August 13, 2024 • 56 mins
Audrey Adams, a 25 year-old life-long Cumberland Presbyterian and recent Memphis Theological Seminary (MTS) graduate, joins us today to talk about her faith journey. Audrey comes to us having graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM) in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a minor in Communications. While at UTM, Audrey balanced part-time work at a local law practice and participated and served in various organizations, including SGA and the Writing Center, as well as volunteered as the youth leader at Cool Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Trimble, Tennessee, where her mother is the current pastor and where she was able to serve in various leadership roles at Cumberland Presbyterian youth functions. Through the English program, Audrey also had the opportunity to participate in two travel studies abroad during her time at UTM. After feeling called to further her education at Memphis Theological Seminary following her time at UTM, Audrey began studying at MTS in the Fall of 2021, and recently graduated in May of this year with a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM) with a specialization in social justice. Audrey is presently serving as the Store Manager at her family’s new business venture, For The Record, in downtown Union City, Tennessee.
Music is provided by Pierce Murphy, Caldera Blue.
Source: https://www.freemusicarchive.org/music/Pierce_Murphy/through-the-olive-branches/caldera-blue
Comments: http://freemusicarchive.org/
Additional comments: modifications made to shorten and loop song for introduction and closing of podcast.
Copyright Attribution and License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
T.J. (00:04):
There is something powerful and unique in hearing
someone's life journey. It giveslittle markers of who that
person is, what they havewitnessed, felt, experienced. It
is said that a story has a goodbeginning, middle, and end, but
(00:27):
a journey can be an invitationto travel alongside even when a
conversation is ended withanother. This is one of the
things that Cumberland Road isfor me, an invitation to join
with and in another's faithjourney. This month marks the
(00:51):
4th year of Cumberland Road. Ihave sat across a table or
shared screen time on a computerlistening and asking questions
about who we are, who we oncewere, and who we would like to
become. The responses vary insmall details, but the universal
(01:14):
thread that connects us all isreceiving and expressing grace
and love. Whether this is yourfirst listen to Cumberland Road
or you are an occasionallistener or you are the most
ardent fan, I am grateful foryour support. I hope that you
(01:38):
find encouragement in thispodcast. I hope that you regard
the Christian faith and thosethat profess it as a people who
are imperfect yet loving,forgiving, witty, astute and
empathetic. I hope you find thepeople who call themselves
(02:00):
Cumberland Presbyteriandistinctive yet good natured and
warm hearted. At least, this ishow I perceive the church. I
also wanna say thank you to theguests over the past 4 years.
You showed patience in mymistakes, and you risked being
(02:23):
vulnerable to a mereacquaintance or stranger. You've
certainly been an inspiration inmy own journey, and you've
challenged me to become a betterlistener, and you've deepened my
wisdom on both my life and myfaith together. I will always be
grateful. So my friend, dearlistener, thank you for
(02:47):
listening, and enjoy this faithconversation on Cumberland Road
with Audrey Michelle Adams.
Audrey, we've been lookingforward to this conversation.
And I have a good openingquestion for us. Tell me about
(03:12):
this new business venture thatyou're in, up in Union City, and
it's called The Record Shop. Sohow did you get into that
business? And then this could bea shameless plug and an
opportunity for a shameless plugof, what the record shop is. Go
ahead.
Audrey (03:32):
Sure. Yeah. So I, back in December of last year was
shown an ad for the sale of arecord shop in our in my
hometown right down the streetfrom where I grew up, and I
(03:54):
always appreciated the vibes. II tell you, I just recently left
my job at a small law firm thatI had been at for the last 7
years. I was getting ready tograduate seminary in a few
months, and it just, so I wascurrently kinda jobless, but not
really because I did pick up aremote job for the meantime.
(04:17):
But, anywho, I was sent this ad,and I just started having
conversations with people, andthe ball started rolling. I
ended up having a conversationwith the the guy selling it, and
he was excited to chat with me.And it all happened very fast,
and we opened the doors in Ithink it was a week before
(04:39):
Christmas of 2023. So, yeah, ithappened very fast, but I've
been there since since aboutthat time, having we have
records. We have CDs.
We have cassettes. We're tryingto bring in some books and local
art in this as well. But, yeah,it's been it's been an
(05:01):
experience.
T.J. (05:02):
Alright. And this is your first business venture. Correct?
Or have you been in businessbefore?
Audrey (05:11):
That's a good question, T. J.
T.J. (05:14):
Okay. Have you owned and operated your own store?
Audrey (05:18):
Yeah. Well, no. I have I have not done that. And so,
yeah, this is my first step intowhatever whatever that is. Yeah.
T.J. (05:29):
Alright. Well, I to me, it sounds exciting. I mean, it has
stuff that I'd be veryfascinated. So let me let's live
here for a moment. When youbought the store, it included
inventory.
Did you have to add to it?
Audrey (05:44):
No. Not at all. I've had some friends shout out to Nathan
Wheeler, first off. I've hadsome friends who have been very
generous, and given us somemedia and stuff. But for the
most part, it has been and was avery turnkey operation.
I mean, it was decorated. Allthe walls were decorated with
posters, and, there are T shirtsfrom concerts. We have, all
(06:08):
kinds of fun stuff in there, sono equipment. So the former
owner did carry equipment like,stereos and things like that,
but he ended up taking all thatequipment with him. So it's just
it's just the media at the shopright now.
T.J. (06:24):
Alright. Now be honest, Was this a store that you had
gone into before as a shopper,prior to operating it?
Audrey (06:36):
Yes. I'm nodding, and I was nodding because it it was. I
much yeah. My bedroom at homealways had see, it's funny, but,
yes, I was a shopper there. Ihad a little suitcase record
player for a while that Ilistened to albums on.
So yes.
T.J. (06:55):
Alright. Here's another question for you. So it's a
music store. So when I come tovisit and come to shop, when I
walk in the door, what kind ofmusic am I gonna be hearing
playing?
Audrey (07:09):
Okay. So
T.J. (07:11):
It sets the tone, I must say. When you walk in, it sets
the tone of what kind of placeyou're gonna be buying music in.
This is a very, very importantquestion.
Audrey (07:24):
Well, I'm glad you asked it. I wish you would have asked
it. Yeah. I don't know. Maybeit's you, like, weeks ago.
So the guy left us one recordplayer. So when I when I first
opened the doors, I was playingalbums. I got really into reggae
when I first opened the shop,and I don't know if that was the
release of the Bob Marley moviearound that time too. But,
(07:44):
anyhow, I so I would play Iwould play albums here and
there. But I also noticed thaton busy days, if music stopped
playing, it would be an extratask to go turn, especially if I
was, you know, me talking withsomebody.
So we've added a TV since then,and I love the I love the tiny
desk concerts. I've been playingtiny desk concerts
T.J. (08:04):
Yeah.
Audrey (08:05):
And live performances, here and there. So I hope that's
good. If it sets the tone, Imean, I don't know. I thought
thought it was cool, but now I'mrethinking.
T.J. (08:16):
A part part of that of me is them picking on you just a
bit. But yeah. I mean, you walkinto a record store, any type of
physical media, it's interestingto hear what kind of music is
playing. And if it changes, ifthe genres change, I would think
or at least been in myexperience is the wide variety
(08:37):
of genre Playing overloudspeakers indicates that we
have a wide variety of genres inour store. In theory, that's
what I'm thinking.
So do you cover I mean, can Ifind all kinds of different
genres at the record shop?
Audrey (08:59):
Absolutely. Is
T.J. (09:00):
there any music that you turn away?
Audrey (09:03):
Oh, no. Absolutely not. Yeah. All the voices are totally
welcome there. The it wasformally again, it was kind of a
turnkey thing.
So the way it was organizedbefore was less genre based and
more individual artist based. Sosince I've been in there, I've
been trying to organize by genrea little bit, but there is a
(09:26):
definitely there's we gotthere's a lot today, you know,
there's a lot there. We have wehave a lot of voices
T.J. (09:32):
in terms of So now it's time for the shameless plug. So
give me again the name wherepeople can go, like the street
address, hours, things likethat, or point people. Can it be
found on, Facebook? Do you havea Facebook page, website?
Audrey (09:51):
Yeah. So we are the record shop dash u c on
Instagram. Our storefront islocated at 110 West Church
Street in Union City, Tennessee.Our hours currently, our summer
hours are Tuesday throughFriday. Nope.
(10:11):
Tuesday through Thursday, 12 to5, and then Friday Saturday, 10
to 5. We do have a website. Ifyou go to our Instagram page,
and I believe our Facebook isthe record shop as well. We have
changed our name on paper to Forthe Record, but we're still
we're we're waiting on trying toget that.
T.J. (10:34):
Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. We're talking about that off
mic.
So, currently, the name onpublic displays is The Record
shop. Yes. But you're in theprocess, paperwork's been
working worked on, and it willbe changed eventually to for the
record.
Audrey (10:52):
Yeah. Yeah. We even have a new yeah. If you come if you
come to the shop, I'll show youon our receipt our fun new logo.
T.J. (10:59):
Okay. Alright. Any business tips for those first
time business operators outthere?
Audrey (11:08):
Oh, goodness. Yeah. Yeah. But I don't know if I I
don't know so
T.J. (11:17):
Alright. Well, one of the reasons, Audrey, that I had
reached out to you is because, Ihad read that you are a recent
graduate of a master of art fromthe Memphis Theological
Seminary. I thought it would bereally cool to touch base and
you kinda share your faith, thisjourney, this walk that you've
been on and, in thistransitional period of your
(11:41):
life, because you graduated thisMay of 2024. But I always think
that it's good to we can workback chronologically or we can
go back to, moments of childhoodor teenage years. Which do you
(12:01):
prefer?
Audrey (12:04):
I have, like, the Hillary Duff voice channel and
saying, let's go back.
T.J. (12:09):
Okay. Alright.
Audrey (12:11):
No. I'm just. We don't have to go.
T.J. (12:13):
I'm gonna take that cue then. Audrey, think about share
with me maybe one of yourearliest experiences, where you
felt very, very close to god.
