Audrey Michelle Adams - Finding Spaces For Faith
There is something powerful and unique in hearing someone's life journey. It gives little markers of who that person is, what they have witnessed, felt, experienced. It is said that a story has a good beginning, middle, and end, but a journey can be an invitation to travel alongside even when a conversation is ended with another. This is one of the things that Cumberland Road is for me, an invitation to join with and in another's faith journey. This month marks the 4th year of Cumberland Road. I have sat across a table or shared screen time on a computer listening and asking questions about who we are, who we once were, and who we would like to become. The responses vary in small details, but the universal thread that connects us all is receiving and expressing grace and love. Whether this is your first listen to Cumberland Road or you are an occasional listener or you are the most ardent fan, I am grateful for your support. I hope that you find encouragement in this podcast. I hope that you regard the Christian faith and those that profess it as a people who are imperfect yet loving, forgiving, witty, astute and empathetic. I hope you find the people who call themselves Cumberland Presbyterian distinctive yet good natured and warm hearted. At least, this is how I perceive the church. I also wanna say thank you to the guests over the past 4 years. You showed patience in my mistakes, and you risked being vulnerable to a mere acquaintance or stranger. You've certainly been an inspiration in my own journey, and you've challenged me to become a better listener, and you've deepened my wisdom on both my life and my faith together. I will always be grateful. So my friend, dear listener, thank you for listening, and enjoy this faith conversation on Cumberland Road with Audrey Michelle Adams.
T.J.:Audrey, we've been looking forward to this conversation. And I have a good opening question for us. Tell me about this new business venture that you're in, up in Union City, and it's called The Record Shop. So how did you get into that business? And then this could be a shameless plug and an opportunity for a shameless plug of, what the record shop is. Go ahead.
Audrey:Sure. Yeah. So I, back in December of last year was shown an ad for the sale of a record shop in our in my hometown right down the street from where I grew up, and I always appreciated the vibes. I I tell you, I just recently left my job at a small law firm that I had been at for the last 7 years. I was getting ready to graduate seminary in a few months, and it just, so I was currently kinda jobless, but not really because I did pick up a remote job for the meantime.
Audrey:But, anywho, I was sent this ad, and I just started having conversations with people, and the ball started rolling. I ended up having a conversation with 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 I think it was a week before Christmas of 2023. So, yeah, it happened very fast, but I've been there since since about that time, having we have records. We have CDs.
Audrey:We have cassettes. We're trying to bring in some books and local art in this as well. But, yeah, it's been it's been an experience.
T.J.:Alright. And this is your first business venture. Correct? Or have you been in business before?
Audrey:That's a good question, T. J.
T.J.:Okay. Have you owned and operated your own store?
Audrey:Yeah. Well, no. I have I have not done that. And so, yeah, this is my first step into whatever whatever that is. Yeah.
T.J.:Alright. Well, I to me, it sounds exciting. I mean, it has stuff that I'd be very fascinated. So let me let's live here for a moment. When you bought the store, it included inventory.
T.J.:Did you have to add to it?
Audrey:No. Not at all. I've had some friends shout out to Nathan Wheeler, first off. I've had some friends who have been very generous, and given us some media and stuff. But for the most part, it has been and was a very turnkey operation.
Audrey:I mean, it was decorated. All the walls were decorated with posters, and, there are T shirts from concerts. We have, all kinds of fun stuff in there, so no equipment. So the former owner did carry equipment like, stereos and things like that, but he ended up taking all that equipment with him. So it's just it's just the media at the shop right now.
T.J.:Alright. Now be honest, Was this a store that you had gone into before as a shopper, prior to operating it?
Audrey:Yes. I'm nodding, and I was nodding because it it was. I much yeah. My bedroom at home always had see, it's funny, but, yes, I was a shopper there. I had a little suitcase record player for a while that I listened to albums on.
Audrey:So yes.
T.J.:Alright. Here's another question for you. So it's a music store. So when I come to visit and come to shop, when I walk in the door, what kind of music am I gonna be hearing playing?
