened. And but the problem I feel like it's happened multiple times. Well, that's alright. So, like like, I don't know. Every it's not like it's consistent or routine, but, like, you know, something will happen or I'll be doing something or, like, I'll really see god move or I I'll just even start feeling closer.

And then I'll be like I don't know. I really don't I don't know when it started the first time. Yeah. But I do know, like, there are times where I will definitely feel like this is more like, I'm this is my faith right now. Like, I am

god is working with me Yep. Talking directly to me. Like, it's not my mom is not telling me it. My dad's not telling me it. Yeah. My friends aren't telling me it. Like, this I I can see it for myself. And so I don't know if I can really pinpoint any of those times. Yeah. Like, there's little little places where I've seen God move, obviously. But a big one, I did the experiencing god study. Yeah.

I don't know. I think it was last summer, actually, with some friends and their mom. And that has been, I feel like, a really good point of reference

because it it just it completely changes the way you think about experiencing god. Yeah. And so it's kind of like it's the main premise is god is always moving. You just have to be able to see it. Yep. And so it really adds like, that just completely, I think, really shifted what I'm thinking about it and remembering that. It completely shifts how you view the world and how god is moving because it's not, I wonder, will god work in this? Right. Or I wonder if god is

watching or listening or carrying or whatever. Like, he is. Yeah. That's just the truth. You just have to be able to see it, which really makes a lot more sense because, obviously, we are not the perfect being beings in this equation. Yeah. So it makes more sense that we are the ones at fault not being able to see what is happening. Yeah. But it's also, like, you can't make yourself see it. You you have to let god help you see it. Yeah. And so going through that study and probably

learning that and thinking about that and remembering that various times has was a a big one. Yeah. Yeah. I'd say. That makes sense to me. I was I was trying to think back whether I could I knew of this ex that experience for myself. And, like, I tend to I tend to be very I know. Harsh isn't the right word. But, like, like, I always I always think back to, like, well, what did I believe when I was, like, 25?

And, like, I it's just funny. I'll listen to past shows and I'll say something just in our conversation on Life From The Path. I'm like, oh, well, that that's actually pretty right. I just presumed that eight years ago, I was an idiot. Yeah. But, like, I I don't I I do think that up it was probably well into my twenties, late twenties

that where I felt like the my faith transitioned to something that I it wasn't just something I knew about. Because, like, I I think that's how it starts. Right? Like, you we start teaching you facts, things that are true, and that's okay. Like, at an age there's certain age where, you can only handle we just have to say this is how you're supposed to take the world in, and that's I think that's totally fine. But, like, sometimes in fact, this is the thing that causes problems is that with our faith does not transfer into something that we otherwise experience,

then when presented with facts that are deeper or alternative to the facts that we learned growing up, it puts the question of God and who he is and whether he exists as if it's a totally reasonable thing to consider. But if you have experienced it, if you have interacted with, if you've seen the Holy Spirit move in your life, if outside of someone, like, curating and explaining to you something that happened and you have to lean on it in a situation,

like, then then some of the types of things that we feel like that people bail from Christianity on aren't super compelling. Like, it just means you you it makes you look at it and go, okay. There has to be an explanation for this because I cannot explain away the situation that I saw or the interaction that I that I felt or, like, just the clarity of which I've seen god move and act. You know? Mhmm. And I would say, like, I I always had from growing up, I I had this foundation that, like, okay. This is how I'm supposed to look at the world, but, like, you probably could have pressed pretty hard on that.

And I wasn't you I wasn't living anything that would say this transition to something that I that was mine. Yeah. So, anyway, I yeah. I it was it's just interesting It's interesting to think about, like, whether there are it's I I like your answer actually because, like, it like, it's not just one moment. And

it's probably not something like, it's it's very to look back on it and go, when was the moment? Most people don't when something unique like that happens, you don't go, oh, I actually own my faith now. It's not something we tend to think about. And so I'm glad that study helped. I've heard that from lot of people.

And I think you're right. I think there is something very interesting about if we interact with God as facts and as if we're pressing the buttons, we actually don't tend to see the same things if we go, look, we are God is working and moving and then we get to see it and experience it. You're right. That makes it's more logical. It makes way more sense that way. And then I think we don't miss out on things because we didn't prescribe what had to happen. We were just opening to what could be happening. And

so, like, even if I think back to when I got baptized, which was almost four years ago Yeah. I remember I know that I believed what pretty much what I believe now then, I believe. Yeah. God's my savior. He's real. Jesus loves me. Like, the basic questions you get asked. Like, I believed all of it, and I can't really remember a time where I didn't. Yeah. But, like, if I think about who I was and the things I was thinking and doing then, I was like, wow. That's terrible. How could you even what's what was wrong with you? Yeah. Like and when I'm in four more years, I'm sure I'll think about that Yes. About myself now. Yes. And so and, like, even though I've done that bible study over a full year ago, like, I still pray like I haven't. Like, I'll pray like, god, will you bless the situation or, god, will you move here or will you do this? And the way I pray, I don't know. I'm trying to work on this, and I'm not really sure how to fix it, but I always tack on, like, if it's your will, of course, like, that's gonna help things because I don't wanna seem like I'm pressuring god into doing things Yeah. Which and then it just feels fake because it is. But Yeah. Yeah. Anyways, like, then I'm praying

I still pray, like, will you do this instead of, like, will you let me see this? And it's it's like it's so much more freedom when you're when you're just like when you pray, god, will you let me see this? Because it's not on you, and it doesn't have any of the consequences, like, same consequences where, like, oh, god didn't do what I asked him to. Yeah. He did stuff. You just didn't see it. Yeah. Yeah. Or or he solved it in a different way or it wasn't the time and it wasn't got the thing you wanted wasn't what was best for you or for somebody else or something like that. I think that gets to something that we had we're talking about at church recently, which was around

kind of having a hesitance of like, if you've asked god for to act or move in a certain way and, like, the thing that you're asking feels righteous. Like, it feels like a totally awesome thing to pray for. It's not like you're praying, like, can I have a million dollars? Like, can you heal these people? Can you mend these relationships? Can you make I remember I was praying recently over, like, a contested piece of property, and I'm like, this this ground was not meant to be split. Can you, like, have humans recognize the unity of the ground that you created? You know? And those are righteous things, but it doesn't mean that they're gonna happen. And, like, it it puts our evaluation of god in a weird spot where, like, if you don't do the thing that I asked, then I start questioning your character. But, like, it's it's totally normal because that's how you would interact with anybody else. Like, the the thing is is most humans just you don't have that level of trust for your other humans.