Audrey (12:29):
Now that's a Big question. I actually don't I
don't know if I have, like, everreally thought about it, so
thank you for asking me that. II grew up at Mount Arad
Cumberland Presbyterian Churchin Troy, Tennessee, and they
(12:53):
used to play, every Sunday,bluegrass music. I loved the
bluegrass music and Part of
T.J. (13:03):
worship, they played this music during an issue?
Audrey (13:06):
It was it was more, like gospel, bluegrass gospel music.
But, yeah, like, the preacher atthe time, I think he played the
banjo and so he would he wouldplay and it would I just
remember loving I always lovedthe music there. And also the
hymns, like, I, would they theyalso did old school hymns there
too. We had an organ player atthat church, and so I just
(13:28):
really loved the music at that,at that place, and it always
felt like a community. And alsoat that church, I remember after
communions, there would alwaysbe so much leftover bread, and
the bread was always homemade byone of the women at church.
(13:49):
And it was, like, so sweet. Andthose are, I was also brought
back to many church campmemories, and I think, I think
those didn't come till afterthis, like, experience that I
mean, this route at least at abounty rep. So that's what I'm
(14:11):
that's what I'm gonna say rightnow.
T.J. (14:15):
Did you come up in a family that was regular
churchgoers? Like, was it, anexpectation that Sunday
mornings, your family got up andgot ready and they went to
Sunday morning worshipregularly.
Audrey (14:31):
Yes. Yes. And say got up and got ready. Audrey maybe
halfway got up and got in thecar. I love Sunday school, but I
did yeah.
I was we did go every Sunday,though. My mom my mom, brother,
and I at least tried to. My dadwould tag along here and there.
(14:53):
My grandparents were alsomembers at this church as well
as my great grandmother, Ibelieve, was at this church. So
it was a family adventure.
T.J. (15:02):
So I heard you say that you liked Sunday school. Talk
more on that. Most of the time,people will say worship over
Sunday school. So what was itfor you as a kid?
Audrey (15:18):
Oh, being around my peers. I mean, I just I
remember, especially as a youngchild and especially at the
Mount Arad Church. I mean, Iremember all of the church
workers. All of VBS's were soinvolved. I remember it was like
walking through biblicalstories.
I mean, people would put onplays and
T.J. (15:38):
Mhmm.
Audrey (15:39):
I think even I remember Billy Price doing a play at a
VBS at this Mount Country onetime. Sorry. Another bug shout
out, but I, it was just alwaysit was always fun doing that
with my peers and with myfriends. And then again, yeah,
(15:59):
in traditional services, I Iappreciated the music, but I've
always been a sleepy girl, and Iwould always fall asleep under
the pews. My mom would get somad at me, but I needed it.
I would have to sleep under thepew anyway. But we would go
every Sunday, and I loved, yeah,I loved the Sunday schools and
the VBS's. Growing up, I madesuch good had such good and
close friends in thosecommunities.
T.J. (16:21):
You alluded to when I asked you about close
encounters, close experiences,memorable experiences with god,
you had also mentioned, camp andretreats. Talk more on that.
Audrey (16:39):
These were spaces. I mean, there was music too.
Right? There was music and therewere games, much like at the
Mount Ararat church I was justtalking about, in the games much
like the VBS's.
T.J. (16:53):
Mhmm.
Audrey (16:55):
But I think, really, they were always just spaces
that welcomed and uplifted me orwhoever, you know, I was as a 5
year old girl, but they werealways just spaces that welcomed
and uplifted me. And it feltlike not only me, it felt like
(17:23):
my neighbors and friends inthose spaces felt that too. I
mean, we would talk about it insmall group discussions that and
people would talk about theseplaces being homes away from
home and stuff. So
T.J. (17:39):
Did it feel like that for you, a home away from home? Were
you a regular camp goer, retreatgrower goer, grower? A goer? Is
that something that you did as,a youth and even younger?
Audrey (17:55):
Since before since before I can even really
remember. I got my first cellphone at church camp DJ, so I,
what? Okay. That was, like, anoff that was weird. But yeah.
So I have, like I it was a homeaway from home for whatever that
looked like for me, but it yes.
T.J. (18:18):
It's nice. Nice to have 2 homes. Because if you think
about it, you know, a home canbe, you know, a space where you
feel safe, a space where you cangrow. And I know it's not like
this for everybody. I'm justsaying it can be.
And maybe home as a place ofshelter, maybe that's not where
(18:41):
you can get those. But home at acamp or retreat for youth or
young adult can be the spacesthat your real home isn't. And I
think that's pretty cool.Unfortunately, you have to wait
long periods of time for, as ayouth, for retreat or for summer
(19:02):
camp.
Audrey (19:04):
Yeah. And I always had the the countdown apps or
whatever to those to those Oh,really? Oh, yeah. I I'm telling
you. I I look like it.
It's embarrassing. I was a
T.J. (19:18):
No. No. No. No. It's not.
Okay. For those who may notknow, who are listening,
describe the Countdown app foryour phone.
Audrey (19:26):
Oh, sure. Yeah. There's an app for that. They they, if
ever you are counting down for adate, or, vacation,
T.J. (19:35):
you
Audrey (19:35):
can totally download an app to let you know how many
days the day counter, if youwill.
T.J. (19:40):
Yeah. Yeah. So you would do that for a retreat or a camp
or something like that?
Audrey (19:47):
How many yeah. I would. I would. I was I I I did that
thing. I loved that thing.
I was all about that
T.J. (19:58):
Mhmm.
Audrey (19:59):
That thing. Camp Clark Williamson is the the camp I
attended in always.
T.J. (20:06):
Can you recall the time, Audrey, from being that little
girl falling asleep underneaththe pew to when you were youth
age and you started becomingmore involved in not only as a
participant in a camp, but alsoas one of the leaders? Because
(20:27):
you found yourself on planningteams and and, well, a leader.
So was there any pivotal momentor moments where there was that
transition of wake me up whenwe're at the last hymn to
actually leading those games,devotions or prayer and planning
(20:51):
for them.
Audrey (20:54):
It always felt nice and good to be validated. And so and
I looked up to a lot of the,click workers and a lot of my
peers who served on thesecouncils who were a little older
than I was. And so it felt goodto be, like, seen by by them in
(21:18):
some ways, especially I rememberone of the YMPC who was
graduating, approaching me at acamp one of the last days of
camp asking if I would beinterested in in serving. And I
think I cried. Like, I was so Iwas honored and Right.
And maybe selfishly just excitedat the opportunity to be able to
(21:41):
come back to this space and thisplace, outside of you know, more
often. I could I could
T.J. (21:46):
Right. Be
Audrey (21:47):
around these folks more often, and so it felt good. And
I say it, I was probably 15 15years old maybe when I started
serving in, like, leadershiproles. But before that, I had
tagged along. My mom was servingin leadership roles, for the
(22:11):
church and for camp. So I wouldtag along and kind of get some
of the behind the scenes stuff.
But, selfishly, it would just bebecause I wanted to be at this
space again. Right?
T.J. (22:20):
Right. Yeah. And more often, as you said.
Audrey (22:24):
And more often. Yeah.
T.J. (22:27):
Okay. So after graduating high school, what were your
career plans? So you're donewith high school. Are you were
you thinking about college? Wereyou thinking about joining the
workforce?
What did that look like forAudrey at the time?
Audrey (22:46):
When I I've always loved school. PJ, I've always loved
school.
T.J. (22:50):
Okay. So we've established you like Sunday school. You like
school school. Mhmm. But whenyou were little, you'd fall
asleep during worship.
Underneath the pew. Not on topof it, but underneath the pew.
You were a little girl. Don'tworry about it. So, anyway, you
said, you always liked school.
Audrey (23:10):
And I think I did. I always liked school. I I was
fortunate to have lots of goodteachers growing up. And I come
from a very small community thathas I went to the school with
the same roughly 80 people fromelementary to high school.
T.J. (23:30):
Wow. Wow. You know, that that that's happening less and
less. Wow. You talk aboutbuilding community.
Audrey (23:41):
I don't know. Look. Yeah. It was a I don't know.
It's good.
I will again, it felt good to bevalidated, and it felt good to
be good at things, whatever thatwas. So I I was I have
historically always been apeople pleaser. So if I get
validated in one area or if Ilike somebody who does this one
thing, I, you know, I wannaadopt all these things so I can
(24:05):
be liked. And so I do all thesethings so I can be liked too. So
whenever I was at school, if Iwould get praise for something,
I would, I think, chase it andtry to become it for whatever
that looked like.
And I say get praise, and I Ireally want to, I guess, stress
(24:25):
that it wasn't, like, arbitrary.You know, it would be coming
from people or it would becoming from things or situations
that I felt and respected andadored and whatever that looks
like at the time. So when Igraduated high school, the next
(24:49):
step felt the next step feltlike more school for me at the
time. And I did come from aschool that was it's called a
magnet school, and it's very,for lack of a better word,
snooty about its academics. Andso especially coming from, you
(25:09):
know, having teachers and havingpeople that I looked up to, I
wanted to be I wanted to be ateacher, and I really liked my
English teacher.
I loved I loved my Englishteacher. And so this was my
senior year. I had told myselfthat I wanted to be a high
(25:33):
school English teacher.
T.J. (25:39):
Mhmm. What, what grade, were you thinking? Oh, I'm
sorry. You said high schoolEnglish teacher. You clear
clarify that for me.
Path
Audrey (25:52):
And Well, I think even to well, I'll just add, and I'm
sorry to interrupt, but I'lljust add for the record that I'm
pretty sure 2 weeks beforeschool started, I changed my
major to communication. So Ithink I had already started,
like, inspiring before going tothat's interesting.
T.J. (26:08):
Okay. So, communications. Alright. So what does that
entail, a communications degree?
Audrey (26:19):
Well, let me also backtrack and say I graduated
with an English degree. Not aneducation degree, not a
communications degree orAlright. Alright. I'm sorry, TJ.