Audrey:Okay. So
T.J.:It sets the tone, I must say. When you walk in, it sets the tone of what kind of place you're gonna be buying music in. This is a very, very important question.
Audrey:Well, I'm glad you asked it. I wish you would have asked it. Yeah. I don't know. Maybe it's you, like, weeks ago.
Audrey:So the guy left us one record player. So when I when I first opened the doors, I was playing albums. 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 movie around that time too. But, anyhow, I so I would play I would play albums here and there. But I also noticed that on busy days, if music stopped playing, it would be an extra task to go turn, especially if I was, you know, me talking with somebody.
Audrey:So we've added a TV since then, and I love the I love the tiny desk concerts. I've been playing tiny desk concerts
T.J.:Yeah.
Audrey:And live performances, here and there. So I hope that's good. If it sets the tone, I mean, I don't know. I thought thought it was cool, but now I'm rethinking.
T.J.:A part part of that of me is them picking on you just a bit. But yeah. I mean, you walk into a record store, any type of physical media, it's interesting to hear what kind of music is playing. And if it changes, if the genres change, I would think or at least been in my experience is the wide variety of genre Playing over loudspeakers indicates that we have a wide variety of genres in our store. In theory, that's what I'm thinking.
T.J.:So do you cover I mean, can I find all kinds of different genres at the record shop?
Audrey:Absolutely. Is
T.J.:there any music that you turn away?
Audrey:Oh, no. Absolutely not. Yeah. All the voices are totally welcome there. The it was formally again, it was kind of a turnkey thing.
Audrey:So the way it was organized before was less genre based and more individual artist based. So since I've been in there, I've been trying to organize by genre a little bit, but there is a definitely there's we got there's a lot today, you know, there's a lot there. We have we have a lot of voices
T.J.:in terms of So now it's time for the shameless plug. So give me again the name where people can go, like the street address, hours, things like that, or point people. Can it be found on, Facebook? Do you have a Facebook page, website?
Audrey:Yeah. So we are the record shop dash u c on Instagram. Our storefront is located at 110 West Church Street in Union City, Tennessee. Our hours currently, our summer hours are Tuesday through Friday. Nope.
Audrey:Tuesday through Thursday, 12 to 5, and then Friday Saturday, 10 to 5. We do have a website. If you go to our Instagram page, and I believe our Facebook is the record shop as well. We have changed our name on paper to For the Record, but we're still we're we're waiting on trying to get that.
T.J.:Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. We're talking about that off mic.
T.J.:So, currently, the name on public displays is The Record shop. Yes. But you're in the process, paperwork's been working worked on, and it will be changed eventually to for the record.
Audrey:Yeah. Yeah. We even have a new yeah. If you come if you come to the shop, I'll show you on our receipt our fun new logo.
T.J.:Okay. Alright. Any business tips for those first time business operators out there?
Audrey:Oh, goodness. Yeah. Yeah. But I don't know if I I don't know so
T.J.:Alright. Well, one of the reasons, Audrey, that I had reached out to you is because, I had read that you are a recent graduate of a master of art from the Memphis Theological Seminary. I thought it would be really cool to touch base and you kinda share your faith, this journey, this walk that you've been on and, in this transitional period of your life, because you graduated this May of 2024. But I always think that it's good to we can work back chronologically or we can go back to, moments of childhood or teenage years. Which do you prefer?
Audrey:I have, like, the Hillary Duff voice channel and saying, let's go back.
T.J.:Okay. Alright.
Audrey:No. I'm just. We don't have to go.
T.J.:I'm gonna take that cue then. Audrey, think about share with me maybe one of your earliest experiences, where you felt very, very close to god.
Audrey:Now that's a Big question. I actually don't I don't know if I have, like, ever really thought about it, so thank you for asking me that. I I grew up at Mount Arad Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Troy, Tennessee, and they used to play, every Sunday, bluegrass music. I loved the bluegrass music and Part of
T.J.:worship, they played this music during an issue?