Like, it'd be very difficult to be like, you know, even if the thing the basic good, like, why are there people starving in all all over the world? Why is there mass violence allowed? Why are people allowed to sully the name of Jesus acting ways if they're acting on his behalf? You know, like, why God isn't doing something or other. If you would not trust any other human to be like, well, I know all these things are happening, but, like, you know, Chuck must have a plan. You just don't trust people like that. Yeah. It's a different relationship with God. And so, interestingly, I think it's actually still totally appropriate to say, God, we're asking for your blessing on this situation. We're asking for you know, we're going to anoint with oil and we're, like, as a physical means of saying, can we can you give your blessing to this specific situation? Like, I think that's still

okay, but it it says, like like you would ask a father. You would say, dad, can you help me with this? And sometimes your dad will say or my dad would say, you know, well, yes, but I'm not going to do the thing that you're asking. Oh, or no. There's more things going on you don't quite understand, but I need you to trust me. And and and if you do, then you're like, okay. That's good. So, yeah, I I think it is it's it's always an interesting thing because, one, we trust god to be god, but then god says, I want you to ask.

And so not having human expectations on the things that we ask, but having god relationship, trustworthy allows us to be free to say, god, I I want. This is the thing that I want. You've it feels like you've put it on my heart, and and this

could you interact in this situation? But being cautious, I think, to your point, of not boxing god in and saying, this is the only way in which it's okay to be solved. Like, most vast majority of people who

follow Jesus, like, the stories I've heard is, like, they've prayed for something and God almost never answers it in the way that they believed he would Yeah. But did it better or differently. And so, like, sometimes we miss being able to see it simply because we were only agreed to to watch out for one thing. Say, god, send a red car. I wanna I want a red car. And, you know, and if if these cars are just flying by and one of them is a red SUV and that god could have sent that one. And I ignored it because I said, well, I wanted I was looking for a red car. You know?

Okay. Do you want me to do my question? Yeah. Yeah. Hit me. One question. Okay. So I had a different one and then while we were talking, I thought of this and then I forgot it a few times and then I really remembered it. Okay. Do you ever feel afraid to pray because of what could happen? Like, because of what you could put into motion, and then

how do you how do you get out of that cycle? Yes. Yes. I think I have had hesitance to pray on multiple occasions. So I have prayed at

and this sticks with me. It it feels like I was in the same room multiple times. But after my kids were born, so after you were born, after

my other kids were born, I remember e for each of you, I I was in, like, a bedroom or something, and, like, I was trying to give my wife a rest, and so I was, like, trying to put a baby to sleep, and this is every every time it was within, like, a week of being born, and I remember praying, God, I I trust this child to you. And

there was, like, a hesitance in me, not because I don't trust the child to God, but there was a weight of recognizing that, like, sometimes accomplishing God's purposes puts all kinds of human situations at risk. Right? So you might look out and, like, you know, if there's an idealized version of of your life, it's

twenty years from now, my kids and my grandkids, like, are all together on some sort of holiday and, like, it's very peaceful and loving and we just get to, like, the fruits of an attempted life well lived is in front of you. And then

one of those kids isn't there, and they don't have to be dead. They might just be gone or something like but, like, they're not there and there's no grandkids. And that's all awesome because they're following Jesus and doing something rather here or there. But, like, there's a weight to that. Right? Because, like, I took the curation of my children's lives or what I believed that I could influence in my kids' lives, and I said, I trust you with this human being, with this with this child. And, like, I remember when you were born, as a matter of fact, it hit me very hard. I thought, like,

where am I leading this child? Like, do I really believe the things that I believe? Because if these are if this is not true, I don't wanna set this person up for, like, believing all kinds of things that aren't right, that cause social rubs with people and things that the society around us doesn't particularly love and they're sacrificial things or things you don't we don't do that the rest of society is like, well, it seems alright.

It it separates who you get to date and how you date and how you marry and the things that you do. And so, like, I remember thinking that, like, it's one thing if I've accepted the consequence of this thing I believe that is a faith thing, but I you know, you can't prove some of it. It's a whole another thing to what feels like indoctrinate somebody. Like, like, most of your children, like, they're going to if you teach them something, that's how they're gonna view the world, and plenty of people screwed up their kids doing that. Right? And so it just felt very heavy to me at the time, and so I was praying about that. But, no, like, here's the thing. It's it's always kind of the right thing because the second part of your question was, am I ever afraid? The answer is yes. But they're human level fears, and it's the thing, like, in in the presence of that, the most of them have been righteous things. I'm gonna I'm gonna give a counterexample here in a second. Most have been righteous things where, like, it was the the only thing I could do was pray about it and go forward with the prayer because I knew that whatever hesitancy existed,

it existed at a human level, but that God was the right person to handle it anyway. Okay? There have been situations where, like, I didn't wanna I didn't wanna admit something. I didn't wanna tell somebody I did something or something that I thought or something that I I don't know. I don't remember what it was. Probably multiple things where, like, I was embarrassed of myself or ashamed of how I acted or said something or something. And so, like, I didn't wanna pray it because I didn't want god to make it obvious that I had to go make amends to this thing. And so,

I mean, obviously, again, like, I know that's dumb. Like, I but, like, it's but it's a human thing that goes, look. Maybe I don't have to maybe there's another route of which I don't have to do this thing that I don't wanna do. Every time that I've prayed into that, it is it is provided freedom.

It is on the other side. Like, the reason it was on my mind is because the thing was weighing on me and because I knew it was something that needed reconciled. And whatever the hard moment was on the other side of that thing, there was actual freedom to it and and and a healing of a relationship or a situation that I'd probably needed to to fix anyway. And so but I have been cautious about praying with it because I if like, if don't ask, don't tell. Like, if I didn't ask, maybe god wouldn't affirm that, yes, you totally need to to do that. And so, yes. Yes. That has happened to me. Do you do you feel like have you run into those situations? Definitely. Both.