I know.
T.J. (26:30):
Alright. Well, let me let me so let me make sure I'm on
track.
Audrey (26:34):
It's hard to say.
T.J. (26:35):
You were entering into college. No. No. I just wanna
make sure. This is for me, notfor you.
Entering college, thinking aboutbeing a teacher and with a focus
on English. As you're gettingready to get into school, do
think about the communications.But after graduation, you ended
up graduating with a degree inEnglish, not necessarily in
(26:58):
education, but English as adegree. Yes. Okay.
What can you do with, English asa degree? What does that, what
doors open
Audrey (27:08):
up? Well, at the time, I was working at a law firm. I
will say, I think my Englishdegree and, like, always paper
writing helped me in my documentdrafting and legal writing at
the firm. So at this time, Ithink I felt like I felt like I
could go in lots of differentdirections with it, and the
directions I think that I hadput up for myself admittedly
involved more education at thistime, but I'll I was at least
(27:33):
landed and grounded at I wasstill at this, law firm.
T.J. (27:37):
Okay. Now did you work there as a student or do you
wait till after graduation?
Audrey (27:42):
I started in high school, so I worked there for 7
years starting at 18.
T.J. (27:46):
Okay. So full time student, part time worker?
Audrey (27:51):
For the most part, yeah. I would when I wasn't in class,
I'd be I'd be at the office.
T.J. (27:57):
Wow. Okay. So, yeah, I can see where a degree in English
would certainly help withwriting skills.
Audrey (28:05):
I also worked a little bit too as a at the writing
center on campus, while I was atschool. So that was that was
nice. But I started in Januaryof 20 20. So it, quickly kind of
looked a little different afterI got started there. But
T.J. (28:25):
Yeah. And you were still a student at the time?
Audrey (28:28):
Yes.
T.J. (28:29):
Yes. What school did you go to?
Audrey (28:31):
I went to the University of Tennessee at Martin. Go sky
hawks. Yeah. It's located inMartin, Tennessee, which is just
one town over from from UnionCity, Tennessee.
T.J. (28:43):
Yeah.
Audrey (28:45):
Yeah. Oh, you don't sound so sad.
T.J. (28:48):
No. No. No. I just I was just, exhaling, as I said.
Audrey (28:52):
No. I get it.
T.J. (28:53):
That's okay. Yeah. I don't think it had any other meaning
behind that.
Audrey (28:59):
No. I I think I was projecting. I'm sorry.
T.J. (29:04):
Well, I was about to comment on what an interesting
time to be in school, during thepandemic.
Audrey (29:14):
Oh, it was a the pandemic hit the states at a
very, like, yeah, funny time inmy life, and the collegiate
experience was different. Myheart goes out to the
elementary, middle, high schoolstudents who dealt with the the
(29:39):
transition and all of thatduring that time. Because as
chaotic and lonely and uncertainas it felt to me as a 21 year
old. Cannot I just can'timagine.
T.J. (30:00):
Yeah. Yeah. Young people's lives well, everybody, but young
people's lives were turnedupside down if based on a
routine which school provides.How was your faith speaking to
you, during those times, thepandemic, while you're going
(30:23):
through school and balancingschool and work and and trying
to figure out where you fit intothe world and to the universe
and what you have to contribute.How was God speaking to you at
that time?
What were you hearing?
Audrey (30:39):
Oh, oh, TJ. I am so so I am so thankful that God was
there and that God was speaking,but I did such a good job during
those times of tuning God andall of that out. Mhmm. But I am
(31:01):
very, very thankful that God wasthere and is here, during that
time for me. Yeah.
What what I
T.J. (31:14):
No. Please go ahead.
Audrey (31:16):
No. I mean, that's that's it. Like, that's all I
have to to say about that. I hadI was still serving. At this
point, I believe I was on theyoung adult ministry council for
the for the denomination.
So we we tried. You know? Iremember holding, like, virtual
retreats. And, during this timeNathan Nathan tried Nathan
(31:39):
another shout out. So we tried,and it was there.
I I quit routinely going tochurch during this time. I was a
member at a church, that I itjust did think my feelings
changed, and I, not about thethe people, just about the
T.J. (32:05):
bull. What helped you get through what through your body
language and and what you'resaying, what helped you get
through this this tough timethen? Was there a person? Was
there a pivotal moment? Didsomebody say something?
Did you read something? Lookingback because you're not in the
(32:27):
same place and you're not thesame person. What helped you
during this tough time? Youwanna come back to this
question?
Audrey (32:41):
Well, I'm just I'm hesitating because I really just
I believe I believe I mean, Ihave I have have lots of I have
lots of friends, like, around meand my space here that I had
made at UT Martin. Especially, Ihad a broom a roommate at the
(33:03):
time, best friend, you know, andso we, had each other during
these times and spaces. I reallyI really am I hesitate because I
I wanna say it was God and Godalone Mhmm. During that time,
because I have alwayshistorically been so bad about,
(33:23):
voicing my needs and what I needin a moment, and especially
amidst a pan a global pandemic.And around this time, my my
parents actually divorced inMarch of 2020.
So I I had this divorce trauma,and I had this pandemic trauma.
And also, the CP church has beenkind of dealing traumas to some
(33:48):
of my friends as well. And sothere were lots of people amidst
all of this time that were justreally, really hurt and really,
really affected. And, I'vealways been so bad about asking
for help. So I don't I neverdid.
I think I picked up things alongthe way that I thought would
help but didn't. They just madeit worse. But god god was there.
T.J. (34:17):
It sounds like and looks like I've asked a question that
doesn't quite have an answeryet. And I think that's okay.
Having space and time anddistance away from, you know,
things that are new or fresh andwe're still processing, we don't
(34:40):
always have the language toarticulate what's going on. And
perhaps, Audrey, I've asked aquestion that doesn't quite have
the language to describe it. Somaybe we'll come back to this in
a minute.
But let let's take a break fromthis space and share with me how
(35:03):
you ended up, at MemphisTheological Seminary in in
pursuit of a master's degree. Sokinda walk me through, that
process and, where you are nowwith it because it's kinda what
led to the genesis of mereaching out to you. Sure.
Audrey (35:30):
I graduated from UT Martin in May of 2021, and I had
been accepted to a graduateprogram in English because at
this point, I had told myself Iwanted to be an English
professor. Mhmm. And it didn'tfeel right. And I I it's funny
(35:54):
to me. Just all it's just alwaysfunny to me looking back as
T.J. (35:57):
to why
Audrey (35:58):
I know it wasn't right. It wasn't right. I I was told by
so many other people. I don'tknow. It just wasn't right.
So I did it. I didn't go. Andseminary never left. My mom is a
seminary graduate. Mhmm.
(36:20):
Again, all of these spaces thatI had believed, I had felt where
I believe I had felt thepresence of God the most
strongly. All of the seminaryjust felt like the the right
next step for me. Again, I havealways found so much joy and
(36:47):
love and comfort in these spacesand the people who were
operating and helping with thesefaith within and throughout and
among these spaces. And so Ifelt like I needed and wanted to
know more. What do what do youknow, how do I do that What and,
(37:12):
admittedly, I think I joined Istarted seminary.
I told myself I wanted to learnAramaic. I wanna be able to read
the whole bible, like, as itwas, you know, written. I wanted
to, you know, what is what am Iwhat are we missing here? Right?
I I mean, I just wanted to know.
I was trying to know.
T.J. (37:29):
So you set some academic goals?
Audrey (37:33):
I did. I set some academic goals. And I've I
think, historically, those havealways again, the people blazer
in me and having to you know,being praised in certain ways
from former teachers, I hadalways sought validation in
academics, and I was I mean, I'mI'm pretty good at DJ. I'm
(37:55):
pretty good.
T.J. (37:56):
What did you find did you find some of the answers that
you were seeking through yourstudies?
Audrey (38:04):
No questions. No. No. I think, yes and no. I mean,
that's such a that's a that's aninvolved question.
I think no question wereunlocked.
T.J. (38:19):
I'm laughing because it's true. Yeah. Right. No. It's
almost a loaded question.
Audrey (38:24):
Yeah. New questions were unlocked. Definitely, this is
and there were definitely peopleand dialogues and at least
processes, liturgies. Like,there were things along the way
that that helped grow and helpflesh out some of these
(38:45):
questions. But,
T.J. (38:48):
But added more. Yeah.
Audrey (38:54):
I don't even know or understand right now with that
question.
T.J. (38:57):
Well, okay. I can speak for me. I I believe that I've
certainly gained some knowledgelooking back on my education. I
certainly gained knowledge,gained skills of how to study.
And because of those skills andbecause of some of that
knowledge, as I get older, as Iread and continue my studies, I
(39:21):
end up having more questions anddiscovering questions that I
didn't even know existed in thatprocess.
So in the pursuit of searchingout meaning and answers to
questions, I find both meaningand additional questions and
(39:42):
sometimes answers, but not allthe time. Most of the time, more
questions. Mhmm. And then beingcomfortable with that, I think,
is also part of the journey. Youknow, that maybe there is kinda
like our faith, there is nopoint of, like, arrival.
(40:04):
Like, oh, I have arrived. Faithis relationship with God is an
ongoing journey. And you have tobe comfortable of knowing that
there really isn't a place ofarrival. Let's talk about the
(40:25):
Cumberland Presbyterian Church.I like asking each guest looking
at the denomination that you area part of, you've grown up in,
that has educated you,encouraged you, helped you grow
spiritually and develop?
What are your hopes? What areyour ideas for this
denomination, this familydenomination, moving into the
(40:48):
future, moving deeper into the21st century?
Audrey (40:54):
I think what you're doing here is beautiful. I think
that, again, I think the atleast for me in my experience,
it's like the Internet and justsocial media and gaming, the
gaming sphere, like, all of itfeels very at the forefront. And
(41:16):
so I think really playing intothat reality is gonna be the
T.J. (41:27):
Here's why I'm laughing. Not at what you said, but to
consider I'm assuming you'retalking about, like, podcast and
the conversation that we'recurrently having on the
forefront. When I actually seeit as an ancient practice and
and underutilized of 2 peoplebeing in dialogue, being in
(41:49):
conversation, and that we pressforward to never let, you know,
anything supersede or replace ordiminish people in dialogue.