Audrey:It was it was more, like gospel, bluegrass gospel music. But, yeah, like, the preacher at the time, I think he played the banjo and so he would he would play and it would I just remember loving I always loved the music there. And also the hymns, like, I, would they they also did old school hymns there too. We had an organ player at that church, and so I just really loved the music at that, at that place, and it always felt like a community. And also at that church, I remember after communions, there would always be so much leftover bread, and the bread was always homemade by one of the women at church.
Audrey:And it was, like, so sweet. And those are, I was also brought back to many church camp memories, and I think, I think those didn't come till after this, like, experience that I mean, this route at least at a bounty rep. So that's what I'm that's what I'm gonna say right now.
T.J.:Did you come up in a family that was regular churchgoers? Like, was it, an expectation that Sunday mornings, your family got up and got ready and they went to Sunday morning worship regularly.
Audrey:Yes. Yes. And say got up and got ready. Audrey maybe halfway got up and got in the car. I love Sunday school, but I did yeah.
Audrey:I was we did go every Sunday, though. My mom my mom, brother, and I at least tried to. My dad would tag along here and there. My grandparents were also members at this church as well as my great grandmother, I believe, was at this church. So it was a family adventure.
T.J.: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 it for you as a kid?
Audrey:Oh, being around my peers. I mean, I just I remember, especially as a young child and especially at the Mount Arad Church. I mean, I remember all of the church workers. All of VBS's were so involved. I remember it was like walking through biblical stories.
Audrey:I mean, people would put on plays and
T.J.:Mhmm.
Audrey:I think even I remember Billy Price doing a play at a VBS at this Mount Country one time. Sorry. Another bug shout out, but I, it was just always it was always fun doing that with my peers and with my friends. And then again, yeah, in traditional services, I I appreciated the music, but I've always been a sleepy girl, and I would always fall asleep under the pews. My mom would get so mad at me, but I needed it.
Audrey:I would have to sleep under the pew anyway. But we would go every Sunday, and I loved, yeah, I loved the Sunday schools and the VBS's. Growing up, I made such good had such good and close friends in those communities.
T.J.:You alluded to when I asked you about close encounters, close experiences, memorable experiences with god, you had also mentioned, camp and retreats. Talk more on that.
Audrey:These were spaces. I mean, there was music too. Right? There was music and there were games, much like at the Mount Ararat church I was just talking about, in the games much like the VBS's.
T.J.:Mhmm.
Audrey:But I think, really, they were always just spaces that welcomed and uplifted me or whoever, you know, I was as a 5 year old girl, but they were always just spaces that welcomed and uplifted me. And it felt like not only me, it felt like my neighbors and friends in those spaces felt that too. I mean, we would talk about it in small group discussions that and people would talk about these places being homes away from home and stuff. So
T.J.:Did it feel like that for you, a home away from home? Were you a regular camp goer, retreat grower goer, grower? A goer? Is that something that you did as, a youth and even younger?
Audrey:Since before since before I can even really remember. I got my first cell phone at church camp DJ, so I, what? Okay. That was, like, an off that was weird. But yeah.
Audrey:So I have, like I it was a home away from home for whatever that looked like for me, but it yes.
T.J.:It's nice. Nice to have 2 homes. Because if you think about it, you know, a home can be, you know, a space where you feel safe, a space where you can grow. And I know it's not like this for everybody. I'm just saying it can be.
T.J.:And maybe home as a place of shelter, maybe that's not where you can get those. But home at a camp or retreat for youth or young adult can be the spaces that your real home isn't. And I think that's pretty cool. Unfortunately, you have to wait long periods of time for, as a youth, for retreat or for summer camp.
Audrey: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.
Audrey:It's embarrassing. I was a
T.J.:No. No. No. No. It's not.
T.J.:Okay. For those who may not know, who are listening, describe the Countdown app for your phone.
Audrey:Oh, sure. Yeah. There's an app for that. They they, if ever you are counting down for a date, or, vacation,
T.J.:you
Audrey:can totally download an app to let you know how many days the day counter, if you will.