Like, there's yeah. Like, for example, there was I was about last year, I think, and some of the friends I had grown up with, we didn't see each other as much, and, like, I was praying

all the time. Like, god, can you bless this relationship? Mhmm. And there was this fear. Like, what if that means I'm just no. I'm not friends with them anymore. Like, I've I just have to let them go. Yes. And, like, ultimately, that's what happened. Like, I'm still friends with them, and I I still care about them. They're still great. But, like, I ultimately, through various circumstances, ended up letting them go as saying, like, you guys are not as close to me as you once were. I'm not as close to you. And, like, that's okay. Yeah. And, like, it has it did provide a lot of relief. Yeah. And then there have been times where, like, in your in your contrast example where I've prayed things

in the back of my mind as I pray, it's like, well, what if that means you have to say this? Yeah. But then there have been times where I've prayed that same prayer and in the back of my mind is, what if that means you have to say this? But, like, I have said those things. Yeah. And so it's hard for me to tell sometimes, like, is that my personal guilt, like, holding on, or is that God nudging me? Like, it's

Yeah. Totally. I I it's well, here's here's the thing that I generally believe to be true is that, like, there's almost like, there's always freedom in, like, in honesty. Like, they're just holding things back, like, holding things back in protect there there is a there is a means of which, you know,

you don't need to unleash yourself upon someone else to relieve your burden only to pass it on somebody. Yeah. But, like, in the right relationships, right, trusted relationships, like, anytime you hold something back, you're holding part of yourself back. There's always something where, like,

it's not it doesn't feel like dishonesty, but it is like a, Well, here's part of me that you don't get to see, and it tends to be things that are harmful that don't look good on us or something, frankly, that's hard that is going rough with someone else and, you don't wanna risk making them mad or upset with you or something, but you're but, like, do I care about do I care about them enough to say it because that's where their freedom is? And then do I care about enough about my relationship with each other and my relationship with god to share something that is hard so that I have the the freedom that god calls me to. And so, like, almost always

in the right and right trusted relationships, like, openness is better than not. But I I I also and I think we talked about this on the show before. Sometimes I struggle where, like, I'll pray on something and immediately something happens in my mind and I feel like, oh, that's the answer. And then not just a quarter of a second later, the exact opposite thing pops right into my head. And both are kind of in

my mind voice. Does that make sense when I say my mind voice? And so I'm like, oh, come on. How can I sort this out? Like, this thing is against me. Whatever's in with underneath my brain underneath my brain bones is against me because I can't I'm trying to sort out and ask the lord for things, and immediately, there's this, like, it's like the angel devil Yeah. Like, cartoon example. I'm like, what? I can't sort it out this way. So I always have to pray, like, can you tell my wife too? Or can you just send somebody else because I feel like my innards are not particularly trustworthy, and I just need you to affirm whatever this is. You know? And I do I feel like I can tell sometimes. Like, there's a certain feeling. I've gone every time there's something I, like, I need to say something, need to tell somebody something.

And it's like it's almost like it fills my head. Like, it gets, like, my head is three times heavier than it's supposed to be. Mhmm. Mhmm. And it's almost like fuzzy feeling inside. Yep. And that won't happen. Sometimes sometimes that will happen, but I'll still just feel like Right. I feel terrible. Yeah. And then there are times where, like, I've I don't know how long I've thought this, and it's I don't I don't know if I truly believe it, but it's, like, my basic instincts

are based always on reverse psychology. Oh. So, like, as soon as I I think but not always because sometimes it's only in the bad situation. So then I'll I'll think I'll be we'll just be doing something random. And I think, oh, you know what could happen? Like, something good. Yeah. This could happen. And then my brain goes, you know what? Now you've messed it up because you've thought it could happen, and now it will not. Right. But then when everything whenever I think about something bad that will happen, your my brain goes, well, now you've thought about it. Now it's gonna happen. Uh-huh. And it's just it's terrible. It's a cycle. And I don't know if that's what's, like, gets me into pessimistic thinking Mhmm. Which also affects, like, my fear when I'm praying because it'll be, like, so completely

something that does not really matter or that I'm praying about or something will happen. And I pray about it, and then my mind instantly goes to the worst. Yeah. Like, when we were well, me and my mom recently were on a mission trip. And before the mission trip, she was like that we were like, the few days before, we're sitting in, like, a drive through getting something some some something. I can't remember what. And she was playing a song, and she's like, this song has really been on my heart, and it's about worshiping through, like, adversity and through and through sorrow. Yeah. I wonder if it means somebody close to me is gonna get hurt or die. And, a, that was a terrible thing

to tell me. Yeah. It was terrible. Yeah. And then and then I thought my instantly, my brain goes, well, what if that's for me? Yeah. What if it's that's not for mom. What if it's for me? Yeah. And then we're gonna go on this trip, and mom's gonna die, and I'm gonna have to be, like, build myself through it. It's gonna be terrible. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's that's actually gets a little bit to the question of of

leaning on your faith because, like or or or or or to I think to your to your first question for me, which is the praying because you're like, I don't wanna build character. Yeah. I'm good. I'm I'm right here. I just I wanna I don't I don't wanna have to go through the perseverance to build character. And so, like, you're looking ahead. But, like, again, they become at its best if we say, like, god if god is good, then I have to trust that whatever these things I I think maybe this is where we get tied up a little bit. It's like like, sometimes

sometimes we apply them in such a way as if god's only purpose is to do something harsh so that we can build character. And I don't think that's the context of what Paul is getting at. It's it's like I trust wholeheartedly,

and this what stems what creates my fear is that I trust that god is powerful enough to enact these things. But I I don't trust, I think, where that he's good enough that good will come out of it or that the or I don't trust enough that, like, this will, he does actually know what's best. I just trust his power. So I I believe he will do things, and I believe things will happen. But my and if and if you asked, I would say, yeah. I I trust him. I trust that he's good. I think he's, yeah, I think he's good. I've seen him work Yep. And do great things.