That's how things move forward.So I see it as something new.
And we make mistakes along theway. We can't express our words
(42:14):
in the way or emotions or ourbrain fires faster than our lips
and tongue can move and and butthe other person, you know,
understands because they do thesame thing and and so they wait
and listen eagerly for the otherperson. That's why I was
laughing, because I do thinkabout these things. I I just see
(42:36):
I see this as old. Yeah.
Podcasting, I guess, generallyspeaking, is a new medium. But
what you and I are doing andwhat Cumberland Road is is very
old and ancient. Mhmm. I wish
Audrey (42:50):
And I
T.J. (42:51):
I don't know why it has to be a marvel.
Audrey (42:53):
Oh, well, I think I understand. I think it's cool,
and I think, you know, I think,you know, more local
congregations and spaces couldpick up something like that of
their own just offering spacefor dialogue within churches.
And I don't wanna I also Iwanted to add that I as somebody
(43:18):
who always just I'm biting mytongue a little bit, I think.
But as somebody who always feltand loved those spaces, like
those church camp spaces andthose Sunday school spaces and
school spaces, I don't I don't II like in person to tell, like,
(43:46):
you know, you can only you cando what you gotta do in this in
this world. We know we are hoursapart from each other, so that's
fair.
It's just it just makes youwonder about what the future I
mean, that's why I said that,because I don't I don't know.
T.J. (44:05):
I
Audrey (44:05):
don't really know what my hopes and, like, plans and
visions are for the future ofthe CPC because of the just
interpersonal realities that we
T.J. (44:19):
I think that's fair, Audrey, because I've caught you,
I gather, in a time oftransition in your life, you
know, from many directions. Youhave new ventures going on in
your life. And, you know, thingsare still unfolding. And maybe
I'll I can come back around,swing back around in time. You
(44:43):
might be able to answer or havea better response for that
question.
So let me shift it again toanother one. Share with me some
music that has really impactedyour faith, changed changed your
(45:05):
faith, informed your faith overthe years.
Audrey (45:09):
Wow. Okay. Well, I think, again, I think from
early, I can remember thegospel, like, bluegrass this
gospel music and the old schoolhymns. Like, I think I don't
know if it's celebration hymnal,but I think Natalie, every time
I say, celebration hymnal, butthe old school hymns, like, I
loved I loved the I loved Elvisgospel music. I thought Elvis,
(45:35):
and now that song is escapingme, t j.
I'm the worst. It's the it's,like, best song ever, which I
don't know. Right? Okay. I'msorry.
Okay. Yeah. He put me on thespot, but I asked me this is why
I work at the look. The recordshop's really hard because okay.
Here's what I'll say.
Yeah. I really like the music atthe the Mount Ararat Church.
(45:56):
I'll go back to that. I I alsohave found myself here, lately.
I think Munc and Sons have been,like have always been there for
me, like, in some ways.
And I've kind of gone back tothem here recently, and they're
still
T.J. (46:10):
they're still here. Is it in the lyrics? Is it in the
music? Is it is it the banditself? What
Audrey (46:20):
Their sign no more album, like, if front to back is
lyricist like, lyrical, openbeauty and, like, faith fueled
in my opinion and my listeningexperience. So I'm I am I like I
like lyrics. I like good beatstoo, and they're just fun. You
(46:40):
know? I I've seen them once.
I've I was thankful to see themonce in 2018, and we were like
nosebleeds, but it was stilljust such a, I mean, such a
vibe, you know, so much energyand community and spaces like
that. Similar like AvettBrothers, like, they have a lot
of which I think there are more.Mhmm.
T.J. (46:58):
Alright. I really, enjoy music, Audrey, but and I but I
have no musical talent. So forsomebody who's in music, in the
way that you are, I'm kindacurious. Do you have any musical
talents? Can you sing?
Play an instrument?
Audrey (47:15):
Yeah. Yeah. Again, always a people pleaser and
always picked up habit hobbits.Hobbies and habits.
T.J. (47:23):
Pick up hobbits?
Audrey (47:24):
Yeah. Just one of the right. No. That's off the
record. Take it
T.J. (47:29):
No. No. No. I had a tongue twister earlier. So now I don't
feel so bad.
Those those will not be editedout. We'll we'll leave those in
there.
Audrey (47:38):
I I love it.
T.J. (47:41):
Okay. So you pick up hobbits. But when you're not
picking up Yep. Hobbits, youhave some habits.
Audrey (47:47):
That I do pick up. I I was a clarinetist in school. I'm
gonna toot my horn and all stateclarinetist, so she did that
thing. Oh, hey. Yeah.
Right? Thank you. I didn't evenmean to do that. Oh, wait. Okay.
Yeah. I'm sorry, TJ. I I have aguitar that I know some chords
on that I like to play, but I'mnot a great guitarist. I have a
(48:10):
ukulele. That's the same.
I do like to sing, but I'venever really been like the odd
on stage. I like doing karaoke.
T.J. (48:19):
Okay. Alright.
Audrey (48:20):
And I'm saying at church, I guess, a few times,
but not I should do it more. Iget yeah. No.
T.J. (48:28):
Alright. Let me ask you, about movies. Same question
about music, but goes formovies. Any particular movie
that really moved you hasimpacted your Christian faith?
Made you ask questions aboutGod, about people, about
(48:52):
humanity, about the universe.
Audrey (48:57):
I that is a good question. Woof. The only one
coming to mind is, yeah. I don'tmedia see that's funny? Yeah.
(49:18):
Maybe I'm not great at pickingup movies. My media has
something especially here latelyhas been very limited. The only
one coming to mind right now isEternal Sunshine, but that's
more of a again, that's
T.J. (49:34):
me. Who's in that movie?
Audrey (49:35):
Jim Barry. I can't think that. Is it Kate Winslet?
T.J. (49:38):
Okay.
Audrey (49:38):
It's Jim Barry. I think Kate
T.J. (49:40):
Winslet. E Eternal Sunshine. I'm not
Audrey (49:42):
Well, it's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is
the full name of it. But it's a
T.J. (49:46):
Okay.
Audrey (49:47):
It's a sad movie. I don't know if it helped my
journey out. I,
T.J. (49:52):
did Well, in fairness, that was the first movie that
stuck out. Why do you think thatwas the first one?
Audrey (50:02):
Any kind of complicated, love stories, I think, make me
ask big questions.
T.J. (50:08):
Okay. Alright. Fair enough. Yeah. Yeah.
You know, a good good book, goodsong, a good movie that,
encourages you to look inwardlyand ask questions about
yourself. You know, those arethe ones we end up recommending
or revisiting. So I I thinkthat's fair. Alright. Now I'm
(50:34):
gonna throw you a softballquestion.
Audrey (50:36):
Please. Yeah. Lisa says Yeah.
T.J. (50:37):
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. No. I'm just kidding.
Okay. I've asked you aboutmusic. I've asked you about a
movie. You've just come you'reon this side of graduate school,
of a master of arts. Is thereany book that you have read
recently that you wouldrecommend to other people?
A book. I don't think I can giveyou an easier pitch than that.
Audrey (51:02):
Yeah. Sure. Just 1? Okay. Yeah.
That well, that's the thing.Okay. I think Can I do 2?
T.J. (51:15):
Yeah.
Audrey (51:16):
Okay. Thanks, TJ. No. No. You can
T.J. (51:20):
do you can do 3. I just I narrowed it down to 1 because I
didn't want you struggling withoh, no. You know, I don't know
if I can think of 1. So if youNo.
Audrey (51:32):
That's fair. That's fair. The music and movies, I've
just gotten a little over I Ioverdid myself the first 25
years, so the books are, Ithink, more fresh.
T.J. (51:42):
Okay. This is this is it. This is the trivia. This is, you
know, the the books that Audreyrecommends are
Audrey (51:51):
Woof. No. I, I would say the one that helped open my
eyes. And both of these areseminary books, I will say.
T.J. (52:01):
Okay. Heavy read?
Audrey (52:06):
No. So this first one's well, both are both are pretty
light. This first one'sespecially light. It's called
Out of Many Fates by Eboo Patel.It's a very it's a good book
that discusses, yeah, findingGod and, the religion of others,
the religions of others.
T.J. (52:29):
Okay. What was the other one?
Audrey (52:31):
The other one, I feel like, is more a little more text
book y, but I think it shedslight on today, it's, the church
in a global the church in aglobal globalized world, but the
title that's the subtitle. It'scalled burning center forest
borders, by an EleazarFernandez. I'll throw out
(52:55):
another one too. Barbara Brown,Taylor, Holy Envy. That's
another that's a light read likea but it's another good.
T.J. (53:02):
Okay. Holy?
Audrey (53:04):
Holy envy.
T.J. (53:05):
Envy. Okay. Alright. You you said those, 3 with good
confidence, great confidence.
Audrey (53:14):
Yeah. And shout out to, doctor Janelle Baker at Memphis
Theological Seminary because Ithink all all each of those came
from one of her classes and,each very good one.
T.J. (53:25):
Alright. Audrey, thank you for giving me your evening to
share your faith and, open upyour life a little bit. And,
thank you for being vulnerablein a time of transition. I
appreciate that. And there'ssomething meaningful to be able
(53:50):
to be vulnerable in the spacewith another human being.
I believe that clarity and somecomfort can come from that. And,
I hope I hope others as theyhear your journey that they also
will find some comfort than notbeing alone.
Audrey (54:15):
Yeah. Yeah. We always have each other, and that is the
beautiful beautiful reality. Sothank you for being here, TJ,
and for, again, asking me to behere. It's been a long and long
no.
I'm not gonna start. Anyhoo, I'mjust
T.J. (54:40):
I didn't know where you were going.
Audrey (54:42):
Okay.