T.J.:Yeah. Yeah. So you would do that for a retreat or a camp or something like that?
Audrey:How many yeah. I would. I would. I was I I I did that thing. I loved that thing.
Audrey:I was all about that
T.J.:Mhmm.
Audrey:That thing. Camp Clark Williamson is the the camp I attended in always.
T.J.:Can you recall the time, Audrey, from being that little girl falling asleep underneath the pew to when you were youth age and you started becoming more involved in not only as a participant in a camp, but also as one of the leaders? Because you found yourself on planning teams and and, well, a leader. So was there any pivotal moment or moments where there was that transition of wake me up when we're at the last hymn to actually leading those games, devotions or prayer and planning for them.
Audrey: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 these councils who were a little older than I was. And so it felt good to be, like, seen by by them in some ways, especially I remember one of the YMPC who was graduating, approaching me at a camp one of the last days of camp asking if I would be interested in in serving. And I think I cried. Like, I was so I was honored and Right.
Audrey:And maybe selfishly just excited at the opportunity to be able to come back to this space and this place, outside of you know, more often. I could I could
T.J.:Right. Be
Audrey:around these folks more often, and so it felt good. And I say it, I was probably 15 15 years old maybe when I started serving in, like, leadership roles. But before that, I had tagged along. My mom was serving in leadership roles, for the church and for camp. So I would tag along and kind of get some of the behind the scenes stuff.
Audrey:But, selfishly, it would just be because I wanted to be at this space again. Right?
T.J.:Right. Yeah. And more often, as you said.
Audrey:And more often. Yeah.
T.J.:Okay. So after graduating high school, what were your career plans? So you're done with high school. Are you were you thinking about college? Were you thinking about joining the workforce?
T.J.:What did that look like for Audrey at the time?
Audrey:When I I've always loved school. PJ, I've always loved school.
T.J.:Okay. So we've established you like Sunday school. You like school school. Mhmm. But when you were little, you'd fall asleep during worship.
T.J.:Underneath the pew. Not on top of it, but underneath the pew. You were a little girl. Don't worry about it. So, anyway, you said, you always liked school.
Audrey:And I think I did. I always liked school. I I was fortunate to have lots of good teachers growing up. And I come from a very small community that has I went to the school with the same roughly 80 people from elementary to high school.
T.J.:Wow. Wow. You know, that that that's happening less and less. Wow. You talk about building community.
Audrey:I don't know. Look. Yeah. It was a I don't know. It's good.
Audrey:I will again, it felt good to be validated, and it felt good to be good at things, whatever that was. So I I was I have historically always been a people pleaser. So if I get validated in one area or if I like somebody who does this one thing, I, you know, I wanna adopt all these things so I can be liked. And so I do all these things so I can be liked too. So whenever I was at school, if I would get praise for something, I would, I think, chase it and try to become it for whatever that looked like.
Audrey:And I say get praise, and I I really want to, I guess, stress that it wasn't, like, arbitrary. You know, it would be coming from people or it would be coming from things or situations that I felt and respected and adored and whatever that looks like at the time. So when I graduated high school, the next step felt the next step felt like more school for me at the time. And I did come from a school that was it's called a magnet school, and it's very, for lack of a better word, snooty about its academics. And so especially coming from, you know, having teachers and having people that I looked up to, I wanted to be I wanted to be a teacher, and I really liked my English teacher.
Audrey:I loved I loved my English teacher. And so this was my senior year. I had told myself that I wanted to be a high school English teacher.
T.J.:Mhmm. What, what grade, were you thinking? Oh, I'm sorry. You said high school English teacher. You clear clarify that for me.
T.J.:Path
Audrey:And Well, I think even to well, I'll just add, and I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'll just add for the record that I'm pretty sure 2 weeks before school started, I changed my major to communication. So I think I had already started, like, inspiring before going to that's interesting.