But when I'm praying, the fear is like, well, what if it's not? What I don't what if I what if his standards, like, god moving is not actually as good as the human human good, and what if it brings? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because the only thing you can know and touch and taste and feel whatever is the human good, and so it's very difficult. Well, that's the whole god story, isn't it? Like, to look around and god says, look. There is something

not there's glimpses of what god said was good, that he created that was good that's around us. Right? So it's not like it's completely, hey. There's something completely wild and different from this. But everything that we say, everything that we've believed to be good here is, like, a a million times

better in once redeemed. Yeah. Once free of all the things that shackle it. Right? And so but it is something that we still await. And so,

frankly, this is that's the root of the things that tempt people. Like, I could I'm trying to think of an appropriate example here. So, like, it's it's waiting for the thing that is good and trusting that it's that it's coming when, otherwise, you could just fill whatever earthly need that you have right now. And then as earthly as those those shortsighted

decisions pile up, they end up in a crappier and crappier life, but they're only so but that's only crappier by comparison. Otherwise, it might be just living your life your human life to the fullest. If there was not a better

right? And so right. It goes back to the praying that, like, do I really believe this? Because the consequence to one of my kids might be they defer all what feels like the world has to offer in anticipation of this promise. But if that promise was bogus, what kind of life did I set my kid up for? You know? Yeah. And so and it's so but even holding on to that myself and and saying, do I trust that, like, if everything around me from a worldly perspective crumbled today, do I trust that god is is still good and that he can be trusted with whatever circumstance I'm in? I think this is the thing about where we live and the amount of money that is around us in our culture. I think we are more prone

to blindness in that area than people who have well, the same thing Jesus would say, like, poor good news is brought to the poor. The poor is the only one who's listening. Yeah. You're ease more easily blinded by, well, what if I give up this earthly goodness because you actually have we bought our own blindness with our affluence. You know? Yeah. And, usually, it's not even things that, like I think the, like, the real fears are not things that some people are on the fence about or people have debates over. Like Yeah. Do I really believe

that, like, goodness comes from marrying one person and staying with them and, like, of opposite gender? Yeah. I believe that. That's that's basic. I like, the I have no doubts about that. Yeah. Or do I really believe that, like, helping people who need it will bring good? Yeah. Yes. I do. But, like, do I believe that and, like, even if you say, like, do do you believe

that suffering and stuff will build your character and losing people will grow you and change you? Yeah. I I do also believe that. But do I believe that suffering and going through hard things and losing people

is worth the good that comes out of it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's like, that's the struggle. Oh, no. I think that's totally I think that's legit. And I I think that is a if there's a relief in there, it's not like god is arbitrary going, I want to grow Emma. I'm gonna kill her uncle. You know what I'm saying? Like, that is that I I want some perseverance. This is how I'm going to get it. Yeah. I think it is more god is going look. I even through human suffering or human

things that are just reality of the human existence, he can use those for good, not necessarily that he's that he's, like, purchasing perseverance by, you know right. And, like, that's a that's that's a trust of god as a

it's it's so difficult because, like, you're right. In the in the god's power and sovereignty, he can do whatever he wants, but I don't it's not really in his character. This is Paul looking and going, even in the midst of human frailties, here's here's the way that we can see it that helps us understand god's character rightly. I think sometimes where we miss it is, like, we start with this character in that situation going, like like, the I think that gives us a skewed view of it as if he's like, I need to teach Emma a lesson. And

that's and that that, I think, is not reflective as of his character. As a matter of fact, anytime that god is trying to use what what we might consider a disadvantage to change human behavior, it's almost always a call to repentance, to turn from things that are harming you,

not to introduce not to introduce something that feels punitive in that way. It's Yeah. I I as you're saying it, I'm realizing I think this way about other things. So, like, it's like, a really parallel example would be, like, chores. Yeah. So if my mom says, hey. Like, I need you to go pick up the yard and weed whack. Yeah. My brain thinks she wants she wants to build character. She thinks I'm she thinks I'm lazy. She thinks I need more perseverance. She wants to teach me hard work, so she's making me do these things. Yeah. But when she says it, she goes, no. These things just need done. Right. And so, like, they're just things that are happening. They're natural

natural outcomes of living at the house and living in the yard. Yes. And the grass is growing because the sun's shining. Yes. And so, like, it's kinda the same where these are not god isn't putting these sometimes maybe. It may I mean, most of the time, he's not putting you through trials. Just say, like, you could do with some character building. Right. Right. Right. Right. It's like, these are these are things that happening, but I will take these situations and you will grow through it. Yes. Yes. Yeah. And, actually, I mean, maybe if there's a theme in there is that, like, neither

this feels super personal. Neither your parents nor your god is constantly looking down and thinking never negatively about your character. Right? They first and foremost love you,

are delighted in the creation that is in front of them. Do they does god have an interest in saying, can I point you to the things that are the most of what I created you to be and to live righteously, to be part of the goodness of my kingdom and the fruits of those things? Yes. Absolutely. And so we'll point you to certain things and have you like, is it there's a we god doesn't call us to be obedient to certain things because he likes obedience. He calls you to those things because they're good.

Your mom doesn't have you weed whack the yard just because she wants to go, oh, I gotta have an obedient daughter. The the to your point, the yard need weed whacked, and you're capable of doing it. And, frankly, it's it's it does help you to build good to build good character and weed whack your own yard. Some other time, you're used to hard work. You don't it doesn't become a disadvantage to you because you never did any decent work. Yeah. So, like, it's I think it's flipping it's flipping what you believe authority figures are trying to get from you. They've, like, first and foremost love you. They want what's best for you. They're trying to point you to good things. Does that result in built character?

Sure. But it's not a it's not punitive to build character. It's it's good, but the some things, to your point, they just need done. Like, they're just part of they're just part of life. And then how do you well, at least I can build some character because I really hate weed wacking. That's probably it's a way to look at it. Right? It's okay.

Okay. Hey. You're listening to life from the path. I maybe I'm interested. Do you do you have answers to either one of those two questions? And so, one, do you have have you prayed in fearfully? I guess, worried. Have you hesitated to pray on anything?

Yeah. And do you have anything about that that you'd be willing to share? And then secondly, like, do you remember a time or the time maybe, if it's available to you, of when it felt like your faith became yours as opposed to just something like facts that you knew or things that people around you believed and it felt autonomous from those things? You can hit us up on the Life From The Path complaint line. It's (515) 517-0085.

Call or text (515) 517-0085. We did get a submission on the old Life From The Path complaint line. We'll cover that next week because I think the fellows would be interested in the take, and so we'll pick it up then. Alright. We got through our one question. Congratulations. Success.

Alright. Let's give out some advice, and then and then we'll cut you guys loose. First first one, here we go. Dear, live from the path. I generally have an excellent relationship with my 14 year old granddaughter.