T.J. (54:45):
Thank you again for listening to The Cumberland
Road. When Audrey and I met forthis conversation, we met during
a transitional time in herjourney. To her credit, she was
both brave and vulnerable enoughto be a guest, and I am
appreciative of her doing it. Inclosing, Barbara Brown Taylor
(55:11):
wrote, I decided I will keep thefaith. Faith in God and God's
faith in me and in all thecompanions whom God has given me
to help see the world as godsees it so that together we may
find a way to realize the divinevision. If some of us do not yet
(55:37):
know who we are going to betomorrow, then it is enough for
us to give thanks for todaywhile we treat each other as
well as we know how. Thanks forlistening.
There is something powerful and unique in hearing
someone's life journey. It giveslittle markers of who that
person is, what they havewitnessed, felt, experienced. It
is said that a story has a goodbeginning, middle, and end, but
(00:27):
a journey can be an invitationto travel alongside even when a
conversation is ended withanother. This is one of the
things that Cumberland Road isfor me, an invitation to join
with and in another's faithjourney. This month marks the
(00:51):
4th year of Cumberland Road. Ihave sat across a table or
shared screen time on a computerlistening and asking questions
about who we are, who we oncewere, and who we would like to
become. The responses vary insmall details, but the universal
(01:14):
thread that connects us all isreceiving and expressing grace
and love. Whether this is yourfirst listen to Cumberland Road
or you are an occasionallistener or you are the most
ardent fan, I am grateful foryour support. I hope that you
(01:38):
find encouragement in thispodcast. I hope that you regard
the Christian faith and thosethat profess it as a people who
are imperfect yet loving,forgiving, witty, astute and
empathetic. I hope you find thepeople who call themselves
(02:00):
Cumberland Presbyteriandistinctive yet good natured and
warm hearted. At least, this ishow I perceive the church. I
also wanna say thank you to theguests over the past 4 years.
You showed patience in mymistakes, and you risked being
(02:23):
vulnerable to a mereacquaintance or stranger. You've
certainly been an inspiration inmy own journey, and you've
challenged me to become a betterlistener, and you've deepened my
wisdom on both my life and myfaith together. I will always be
grateful. So my friend, dearlistener, thank you for
(02:47):
listening, and enjoy this faithconversation on Cumberland Road
with Audrey Michelle Adams.
Audrey, we've been lookingforward to this conversation.
And I have a good openingquestion for us. Tell me about
(03:12):
this new business venture thatyou're in, up in Union City, and
it's called The Record Shop. Sohow did you get into that
business? And then this could bea shameless plug and an
opportunity for a shameless plugof, what the record shop is. Go
ahead.
Audrey (03:32):
Sure. Yeah. So I, back in December of last year was
shown an ad for the sale of arecord shop in our in my
hometown right down the streetfrom where I grew up, and I
(03:54):
always appreciated the vibes. II tell you, I just recently left
my job at a small law firm thatI had been at for the last 7
years. I was getting ready tograduate seminary in a few
months, and it just, so I wascurrently kinda jobless, but not
really because I did pick up aremote job for the meantime.
(04:17):
But, anywho, I was sent this ad,and I just started having
conversations with people, andthe ball started rolling. I
ended up having a conversationwith the the guy selling it, and
he was excited to chat with me.And it all happened very fast,
and we opened the doors in Ithink it was a week before
(04:39):
Christmas of 2023. So, yeah, ithappened very fast, but I've
been there since since aboutthat time, having we have
records. We have CDs.
We have cassettes. We're tryingto bring in some books and local
art in this as well. But, yeah,it's been it's been an
(05:01):
experience.
T.J. (05:02):
Alright. And this is your first business venture. Correct?
Or have you been in businessbefore?
Audrey (05:11):
That's a good question, T. J.
T.J. (05:14):
Okay. Have you owned and operated your own store?
Audrey (05:18):
Yeah. Well, no. I have I have not done that. And so,
yeah, this is my first step intowhatever whatever that is. Yeah.
T.J. (05:29):
Alright. Well, I to me, it sounds exciting. I mean, it has
stuff that I'd be veryfascinated. So let me let's live
here for a moment. When youbought the store, it included
inventory.
Did you have to add to it?
Audrey (05:44):
No. Not at all. I've had some friends shout out to Nathan
Wheeler, first off. I've hadsome friends who have been very
generous, and given us somemedia and stuff. But for the
most part, it has been and was avery turnkey operation.
I mean, it was decorated. Allthe walls were decorated with
posters, and, there are T shirtsfrom concerts. We have, all
(06:08):
kinds of fun stuff in there, sono equipment. So the former
owner did carry equipment like,stereos and things like that,
but he ended up taking all thatequipment with him. So it's just
it's just the media at the shopright now.
T.J. (06:24):
Alright. Now be honest, Was this a store that you had
gone into before as a shopper,prior to operating it?
Audrey (06:36):
Yes. I'm nodding, and I was nodding because it it was. I
much yeah. My bedroom at homealways had see, it's funny, but,
yes, I was a shopper there. Ihad a little suitcase record
player for a while that Ilistened to albums on.
So yes.
T.J. (06:55):
Alright. Here's another question for you. So it's a
music store. So when I come tovisit and come to shop, when I
walk in the door, what kind ofmusic am I gonna be hearing
playing?
Audrey (07:09):
Okay. So
T.J. (07:11):
It sets the tone, I must say. When you walk in, it sets
the tone of what kind of placeyou're gonna be buying music in.
This is a very, very importantquestion.
Audrey (07:24):
Well, I'm glad you asked it. I wish you would have asked
it. Yeah. I don't know. Maybeit's you, like, weeks ago.
So the guy left us one recordplayer. So when I when I first
opened the doors, I was playingalbums. I got really into reggae
when I first opened the shop,and I don't know if that was the
release of the Bob Marley moviearound that time too. But,
(07:44):
anyhow, I so I would play Iwould play albums here and
there. But I also noticed thaton busy days, if music stopped
playing, it would be an extratask to go turn, especially if I
was, you know, me talking withsomebody.
So we've added a TV since then,and I love the I love the tiny
desk concerts. I've been playingtiny desk concerts
T.J. (08:04):
Yeah.
Audrey (08:05):
And live performances, here and there. So I hope that's
good. If it sets the tone, Imean, I don't know. I thought
thought it was cool, but now I'mrethinking.
T.J. (08:16):
A part part of that of me is them picking on you just a
bit. But yeah. I mean, you walkinto a record store, any type of
physical media, it's interestingto hear what kind of music is
playing. And if it changes, ifthe genres change, I would think
or at least been in myexperience is the wide variety
(08:37):
of genre Playing overloudspeakers indicates that we
have a wide variety of genres inour store. In theory, that's
what I'm thinking.
So do you cover I mean, can Ifind all kinds of different
genres at the record shop?
Audrey (08:59):
Absolutely. Is
T.J. (09:00):
there any music that you turn away?
Audrey (09:03):
Oh, no. Absolutely not. Yeah. All the voices are totally
welcome there. The it wasformally again, it was kind of a
turnkey thing.
So the way it was organizedbefore was less genre based and
more individual artist based. Sosince I've been in there, I've
been trying to organize by genrea little bit, but there is a
(09:26):
definitely there's we gotthere's a lot today, you know,
there's a lot there. We have wehave a lot of voices
T.J. (09:32):
in terms of So now it's time for the shameless plug. So
give me again the name wherepeople can go, like the street
address, hours, things likethat, or point people. Can it be
found on, Facebook? Do you havea Facebook page, website?
Audrey (09:51):
Yeah. So we are the record shop dash u c on
Instagram. Our storefront islocated at 110 West Church
Street in Union City, Tennessee.Our hours currently, our summer
hours are Tuesday throughFriday. Nope.
(10:11):
Tuesday through Thursday, 12 to5, and then Friday Saturday, 10
to 5. We do have a website. Ifyou go to our Instagram page,
and I believe our Facebook isthe record shop as well. We have
changed our name on paper to Forthe Record, but we're still
we're we're waiting on trying toget that.
T.J. (10:34):
Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. We're talking about that off
mic.
So, currently, the name onpublic displays is The Record
shop. Yes. But you're in theprocess, paperwork's been
working worked on, and it willbe changed eventually to for the
record.
Audrey (10:52):
Yeah. Yeah. We even have a new yeah. If you come if you
come to the shop, I'll show youon our receipt our fun new logo.
T.J. (10:59):
Okay. Alright. Any business tips for those first
time business operators outthere?
Audrey (11:08):
Oh, goodness. Yeah. Yeah. But I don't know if I I
don't know so
T.J. (11:17):
Alright. Well, one of the reasons, Audrey, that I had
reached out to you is because, Ihad read that you are a recent
graduate of a master of art fromthe Memphis Theological
Seminary. I thought it would bereally cool to touch base and
you kinda share your faith, thisjourney, this walk that you've
been on and, in thistransitional period of your
(11:41):
life, because you graduated thisMay of 2024. But I always think
that it's good to we can workback chronologically or we can
go back to, moments of childhoodor teenage years. Which do you
(12:01):
prefer?
Audrey (12:04):
I have, like, the Hillary Duff voice channel and
saying, let's go back.
T.J. (12:09):
Okay. Alright.
Audrey (12:11):
No. I'm just. We don't have to go.
T.J. (12:13):
I'm gonna take that cue then. Audrey, think about share
with me maybe one of yourearliest experiences, where you
felt very, very close to god.
Audrey (12:29):
Now that's a Big question. I actually don't I
don't know if I have, like, everreally thought about it, so
thank you for asking me that. II grew up at Mount Arad
Cumberland Presbyterian Churchin Troy, Tennessee, and they
(12:53):
used to play, every Sunday,bluegrass music. I loved the
bluegrass music and Part of
T.J. (13:03):
worship, they played this music during an issue?
Audrey (13:06):
It was it was more, like gospel, bluegrass gospel music.