However, she thinks it's funny to tell me outrageous lies with a straight face to see if she can get me to believe them. I know someone like that, actually. Know what we're saying. She laughs when I am unsure of whether she is telling the truth. Let's see here. Whoops. Once she told me her family was going to Hawaii for a month she lives there with her father rather than with my daughter, so I'm not privy to his plans. Another time, she jerked her arms around and said she has tics. When I asked what she was talking about, she announced she had Tourette's syndrome. Both were untrue. I had epilepsy as a teenager, so I'm especially sensitive about a grandchild developing a neurological condition at the age I was. It felt like a cruel thing for her to do to me, and I was not abused. When I told her I didn't like it, she giggled and said, oh, grandma. I had arranged

for her to do weekly yard work for me, but now I'm having second thoughts about having her around that often if she's going to purposely upset me like that. I sent a text to her mother telling her about it, but she received no response indicating she would talk to her daughter about it or have her oh, but I receive I received no response indicating she would talk to her daughter about it or have her apologize. What should I do humorless in Iowa? Well, okay.

The the examples of the jokes that she's telling are not that funny. Right. If they were, like, actually outrageous lies like Joe Biden stopped by my house yesterday Right. Right. Those would be funny. Right. So if she switches to funny stuff, I don't see any harm with it. Yeah. Honestly, like because the the right now, they're the sort of lies that, like, are just

just they're not really outrageous lies. They're just lies. Yes. Right. It could be true. If she actually lives part time in Hawaii, is it really an outrageous lie to suggest her family is going there? Right. Right. Think so.

So I think she needs to get a better sense of humor. I also think the grandma needs to grow tougher skin. Like Yep. The the job of the grandchild is to be offended by things your grandparents say and mix company. Mhmm. Not the reverse.

Yeah. Yeah. I I agree. That was my first reaction. Like like as like adults, you need to be adults here. You don't have to let children push buttons. You get to control that. And so,

like, here's the thing. I think there are consequences. Like, if a kid says something and you go, hey. I'm all for, like, an outrageous deception that might be funny. Our pope style advice openings are always that. Okay? I'm willing to tell lies for the purposes of something that seems funny to me. But, like, there's a difference that between that, and think to your point to, like, flat out deception.

And, like, I I don't do you expect your grandkid to be sensitive to whatever No. Your neurological situation earlier? Like, okay. I mean, that's not they wouldn't know that. And so the context frankly, I don't think you do any good by trying to guilt it up and overlaying on top of them. Like, did you know that I had this blah blah blah happen? Like, I just it's not it's not conceivable that they would know the difference. So, like, lay that off. But I think it is okay to, like, to when someone's telling you some let's say this kid tells you a story and you go, hey. I'm gonna ask you, like, that seems kinda wild. Is that true? If they're willing to lie to you and you find out about it, I I don't I don't have any problem going, look. I trust you less. You're breaking trust with me. Like, I now I don't know what to believe from you, and frankly so, like, it makes it harder for us to have a good relationship. I think the kid's gonna get over it, but, like, part of the how they get over it is they recognize when they've crossed boundaries. They recognize when they've hurt somebody. And when it's not funny. Like, the main thing where, like, right now, my brother, he'll make he'll make all weird sorts of weird faces and act, like, so weird

when people come over because he thinks it's funny. He thinks people are enjoying him. People are not. People are like, what is wrong with that kid? And someday, he'll realize it, and he'll stop. He'll give it up. Yeah. Yeah. That's true. Yeah. So, like, I I don't know. I think the advice here would be I don't like, I don't think you have to be like a total killjoy here, but I think think it is okay to say, look. These are not these are just lies, and I don't appreciate being lied to. And,

you know, if that I don't know that that impacts whether she can come over and do yard work at your place. Yeah. I mean That's that seems punitive to me. Yeah. I don't think you need to do that. But just but, like, I know you're not the parent, but, I mean, grandparent her. It's okay to be a grandparent who gives good advice and says, look. I'm not mad because I'm an adult, and I don't let you offend me. But, like, that's not cool, and you're breaking trust with me, and you should be very cautious about how you protect, help what people think of you, and whether they trust you when you say things. Or, like, Paul, like, where she goes, yeah. We're going to Hawaii. You go, oh, well, dang. I'm gonna have to return those airplane tickets I bought for us to go to Australia. Or

or if she goes, hey. You know, I we got a dog yesterday.

And you go, yeah. I own a bear right now. I'll just never let you see it. Like Yeah. If you know that she is lying, do like, it's not like give her a taste for all medicine because it's not like it's mean. Yeah. But it's like if you really think that these are these are obvious lies and they're making her look silly and you they're so clearly seen through, show her show her. Because sometimes if you just tell them, they'll be like, what? No. It's not. That's funny. Yeah. And so you're just like, no. It's it's not funny. Yeah. Right. Right. Agreed. Yeah. I think you can help teach a lesson. That's totally fine. I just my core recommendation would be pull some of your emotion out of it. I just it's like you get to be the adult, be the adult, and do your best to help this person, this child.

Stop being offended by him. Secular says, try this, full colon. Tell your granddaughter you have bought tickets to a Taylor Swift or Harry Styles concert and ask if she would like to go with you. Then when she reacts, start laughing. It's kinda what I said except colons used for lists. Yeah. Yeah. That was not a That was a mistake. That was a mistake. Could use a semicolon there. You Just saying. Unnecessary,

but I suppose try this. Actually, you could just say there's actually two colons. It says, dear, humorless, full colon, try this, full colon. Okay. Yeah. That's me. It's a double unnecessary commas there and be just fine. Okay. Here we go. Dear,

why are all these people from Iowa? This this is cutting close to home. Like, we're not doing a good good job keeping our shop in order. Dear, life in the path. I am a 57 year old, attractive, single, childless woman. Why is it that the men I meet are just plain dumb? They have the conversational skills of five year olds and the same juvenile behavior.

They're either emotionally unavailable and just after sex or at the opposite end of the spectrum available emotionally, but this sex is just okay. Oh, I see. This is a promiscuous woman. I cannot be the first woman to ask the question, are boys just dumb? Yeah.

Like Effort says, of course, How could you date this many men and not have come to this conclusion before? Yeah. I mean,

I don't know why you necessarily think, like, if these are single dudes, which ideally they are. Ideally. I don't like, there's no been no situation for them to grow out of their dumbness. Like Mhmm. If they've been married,

hopefully, they've had some sort of, like they've been in a relationship. They know how to deal with it. They know understand, like, what's what's needed. You need to be open. You need to be like, you need to show more show more affection than you feel like is needed. You need to, like like, people people aren't reading your mind. Like, you have to express things. Yeah. But if they haven't, I don't know if there's any reason to expect them to know that. Yeah. I mean, what if they've been to I mean, they could be divorced, means they're stuck at marriage probably. Yeah. Yeah. Which means,

clearly, they're not very good at it. Yeah. You need a widower. Need someone who had a good run at it, then, unfortunately, somebody passed away. This seems like someone you might be able to deal with. Although, like, again, I get I get worried when she responds and says, well, yeah, some of them are available emotionally, but the sex is just okay. This means that you're actually having sex with people and not married to them. And so you might be attracting the wrong types of guys because you're offering a life and and relationship of which the wrong types of guys feel attracted to. Right? Because, like, if I if something I value is a lady who values me and the purity of our relationship

regardless of why I'm still single when I'm that age, if you're obviously not holding that same standard or value, then I won't be the guy who's in a relationship with you. You're gonna end up with the fellows who are okay with levels of promiscuity. Honestly, I just feel like this lady's hard to deal with. Like, if I was a dude, I feel like I wouldn't be necessarily attracted to to the 57 year old lady who's like, honestly, I'm really pretty. I'm great. You should you should I don't understand how I keep getting these junk balls because I'm just perfect. Right. Like, she just seems kind of, like, hard person to deal with. Yeah. Yeah. She does. I agree. Have the conversation skills of now here's where I will I will agree.

I do think men are getting lazy, and they're not there are a lot of men who like, children who are parading around as fellas. And I think that is true. And I look around, and I I do I do I don't wanna say I worry, but I I look at this crop of fellas that I keep running into. I'm like, I don't know. Wanna send my my daughters out into this this world, these people. Like, they don't have their head on right. And then I think to myself, like, I probably was way worse than what my perception was. Like, I got I got married pretty young. My wife was even younger than me,

and I thought, like, there's no way. There's no I probably was a real I don't know how my parents or grandparents like, I probably looked as dumb as these people are looking to me. And so at some point, you gotta wash your hands and go, I hope it works out. Like, everybody's immature.

But, like, I I I would say, I think there is a right assessment around dudes in general are difficult. And I think at that position of life, it probably it does matter why they're single. But I think, Emma, to your point, if there's some you it lacks humility. If you're approaching them that you're the goods and that they should be otherwise,

and they they they are dumb well, if if you're gonna treat a man like that, the only guy who's willing to stay in a relationship with you is the wrong kind of man. Yeah. So And there are I feel like there are there are multiple kinds of male dumbness. And maybe maybe this changes as they age, but, like, there's there's kind of, like, what I'm just gonna call, like, the teenage male dumbness where they're just gonna do kinda crazy things. Mhmm. And you're like, that's kinda dumb, but I can laugh at that. That's pretty funny. Mhmm. Like, you're gonna juggle or you're gonna you're gonna play Nerf guns, but you're gonna stick some matches in the the the tips. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like, that's a terrible idea, guys, but I'll watch. Yeah. I'll just get some popcorn. Like, this is pretty funny. Yeah. And so I don't know Wait. Has that happened? No. I was just I just caught a lot on top of my head. Okay. But, like, is that is this the kind of thing or or is it the kind where they're just kinda, like, they can't, yeah, can't hold a conversation? They're just kinda staring at you. Yeah.

I they don't really know what to do with themselves because those are like, those one, you probably don't find funny at her age. Yeah. The Nerf guns, you probably you would not find entertaining. Agreed. And I wouldn't expect that out of these dudes.

The other, I feel like I would expect and you also don't have to find entertaining, but maybe have some sympathy for, I guess. Yeah. Well yeah. And I think, like, in any relationship, like, they are individual people, and they get to be themselves. And, I mean, it's okay it's okay to you know, if you're dating people and you're not finding the right guys, that's okay. But, like, if it's everybody, then it's you. You know what I'm saying? And I I mean, the other question would like, how are you meeting these people? Where are you meeting them? Like, is it likely you're finding a a sharp guy? Are you picking them up at the bar? Are you picking them up at places of which, like, if if you know, you gotta go you gotta go where the right types of fellows are at. And so which types of fellows are the right type of fellows who are most likely to react to you in a positive way? Well,

you got to one, are you looking from the right place? And then two, like we talked about earlier, are you offering the types of things that the right type of people want? Actually, I saw a clip on Facebook the other day, and it was just an interview with, like they were talking about that men valued

women who hadn't who who, like, valued the the sanctity of their Right? Who were not, like, going out with a a million other dudes. And, like, these ladies were dumbfounded. We're like, I don't a guy shouldn't be able to care. Like, he shouldn't have any say into that. That's not really his business. We get to kinda do what we want. And then they kinda went to the same thing where, like, well, what's your ideal man? And the guy dude was making needed to make $200,000

a year, had to be taller than them, had to be, like, two or three other things, and they're like, that's point 2% of the population. So, like, your standards are ridiculous. Well, I think you know what? I think I think this is a book lady. I think this lady loves books. And so she's looking for the ideal book dude, which is, like, good looking, probably either rich or super poor, but it doesn't really matter because it's gonna turn out fun anyways. Probably has all sorts of skills, pretty smart, and can handle either a sword and or gun reasonably. Like, she's just not gonna find that. Yeah. Yeah. She might be yeah. She's either And can hold smart

intellectual conversation without pause because someone was writing this. This is like these these sentences you're reading on the page are not they're not an actual conversation.

Yes. Agreed. Now here's there's one thing I'm gonna say, and let's see. Age. Okay. Age appropriate. Here's here's what I'm gonna say. Her her measure is emotionally available, or do I like physical act

physical sexual activity for this person? Here's what I'm gonna tell you. You find the right person in the right relationship who you are safe in, who you love, who you connect with. The physical part will work itself out when you trust each other. And so, like, the problem is is, like, you've got two things as if you're measuring them against each other. If you get the love part right, if you get the trust part right, the other part will come with it just fine. And so, again, I I think you're looking too shallow. I think you are being too shallow, and so I I think it's unlikely, and I I it's a hard pool for to find the right dudes. I I grant that. But, like, you're gonna have a much harder time. I don't think you're fishing in the right ponds, and I don't think you're offering the right bait for the type of guy that you want.