But, yeah, like, the preacher atthe time, I think he played the
banjo and so he would he wouldplay and it would I just
remember loving I always lovedthe music there. And also the
hymns, like, I, would they theyalso did old school hymns there
too. We had an organ player atthat church, and so I just
(13:28):
really loved the music at that,at that place, and it always
felt like a community. And alsoat that church, I remember after
communions, there would alwaysbe so much leftover bread, and
the bread was always homemade byone of the women at church.
(13:49):
And it was, like, so sweet. Andthose are, I was also brought
back to many church campmemories, and I think, I think
those didn't come till afterthis, like, experience that I
mean, this route at least at abounty rep. So that's what I'm
(14:11):
that's what I'm gonna say rightnow.
T.J. (14:15):
Did you come up in a family that was regular
churchgoers? Like, was it, anexpectation that Sunday
mornings, your family got up andgot ready and they went to
Sunday morning worshipregularly.
Audrey (14:31):
Yes. Yes. And say got up and got ready. Audrey maybe
halfway got up and got in thecar. I love Sunday school, but I
did yeah.
I was we did go every Sunday,though. My mom my mom, brother,
and I at least tried to. My dadwould tag along here and there.
(14:53):
My grandparents were alsomembers at this church as well
as my great grandmother, Ibelieve, was at this church. So
it was a family adventure.
T.J. (15:02):
So I heard you say that you liked Sunday school. Talk
more on that. Most of the time,people will say worship over
Sunday school. So what was itfor you as a kid?
Audrey (15:18):
Oh, being around my peers. I mean, I just I
remember, especially as a youngchild and especially at the
Mount Arad Church. I mean, Iremember all of the church
workers. All of VBS's were soinvolved. I remember it was like
walking through biblicalstories.
I mean, people would put onplays and
T.J. (15:38):
Mhmm.
Audrey (15:39):
I think even I remember Billy Price doing a play at a
VBS at this Mount Country onetime. Sorry. Another bug shout
out, but I, it was just alwaysit was always fun doing that
with my peers and with myfriends. And then again, yeah,
(15:59):
in traditional services, I Iappreciated the music, but I've
always been a sleepy girl, and Iwould always fall asleep under
the pews. My mom would get somad at me, but I needed it.
I would have to sleep under thepew anyway. But we would go
every Sunday, and I loved, yeah,I loved the Sunday schools and
the VBS's. Growing up, I madesuch good had such good and
close friends in thosecommunities.
T.J. (16:21):
You alluded to when I asked you about close
encounters, close experiences,memorable experiences with god,
you had also mentioned, camp andretreats. Talk more on that.
Audrey (16:39):
These were spaces. I mean, there was music too.
Right? There was music and therewere games, much like at the
Mount Ararat church I was justtalking about, in the games much
like the VBS's.
T.J. (16:53):
Mhmm.
Audrey (16:55):
But I think, really, they were always just spaces
that welcomed and uplifted me orwhoever, you know, I was as a 5
year old girl, but they werealways just spaces that welcomed
and uplifted me. And it feltlike not only me, it felt like
(17:23):
my neighbors and friends inthose spaces felt that too. I
mean, we would talk about it insmall group discussions that and
people would talk about theseplaces being homes away from
home and stuff. So
T.J. (17:39):
Did it feel like that for you, a home away from home? Were
you a regular camp goer, retreatgrower goer, grower? A goer? Is
that something that you did as,a youth and even younger?
Audrey (17:55):
Since before since before I can even really
remember. I got my first cellphone at church camp DJ, so I,
what? Okay. That was, like, anoff that was weird. But yeah.
So I have, like I it was a homeaway from home for whatever that
looked like for me, but it yes.
T.J. (18:18):
It's nice. Nice to have 2 homes. Because if you think
about it, you know, a home canbe, you know, a space where you
feel safe, a space where you cangrow. And I know it's not like
this for everybody. I'm justsaying it can be.
And maybe home as a place ofshelter, maybe that's not where
(18:41):
you can get those. But home at acamp or retreat for youth or
young adult can be the spacesthat your real home isn't. And I
think that's pretty cool.Unfortunately, you have to wait
long periods of time for, as ayouth, for retreat or for summer
(19:02):
camp.
Audrey (19:04):
Yeah. And I always had the the countdown apps or
whatever to those to those Oh,really? Oh, yeah. I I'm telling
you. I I look like it.
It's embarrassing. I was a
T.J. (19:18):
No. No. No. No. It's not.
Okay. For those who may notknow, who are listening,
describe the Countdown app foryour phone.
Audrey (19:26):
Oh, sure. Yeah. There's an app for that. They they, if
ever you are counting down for adate, or, vacation,
T.J. (19:35):
you
Audrey (19:35):
can totally download an app to let you know how many
days the day counter, if youwill.
T.J. (19:40):
Yeah. Yeah. So you would do that for a retreat or a camp
or something like that?
Audrey (19:47):
How many yeah. I would. I would. I was I I I did that
thing. I loved that thing.
I was all about that
T.J. (19:58):
Mhmm.
Audrey (19:59):
That thing. Camp Clark Williamson is the the camp I
attended in always.
T.J. (20:06):
Can you recall the time, Audrey, from being that little
girl falling asleep underneaththe pew to when you were youth
age and you started becomingmore involved in not only as a
participant in a camp, but alsoas one of the leaders? Because
(20:27):
you found yourself on planningteams and and, well, a leader.
So was there any pivotal momentor moments where there was that
transition of wake me up whenwe're at the last hymn to
actually leading those games,devotions or prayer and planning
(20:51):
for them.
Audrey (20:54):
It always felt nice and good to be validated. And so and
I looked up to a lot of the,click workers and a lot of my
peers who served on thesecouncils who were a little older
than I was. And so it felt goodto be, like, seen by by them in
(21:18):
some ways, especially I rememberone of the YMPC who was
graduating, approaching me at acamp one of the last days of
camp asking if I would beinterested in in serving. And I
think I cried. Like, I was so Iwas honored and Right.
And maybe selfishly just excitedat the opportunity to be able to
(21:41):
come back to this space and thisplace, outside of you know, more
often. I could I could
T.J. (21:46):
Right. Be
Audrey (21:47):
around these folks more often, and so it felt good. And
I say it, I was probably 15 15years old maybe when I started
serving in, like, leadershiproles. But before that, I had
tagged along. My mom was servingin leadership roles, for the
(22:11):
church and for camp. So I wouldtag along and kind of get some
of the behind the scenes stuff.
But, selfishly, it would just bebecause I wanted to be at this
space again. Right?
T.J. (22:20):
Right. Yeah. And more often, as you said.
Audrey (22:24):
And more often. Yeah.
T.J. (22:27):
Okay. So after graduating high school, what were your
career plans? So you're donewith high school. Are you were
you thinking about college? Wereyou thinking about joining the
workforce?
What did that look like forAudrey at the time?
Audrey (22:46):
When I I've always loved school. PJ, I've always loved
school.
T.J. (22:50):
Okay. So we've established you like Sunday school. You like
school school. Mhmm. But whenyou were little, you'd fall
asleep during worship.
Underneath the pew. Not on topof it, but underneath the pew.
You were a little girl. Don'tworry about it. So, anyway, you
said, you always liked school.
Audrey (23:10):
And I think I did. I always liked school. I I was
fortunate to have lots of goodteachers growing up. And I come
from a very small community thathas I went to the school with
the same roughly 80 people fromelementary to high school.
T.J. (23:30):
Wow. Wow. You know, that that that's happening less and
less. Wow. You talk aboutbuilding community.
Audrey (23:41):
I don't know. Look. Yeah. It was a I don't know.
It's good.
I will again, it felt good to bevalidated, and it felt good to
be good at things, whatever thatwas. So I I was I have
historically always been apeople pleaser. So if I get
validated in one area or if Ilike somebody who does this one
thing, I, you know, I wannaadopt all these things so I can
(24:05):
be liked. And so I do all thesethings so I can be liked too. So
whenever I was at school, if Iwould get praise for something,
I would, I think, chase it andtry to become it for whatever
that looked like.
And I say get praise, and I Ireally want to, I guess, stress
(24:25):
that it wasn't, like, arbitrary.You know, it would be coming
from people or it would becoming from things or situations
that I felt and respected andadored and whatever that looks
like at the time. So when Igraduated high school, the next
(24:49):
step felt the next step feltlike more school for me at the
time. And I did come from aschool that was it's called a
magnet school, and it's very,for lack of a better word,
snooty about its academics. Andso especially coming from, you
(25:09):
know, having teachers and havingpeople that I looked up to, I
wanted to be I wanted to be ateacher, and I really liked my
English teacher.
I loved I loved my Englishteacher. And so this was my
senior year. I had told myselfthat I wanted to be a high
(25:33):
school English teacher.
T.J. (25:39):
Mhmm. What, what grade, were you thinking? Oh, I'm
sorry. You said high schoolEnglish teacher. You clear
clarify that for me.
Path
Audrey (25:52):
And Well, I think even to well, I'll just add, and I'm
sorry to interrupt, but I'lljust add for the record that I'm
pretty sure 2 weeks beforeschool started, I changed my
major to communication. So Ithink I had already started,
like, inspiring before going tothat's interesting.
T.J. (26:08):
Okay. So, communications. Alright. So what does that
entail, a communications degree?
Audrey (26:19):
Well, let me also backtrack and say I graduated
with an English degree. Not aneducation degree, not a
communications degree orAlright. Alright. I'm sorry, TJ.
I know.
T.J. (26:30):
Alright. Well, let me let me so let me make sure I'm on
track.
Audrey (26:34):
It's hard to say.
T.J. (26:35):
You were entering into college. No. No. I just wanna
make sure. This is for me, notfor you.
Entering college, thinking aboutbeing a teacher and with a focus
on English. As you're gettingready to get into school, do
think about the communications.But after graduation, you ended
up graduating with a degree inEnglish, not necessarily in
(26:58):
education, but English as adegree. Yes. Okay.