Secular says, as a matter of fact oh, the last thing they had said, I cannot be the first woman to ask the question. Are boys just dumb? Secular says, as a matter of fact, you are the first. With the advent of social media, people's social skills began declining. The men you are meeting may not have had the same level of education that you do, but it doesn't mean they are dumb. Men ultimately want what women want, I think. By that, I mean a companionship, a relationship, and physical activity. You might have better luck if you try to meet men whose values more closely mirror your own. I don't know about that. I don't like your values. I that was my own side commentary. Do some volunteering. Take a class or join a group activity you enjoy. Okay. As to your disappointment in the performance of the men in your past who are emotionally available, unnecessary full colon. Boy, they're on fire today. Try to remember that men are teachable creatures and often eager to please. If you are willing to communicate what you need, that is true. That for ever even beyond the sexual stuff, perhaps the problem is that those communication skills could use some polishing. Well, since I'm in Dan's chair, let me just straighten my Hawaiian shirt and say, first of all, you guys need to get Jesus in the middle of this relationship.

Yep. Agreed. Agreed. And, like, here's the thing. Like, if you start there, you just have a common set of things

of which relationship can stuff can go easier. I know it's not perfect. Plenty of Christian marriages have all kinds of trouble. But, like like, at least you know the premise of which you're starting some stuff. And so, yeah, I just it feels like a real wild west without that. I don't know. I it just seems real difficult. Alright. Last one. Here we go. Dear, life in the path. I am a 16 year old girl

who is struggling to have a social life. Oh, since I was a little girl, I've had a problem connecting with kids my own age. I have done better with kids older or younger than me. A lot of times, I relate better with teachers than with students. The few friends I had before COVID nineteen have vanished into thin air. When school started, I was part of a new group of friends, but it didn't last long. The groups in my school are very tight. It's almost impossible to break into an already existing friend group. While I don't mind being alone, I know I'm missing out. It doesn't help that I don't know how to approach other teens and that I suffer from anxiety that makes me doubt myself when I try. I also can't express myself clearly because I'm not from this country. Oh, twist. English is not my first language, and there are cultural things I can't understand. Do you have any advice

so I can approach people easier and maybe make a friend or two? So I feel like I could say I'm half in this person's boots and half wearing my own shoes Mhmm. Because I am homeschooled and I was born in this country, and English is my native and only language. Uh-huh.

But I do I think I can understand having a hard time connecting with people, like, you're not really sure what to say. You're like, everything that comes to your head, you're like you you'll say it and you're like, that's a good so I should say that. And then you realize, oh, no. I shouldn't say that. Yeah. Or you think of one good thing to say and you're like, I'm gonna say it. And then you hold on to that for, like, ten minutes and then the conversation's over. You can't say that anymore and so you spent the whole conversation waiting to say it. Yeah.

Or you don't feel like you share any common interests. And that definitely was me and could still be me in some ways. And so I don't really know from personal experience,

there wasn't really anything I did to fix it. So, like, I there was lots of friend groups at the the co op I go to. There's, like, friend groups.

I didn't really know anybody when I first came. I didn't really talk to anybody. Kinda just stuck to myself. Ate I was the only one at a solo table, and I ate lunch by myself every day. Mhmm. And that was also most of last year. But then I joined basketball, and there's a lot of basketball girls who go there. So then eventually, they just invited me over, and they said, hey. Do wanna sit with us? And for, like, the first five weeks, I was like, yeah. I'm I'm good. I'm just gonna sit here and eat my lunch. I can maybe I can write. I can text my cousin. I'll be I'm I'm okay. Yeah. And then, eventually, I just I ended up sitting with them. And then since then,

they invited me in, and I sat and I accepted. And so since then, I've just sat there. So, like, even when other people haven't, that's that's the table I sit at now. And, like, throughout people have invited me to sit with them before. Like, even if I'm at that table, they go, hey. We're gonna eat on the stage. Like, do you wanna come sit over there? Yeah. I'll be like, thanks or sure or no thanks. Maybe next week. And so, like, that wasn't really anything I did. I just got lucky. I happened to be introduced in extracurricular activity with these girls.

And so if you really there's something, like, you're interested in, and I wouldn't say basketball is even necessarily an interest or a passion of mine. It's just something I happen to be in. I enjoyed it, and I saw these girls two to three times a week consistently. Yeah. And so you naturally form, if not like solid friendships than acquaintances who you can

who are friends in certain situations. And so you could either you could start by finding like an interest. There's always people unless you have well, unless you go to a tiny school, there's always people with your interest Yeah. Of one kind or another, or you have no interests,

which makes you kind of hard to deal with. You gotta be interested in something. So it could be music. It could be drama. It could be, like, technology, sports. There's also so many kinds of sports. It could be writing. It could be even video games. Like, there's there's always somebody.

And then the other thing that helped was that I have a group of three or four girls who go to our church and youth group and are, like, my closest friends and, like, so I always have them. Mhmm. So even if I don't see people from basketball or I don't have any friends at the school that I go to, like, I know I will see them at church and I'll see them at youth group, I and can text them throughout the week. And so, like, they they will always be there. And so, like, you don't even I think a lot of times,

there's a pressure to have a big friend group. Like, have as many friends as you can. Be part of, like, be part of a crowd. It doesn't matter what crowd. It doesn't have to be the popular crowd, but be a part of a crowd. Yeah. And I don't think that's necessarily that's really always necessary. Like, it's nice. And if that's your personality where you want a crowd,

I think you should try to find it. But if you haven't had a crowd by now and you don't know how to find it, you're probably not a person who necessarily wants to be in one. Yeah. So even finding a few people who you know or you already know or you know you share interests with or see them frequently would be great. And, like, I started with my cousin who I know

who has to like me. We're family. Has to has to see me. Yeah. We she can't escape it. And so and we've known each other from young enough age that they're she has not she has not experienced,

like, masked or put on Emma. Yeah. Or, like, friends I've met other places have. Yeah. Even, like, the friends I've grew up with starting from age three have because I just automatically, when I'm with them, start shifting to act more like them. Yeah. I say the things they say. I'm interested in the things they are or at least I pretend to be. And my cousin just hey. She had never she's never gotten that from me. We just because of how we grew up or when we saw each other or stuff like that. Yeah. And so finding someone who you've never had to do that with, I think, is really good starting point. Because then once you're

with your your full self with at least that one person, the people around you will get to see your full self, and they'll prob they'll they'll enjoy it. And so then you will automatically gain more friends through that. Yeah. Yeah. I think that's right. I think one of the biggest fears that people have about making friends

is the fear of, like, of rejection. Right? That someone you're gonna try to introduce yourself, you're gonna try to make a friend, and someone's gonna like, total high school movie thing where, like, no. We don't wanna be friends with you because you're a loser and your dad's our pool boy or whatever. K? And so here's the one of the key things to remember is that, like, the type of people that would do that to you or think that about you are jerk people who you don't want as friends anyway. Yeah. Like, the worst thing to do is give control and authority over your life to the type of person who would react that way. And so, frankly, be optimistic.

Be willing to I I think joining various things for for practical reasons. Like, I think you should go there and meet Jesus at the old church and youth group. Mhmm. But I'm tell you this. They want you there. People are excited to be there. Lots of food. Christians believe that they're supposed to welcome other people to the church functions, and so they're gonna say, hi. How you doing? My name is Lola.

What's your name? Like, it's just a great place to meet people because Jesus forms good communities of people. And, like, they're welcoming. And, like, here's so, anyway, I I think that's a great option is just find things that you enjoy and start meeting people that way. I don't know how what did she say? How old she was? 60. Okay. Yeah. Try get a part time job. You know, the like, I had a a pretty narrow group of friends when I was growing up, like, just based on the things that I liked or liked to do or whatever. I wasn't super I didn't get along with people. I it wasn't antagonistic, but, like, I didn't I was awkward, I think. And so I just had a very small friend group.

When I started working, though, it was interesting. The first job that I had was a godfather's pizza. And, like, some of the more popular ladies in school, like, not just my grade, but, like, two grades above, worked as the the ladies up front. And, like, I'm back there making pizzas and stuff. And, like, I mean, I wasn't trying to date any of them or anything, but, like, I mean, I would we were friendly. We got to I know them. They know me. I would I would recognize them now. They would say hello. And it's weird how situations

break down perceived barriers. All the barriers at high school are fake. I I get that they're real for them. It feels like they're real in that moment, but they're not really real. Like, as soon as I remember thinking this. As soon as I graduated, like, everything that felt like they were unique and interesting distinctions about cliques and groups of people, it was all gone. It belonged to the building

and it belonged to my perception of that. And I didn't particularly care, but like it just felt like it was arbitrary. And so my encouragement is is, one, don't be afraid to to to try to make friends. If if someone rejects you, you're glad to know it. They're jerky people anyway. You don't want them as friends. But to be honest with you, people, this is true for even

even in the high school realm or just in general. People are attracted to sometimes, like, boyfriend, girlfriend stuff, but sometimes just friend stuff. They're attracted to people who like them. So, like, you got that fella or lady that you're after, you're trying to catch their eye.

Find a way without pouring your whole soul onto the world to, like, make it clear to them that, like, hey. You you think they're good people. Right? People you get, like, a 10% bonus bump. K? You get to be the small Luigi and become the big Luigi simply for going up to somebody and going, hey. And and making it clear to them that you think something nice about them. Love Luigi. This is what I'm saying. So, like, it it just is the case. So, like, just be a nice person. Compliment people. Say kind things to people. They will start noticing over time. So it's it kinda feels like all the things.

Be open on your expectations. Don't I wouldn't just micro target a single person. Just be you.

And and and that that part is important too. Like, it's okay it's okay to change to feel like your personality shifts in front of different people. It's that that's an honoring thing. Right? You change a little bit because this friend group likes to talk about these things in this way. It's not you're not being fake. You're just you're kinda tuning to something that makes sense in that particular context. That's okay. But for heaven's sakes, be yourself. There's no reason to carry a weight of a facade

of who you are. But, like, I don't know. If if you're gonna be yourself, make sure yourself is a nice person. Who cares about people? And it it feels to people or, like, to us who are who are either awkward or anxious or, like, just don't know what to do or even, like, shy or whatever. It feels crazy to think that there these people exist, but there are always people out there are willing to come up and talk to you and who are actually kind Yes. And good people. Like, I was in a band. This wasn't even a homeschool band. It was a public school band of probably 50 kids.

And I only came for band, so I came in, and I played the the only I was the only person playing the stand up bass in the back of the room, and then I left. And I always had a hat on, and I always had a mask on. I made no eye contact. I said nothing to nobody. I remember pretty much one person's name. And I remember his name because he came up and talked to me. Yeah. Like, I I was avoiding people. Yeah. I was actively giving off and kind of purposefully, like, I'm just here for I'm here to play the bass that you can't hear, and then I'm out of here. Yeah. Like, I'm I'm I'm not here to make friends because I'm not good at it or I don't want them or whatever.

And he he came up and he talked to me anyway. So then he kept talking to me. Oh, hey. How's this thing going? Oh, are you wearing a Minecraft shirt? That's really cool. I love Minecraft. Yeah. What have you been building lately? And the next time I was there, he goes, oh, have you seen the new update? And it's like, there there are always those people Yeah. Whether you see them or not. And, like, even you even try to push them away sometimes and they'll just be there. Yeah. And sometimes it's annoying and sometimes it's like, thank goodness. And I I did not appreciate you when like, then you'll leave and you're like, thank goodness that guy was there because otherwise, it would've been really depressing. Yeah. Yeah. That's true. And, like, one of the ways you can do it too is is is realize that there might be other people like you, like other people who are having so look for the people who are sitting by themselves and say, hey. Do you mind if I sit by you? I mean, we might as well sit by ourselves together. Right? Like, just have some confidence and keep trying and, like, those things will work out. Just try not to be deterred

by the wrong by the wrong people. There's always a risk in in people reacting negatively to you, but, like, it is so it is much smaller than what you think. It feels like a bigger rock to get over than it is. Alright. You've been listening to Live From The Path. Hey. If got any feedback for us on the show this week, please let us know. (515) 517-0085. You can call or text and send it to the Bob Eisenhower live from the path complaint line, and we'd love to get your thoughts, your answers on the big question. Maybe we got the advice totally wrong and you'd like to chastise us about it. That seems totally fair. (515) 517-0085

with yeah. That's the Bob Eisenhower Life on Path complaint line. I think we're gonna tuck it up. We got through our big question and three advices. So thanks so much for hanging out with us tonight. Emma, thanks for coming in and holding the fort. Mhmm. And we'll see when we see you. In the meantime, be faithful in the means. God will handle the end. You've been listening to live from the