What can you do with, English asa degree? What does that, what
doors open
Audrey (27:08):
up? Well, at the time, I was working at a law firm. I
will say, I think my Englishdegree and, like, always paper
writing helped me in my documentdrafting and legal writing at
the firm. So at this time, Ithink I felt like I felt like I
could go in lots of differentdirections with it, and the
directions I think that I hadput up for myself admittedly
involved more education at thistime, but I'll I was at least
(27:33):
landed and grounded at I wasstill at this, law firm.
T.J. (27:37):
Okay. Now did you work there as a student or do you
wait till after graduation?
Audrey (27:42):
I started in high school, so I worked there for 7
years starting at 18.
T.J. (27:46):
Okay. So full time student, part time worker?
Audrey (27:51):
For the most part, yeah. I would when I wasn't in class,
I'd be I'd be at the office.
T.J. (27:57):
Wow. Okay. So, yeah, I can see where a degree in English
would certainly help withwriting skills.
Audrey (28:05):
I also worked a little bit too as a at the writing
center on campus, while I was atschool. So that was that was
nice. But I started in Januaryof 20 20. So it, quickly kind of
looked a little different afterI got started there. But
T.J. (28:25):
Yeah. And you were still a student at the time?
Audrey (28:28):
Yes.
T.J. (28:29):
Yes. What school did you go to?
Audrey (28:31):
I went to the University of Tennessee at Martin. Go sky
hawks. Yeah. It's located inMartin, Tennessee, which is just
one town over from from UnionCity, Tennessee.
T.J. (28:43):
Yeah.
Audrey (28:45):
Yeah. Oh, you don't sound so sad.
T.J. (28:48):
No. No. No. I just I was just, exhaling, as I said.
Audrey (28:52):
No. I get it.
T.J. (28:53):
That's okay. Yeah. I don't think it had any other meaning
behind that.
Audrey (28:59):
No. I I think I was projecting. I'm sorry.
T.J. (29:04):
Well, I was about to comment on what an interesting
time to be in school, during thepandemic.
Audrey (29:14):
Oh, it was a the pandemic hit the states at a
very, like, yeah, funny time inmy life, and the collegiate
experience was different. Myheart goes out to the
elementary, middle, high schoolstudents who dealt with the the
(29:39):
transition and all of thatduring that time. Because as
chaotic and lonely and uncertainas it felt to me as a 21 year
old. Cannot I just can'timagine.
T.J. (30:00):
Yeah. Yeah. Young people's lives well, everybody, but young
people's lives were turnedupside down if based on a
routine which school provides.How was your faith speaking to
you, during those times, thepandemic, while you're going
(30:23):
through school and balancingschool and work and and trying
to figure out where you fit intothe world and to the universe
and what you have to contribute.How was God speaking to you at
that time?
What were you hearing?
Audrey (30:39):
Oh, oh, TJ. I am so so I am so thankful that God was
there and that God was speaking,but I did such a good job during
those times of tuning God andall of that out. Mhmm. But I am
(31:01):
very, very thankful that God wasthere and is here, during that
time for me. Yeah.
What what I
T.J. (31:14):
No. Please go ahead.
Audrey (31:16):
No. I mean, that's that's it. Like, that's all I
have to to say about that. I hadI was still serving. At this
point, I believe I was on theyoung adult ministry council for
the for the denomination.
So we we tried. You know? Iremember holding, like, virtual
retreats. And, during this timeNathan Nathan tried Nathan
(31:39):
another shout out. So we tried,and it was there.
I I quit routinely going tochurch during this time. I was a
member at a church, that I itjust did think my feelings
changed, and I, not about thethe people, just about the
T.J. (32:05):
bull. What helped you get through what through your body
language and and what you'resaying, what helped you get
through this this tough timethen? Was there a person? Was
there a pivotal moment? Didsomebody say something?
Did you read something? Lookingback because you're not in the
(32:27):
same place and you're not thesame person. What helped you
during this tough time? Youwanna come back to this
question?
Audrey (32:41):
Well, I'm just I'm hesitating because I really just
I believe I believe I mean, Ihave I have have lots of I have
lots of friends, like, around meand my space here that I had
made at UT Martin. Especially, Ihad a broom a roommate at the
(33:03):
time, best friend, you know, andso we, had each other during
these times and spaces. I reallyI really am I hesitate because I
I wanna say it was God and Godalone Mhmm. During that time,
because I have alwayshistorically been so bad about,
(33:23):
voicing my needs and what I needin a moment, and especially
amidst a pan a global pandemic.And around this time, my my
parents actually divorced inMarch of 2020.
So I I had this divorce trauma,and I had this pandemic trauma.
And also, the CP church has beenkind of dealing traumas to some
(33:48):
of my friends as well. And sothere were lots of people amidst
all of this time that were justreally, really hurt and really,
really affected. And, I'vealways been so bad about asking
for help. So I don't I neverdid.
I think I picked up things alongthe way that I thought would
help but didn't. They just madeit worse. But god god was there.
T.J. (34:17):
It sounds like and looks like I've asked a question that
doesn't quite have an answeryet. And I think that's okay.
Having space and time anddistance away from, you know,
things that are new or fresh andwe're still processing, we don't
(34:40):
always have the language toarticulate what's going on. And
perhaps, Audrey, I've asked aquestion that doesn't quite have
the language to describe it. Somaybe we'll come back to this in
a minute.
But let let's take a break fromthis space and share with me how
(35:03):
you ended up, at MemphisTheological Seminary in in
pursuit of a master's degree. Sokinda walk me through, that
process and, where you are nowwith it because it's kinda what
led to the genesis of mereaching out to you. Sure.
Audrey (35:30):
I graduated from UT Martin in May of 2021, and I had
been accepted to a graduateprogram in English because at
this point, I had told myself Iwanted to be an English
professor. Mhmm. And it didn'tfeel right. And I I it's funny
(35:54):
to me. Just all it's just alwaysfunny to me looking back as
T.J. (35:57):
to why
Audrey (35:58):
I know it wasn't right. It wasn't right. I I was told by
so many other people. I don'tknow. It just wasn't right.
So I did it. I didn't go. Andseminary never left. My mom is a
seminary graduate. Mhmm.
(36:20):
Again, all of these spaces thatI had believed, I had felt where
I believe I had felt thepresence of God the most
strongly. All of the seminaryjust felt like the the right
next step for me. Again, I havealways found so much joy and
(36:47):
love and comfort in these spacesand the people who were
operating and helping with thesefaith within and throughout and
among these spaces. And so Ifelt like I needed and wanted to
know more. What do what do youknow, how do I do that What and,
(37:12):
admittedly, I think I joined Istarted seminary.
I told myself I wanted to learnAramaic. I wanna be able to read
the whole bible, like, as itwas, you know, written. I wanted
to, you know, what is what am Iwhat are we missing here? Right?
I I mean, I just wanted to know.
I was trying to know.
T.J. (37:29):
So you set some academic goals?
Audrey (37:33):
I did. I set some academic goals. And I've I
think, historically, those havealways again, the people blazer
in me and having to you know,being praised in certain ways
from former teachers, I hadalways sought validation in
academics, and I was I mean, I'mI'm pretty good at DJ. I'm
(37:55):
pretty good.
T.J. (37:56):
What did you find did you find some of the answers that
you were seeking through yourstudies?
Audrey (38:04):
No questions. No. No. I think, yes and no. I mean,
that's such a that's a that's aninvolved question.
I think no question wereunlocked.
T.J. (38:19):
I'm laughing because it's true. Yeah. Right. No. It's
almost a loaded question.
Audrey (38:24):
Yeah. New questions were unlocked. Definitely, this is
and there were definitely peopleand dialogues and at least
processes, liturgies. Like,there were things along the way
that that helped grow and helpflesh out some of these
(38:45):
questions. But,
T.J. (38:48):
But added more. Yeah.
Audrey (38:54):
I don't even know or understand right now with that
question.
T.J. (38:57):
Well, okay. I can speak for me. I I believe that I've
certainly gained some knowledgelooking back on my education. I
certainly gained knowledge,gained skills of how to study.
And because of those skills andbecause of some of that
knowledge, as I get older, as Iread and continue my studies, I
(39:21):
end up having more questions anddiscovering questions that I
didn't even know existed in thatprocess.
So in the pursuit of searchingout meaning and answers to
questions, I find both meaningand additional questions and
(39:42):
sometimes answers, but not allthe time. Most of the time, more
questions. Mhmm. And then beingcomfortable with that, I think,
is also part of the journey. Youknow, that maybe there is kinda
like our faith, there is nopoint of, like, arrival.
(40:04):
Like, oh, I have arrived. Faithis relationship with God is an
ongoing journey. And you have tobe comfortable of knowing that
there really isn't a place ofarrival. Let's talk about the
(40:25):
Cumberland Presbyterian Church.I like asking each guest looking
at the denomination that you area part of, you've grown up in,
that has educated you,encouraged you, helped you grow
spiritually and develop?
What are your hopes? What areyour ideas for this
denomination, this familydenomination, moving into the
(40:48):
future, moving deeper into the21st century?
Audrey (40:54):
I think what you're doing here is beautiful. I think
that, again, I think the atleast for me in my experience,
it's like the Internet and justsocial media and gaming, the
gaming sphere, like, all of itfeels very at the forefront. And
(41:16):
so I think really playing intothat reality is gonna be the
T.J. (41:27):
Here's why I'm laughing. Not at what you said, but to
consider I'm assuming you'retalking about, like, podcast and
the conversation that we'recurrently having on the
forefront. When I actually seeit as an ancient practice and
and underutilized of 2 peoplebeing in dialogue, being in
(41:49):
conversation, and that we pressforward to never let, you know,
anything supersede or replace ordiminish people in dialogue.
That's how things move forward.So I see it as something new.
And we make mistakes along theway. We can't express our words
(42:14):
in the way or emotions or ourbrain fires faster than our lips
and tongue can move and and butthe other person, you know,
understands because they do thesame thing and and so they wait
and listen eagerly for the otherperson. That's why I was
laughing, because I do thinkabout these things. I I just see
(42:36):
I see this as old. Yeah.
Podcasting, I guess, generallyspeaking, is a new medium. But
what you and I are doing andwhat Cumberland Road is is very
old and ancient. Mhmm. I wish
Audrey (42:50):
And I
T.J. (42:51):
I don't know why it has to be a marvel.
Audrey (42:53):
Oh, well, I think I understand. I think it's cool,
and I think, you know, I think,you know, more local
congregations and spaces couldpick up something like that of
their own just offering spacefor dialogue within churches.
And I don't wanna I also Iwanted to add that I as somebody
(43:18):
who always just I'm biting mytongue a little bit, I think.
But as somebody who always feltand loved those spaces, like
those church camp spaces andthose Sunday school spaces and
school spaces, I don't I don't II like in person to tell, like,
(43:46):
you know, you can only you cando what you gotta do in this in
this world. We know we are hoursapart from each other, so that's
fair.
It's just it just makes youwonder about what the future I
mean, that's why I said that,because I don't I don't know.
T.J. (44:05):
I
Audrey (44:05):
don't really know what my hopes and, like, plans and
visions are for the future ofthe CPC because of the just
interpersonal realities that we
T.J. (44:19):
I think that's fair, Audrey, because I've caught you,
I gather, in a time oftransition in your life, you
know, from many directions. Youhave new ventures going on in
your life. And, you know, thingsare still unfolding. And maybe
I'll I can come back around,swing back around in time. You
(44:43):
might be able to answer or havea better response for that
question.
So let me shift it again toanother one. Share with me some
music that has really impactedyour faith, changed changed your
(45:05):
faith, informed your faith overthe years.
Audrey (45:09):
Wow. Okay. Well, I think, again, I think from
early, I can remember thegospel, like, bluegrass this
gospel music and the old schoolhymns. Like, I think I don't
know if it's celebration hymnal,but I think Natalie, every time
I say, celebration hymnal, butthe old school hymns, like, I
loved I loved the I loved Elvisgospel music. I thought Elvis,
(45:35):
and now that song is escapingme, t j.
I'm the worst. It's the it's,like, best song ever, which I
don't know. Right? Okay. I'msorry.
Okay. Yeah. He put me on thespot, but I asked me this is why
I work at the look. The recordshop's really hard because okay.
Here's what I'll say.
Yeah. I really like the music atthe the Mount Ararat Church.
(45:56):
I'll go back to that. I I alsohave found myself here, lately.
I think Munc and Sons have been,like have always been there for
me, like, in some ways.
And I've kind of gone back tothem here recently, and they're
still
T.J. (46:10):
they're still here. Is it in the lyrics? Is it in the
music? Is it is it the banditself? What
Audrey (46:20):
Their sign no more album, like, if front to back is
lyricist like, lyrical, openbeauty and, like, faith fueled
in my opinion and my listeningexperience. So I'm I am I like I
like lyrics. I like good beatstoo, and they're just fun. You
(46:40):
know? I I've seen them once.
I've I was thankful to see themonce in 2018, and we were like
nosebleeds, but it was stilljust such a, I mean, such a
vibe, you know, so much energyand community and spaces like
that. Similar like AvettBrothers, like, they have a lot
of which I think there are more.Mhmm.
T.J. (46:58):
Alright. I really, enjoy music, Audrey, but and I but I
have no musical talent. So forsomebody who's in music, in the
way that you are, I'm kindacurious. Do you have any musical
talents? Can you sing?
Play an instrument?
Audrey (47:15):
Yeah. Yeah. Again, always a people pleaser and
always picked up habit hobbits.Hobbies and habits.
T.J. (47:23):
Pick up hobbits?
Audrey (47:24):
Yeah. Just one of the right. No. That's off the
record. Take it
T.J. (47:29):
No. No. No. I had a tongue twister earlier. So now I don't
feel so bad.
Those those will not be editedout. We'll we'll leave those in
there.
Audrey (47:38):
I I love it.
T.J. (47:41):
Okay. So you pick up hobbits. But when you're not
picking up Yep. Hobbits, youhave some habits.
Audrey (47:47):
That I do pick up. I I was a clarinetist in school. I'm
gonna toot my horn and all stateclarinetist, so she did that
thing. Oh, hey. Yeah.
Right? Thank you. I didn't evenmean to do that. Oh, wait. Okay.
Yeah. I'm sorry, TJ. I I have aguitar that I know some chords
on that I like to play, but I'mnot a great guitarist. I have a
(48:10):
ukulele. That's the same.
I do like to sing, but I'venever really been like the odd
on stage. I like doing karaoke.
T.J. (48:19):
Okay. Alright.
Audrey (48:20):
And I'm saying at church, I guess, a few times,
but not I should do it more. Iget yeah. No.
T.J. (48:28):
Alright. Let me ask you, about movies. Same question
about music, but goes formovies. Any particular movie
that really moved you hasimpacted your Christian faith?
Made you ask questions aboutGod, about people, about
(48:52):
humanity, about the universe.
Audrey (48:57):
I that is a good question. Woof. The only one
coming to mind is, yeah. I don'tmedia see that's funny? Yeah.
(49:18):
Maybe I'm not great at pickingup movies. My media has
something especially here latelyhas been very limited. The only
one coming to mind right now isEternal Sunshine, but that's
more of a again, that's
T.J. (49:34):
me. Who's in that movie?
Audrey (49:35):
Jim Barry. I can't think that. Is it Kate Winslet?
T.J. (49:38):
Okay.
Audrey (49:38):
It's Jim Barry. I think Kate
T.J. (49:40):
Winslet. E Eternal Sunshine. I'm not
Audrey (49:42):
Well, it's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is
the full name of it. But it's a
T.J. (49:46):
Okay.
Audrey (49:47):
It's a sad movie. I don't know if it helped my
journey out. I,
T.J. (49:52):
did Well, in fairness, that was the first movie that
stuck out. Why do you think thatwas the first one?
Audrey (50:02):
Any kind of complicated, love stories, I think, make me
ask big questions.
T.J. (50:08):
Okay. Alright. Fair enough. Yeah. Yeah.
You know, a good good book, goodsong, a good movie that,
encourages you to look inwardlyand ask questions about
yourself. You know, those arethe ones we end up recommending
or revisiting. So I I thinkthat's fair. Alright. Now I'm
(50:34):
gonna throw you a softballquestion.
Audrey (50:36):
Please. Yeah. Lisa says Yeah.
T.J. (50:37):
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. No. I'm just kidding.
Okay. I've asked you aboutmusic. I've asked you about a
movie. You've just come you'reon this side of graduate school,
of a master of arts. Is thereany book that you have read
recently that you wouldrecommend to other people?
A book. I don't think I can giveyou an easier pitch than that.
Audrey (51:02):
Yeah. Sure. Just 1? Okay. Yeah.
That well, that's the thing.Okay. I think Can I do 2?
T.J. (51:15):
Yeah.
Audrey (51:16):
Okay. Thanks, TJ. No. No. You can
T.J. (51:20):
do you can do 3. I just I narrowed it down to 1 because I
didn't want you struggling withoh, no. You know, I don't know
if I can think of 1. So if youNo.
Audrey (51:32):
That's fair. That's fair. The music and movies, I've
just gotten a little over I Ioverdid myself the first 25
years, so the books are, Ithink, more fresh.
T.J. (51:42):
Okay. This is this is it. This is the trivia. This is, you
know, the the books that Audreyrecommends are
Audrey (51:51):
Woof. No. I, I would say the one that helped open my
eyes. And both of these areseminary books, I will say.
T.J. (52:01):
Okay. Heavy read?
Audrey (52:06):
No. So this first one's well, both are both are pretty
light. This first one'sespecially light. It's called
Out of Many Fates by Eboo Patel.It's a very it's a good book
that discusses, yeah, findingGod and, the religion of others,
the religions of others.
T.J. (52:29):
Okay. What was the other one?
Audrey (52:31):
The other one, I feel like, is more a little more text
book y, but I think it shedslight on today, it's, the church
in a global the church in aglobal globalized world, but the
title that's the subtitle. It'scalled burning center forest
borders, by an EleazarFernandez. I'll throw out
(52:55):
another one too. Barbara Brown,Taylor, Holy Envy. That's
another that's a light read likea but it's another good.
T.J. (53:02):
Okay. Holy?
Audrey (53:04):
Holy envy.
T.J. (53:05):
Envy. Okay. Alright. You you said those, 3 with good
confidence, great confidence.
Audrey (53:14):
Yeah. And shout out to, doctor Janelle Baker at Memphis
Theological Seminary because Ithink all all each of those came
from one of her classes and,each very good one.
T.J. (53:25):
Alright. Audrey, thank you for giving me your evening to
share your faith and, open upyour life a little bit. And,
thank you for being vulnerablein a time of transition. I
appreciate that. And there'ssomething meaningful to be able
(53:50):
to be vulnerable in the spacewith another human being.
I believe that clarity and somecomfort can come from that. And,
I hope I hope others as theyhear your journey that they also
will find some comfort than notbeing alone.
Audrey (54:15):
Yeah. Yeah. We always have each other, and that is the
beautiful beautiful reality. Sothank you for being here, TJ,
and for, again, asking me to behere. It's been a long and long
no.
I'm not gonna start. Anyhoo, I'mjust
T.J. (54:40):
I didn't know where you were going.
Audrey (54:42):
Okay.
T.J. (54:45):
Thank you again for listening to The Cumberland
Road. When Audrey and I met forthis conversation, we met during
a transitional time in herjourney. To her credit, she was
both brave and vulnerable enoughto be a guest, and I am
appreciative of her doing it. Inclosing, Barbara Brown Taylor
(55:11):
wrote, I decided I will keep thefaith. Faith in God and God's
faith in me and in all thecompanions whom God has given me
to help see the world as godsees it so that together we may
find a way to realize the divinevision. If some of us do not yet
(55:37):
know who we are going to betomorrow, then it is enough for
us to give thanks for todaywhile we treat each other as
well as we know how. Thanks forlistening.
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