T.J.:Okay. So, communications. Alright. So what does that entail, a communications degree?
Audrey:Well, let me also backtrack and say I graduated with an English degree. Not an education degree, not a communications degree or Alright. Alright. I'm sorry, TJ. I know.
T.J.:Alright. Well, let me let me so let me make sure I'm on track.
Audrey:It's hard to say.
T.J.:You were entering into college. No. No. I just wanna make sure. This is for me, not for you.
T.J.:Entering college, thinking about being a teacher and with a focus on English. As you're getting ready to get into school, do think about the communications. But after graduation, you ended up graduating with a degree in English, not necessarily in education, but English as a degree. Yes. Okay.
T.J.:What can you do with, English as a degree? What does that, what doors open
Audrey:up? Well, at the time, I was working at a law firm. I will say, I think my English degree and, like, always paper writing helped me in my document drafting and legal writing at the firm. So at this time, I think I felt like I felt like I could go in lots of different directions with it, and the directions I think that I had put up for myself admittedly involved more education at this time, but I'll I was at least landed and grounded at I was still at this, law firm.
T.J.:Okay. Now did you work there as a student or do you wait till after graduation?
Audrey:I started in high school, so I worked there for 7 years starting at 18.
T.J.:Okay. So full time student, part time worker?
Audrey:For the most part, yeah. I would when I wasn't in class, I'd be I'd be at the office.
T.J.:Wow. Okay. So, yeah, I can see where a degree in English would certainly help with writing skills.
Audrey:I also worked a little bit too as a at the writing center on campus, while I was at school. So that was that was nice. But I started in January of 20 20. So it, quickly kind of looked a little different after I got started there. But
T.J.:Yeah. And you were still a student at the time?
Audrey:Yes.
T.J.:Yes. What school did you go to?
Audrey:I went to the University of Tennessee at Martin. Go sky hawks. Yeah. It's located in Martin, Tennessee, which is just one town over from from Union City, Tennessee.
T.J.:Yeah.
Audrey:Yeah. Oh, you don't sound so sad.
T.J.:No. No. No. I just I was just, exhaling, as I said.
Audrey:No. I get it.
T.J.:That's okay. Yeah. I don't think it had any other meaning behind that.
Audrey:No. I I think I was projecting. I'm sorry.
T.J.:Well, I was about to comment on what an interesting time to be in school, during the pandemic.
Audrey:Oh, it was a the pandemic hit the states at a very, like, yeah, funny time in my life, and the collegiate experience was different. My heart goes out to the elementary, middle, high school students who dealt with the the transition and all of that during that time. Because as chaotic and lonely and uncertain as it felt to me as a 21 year old. Cannot I just can't imagine.
T.J.:Yeah. Yeah. Young people's lives well, everybody, but young people's lives were turned upside down if based on a routine which school provides. How was your faith speaking to you, during those times, the pandemic, while you're going through school and balancing school and work and and trying to figure out where you fit into the world and to the universe and what you have to contribute. How was God speaking to you at that time?
T.J.:What were you hearing?
Audrey: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 and all of that out. Mhmm. But I am very, very thankful that God was there and is here, during that time for me. Yeah.
Audrey:What what I
T.J.:No. Please go ahead.
Audrey:No. I mean, that's that's it. Like, that's all I have to to say about that. I had I was still serving. At this point, I believe I was on the young adult ministry council for the for the denomination.
Audrey:So we we tried. You know? I remember holding, like, virtual retreats. And, during this time Nathan Nathan tried Nathan another shout out. So we tried, and it was there.
Audrey:I I quit routinely going to church during this time. I was a member at a church, that I it just did think my feelings changed, and I, not about the the people, just about the
T.J.:bull. What helped you get through what through your body language and and what you're saying, what helped you get through this this tough time then? Was there a person? Was there a pivotal moment? Did somebody say something?
T.J.:Did you read something? Looking back because you're not in the same place and you're not the same person. What helped you during this tough time? You wanna come back to this question?
Audrey:Well, I'm just I'm hesitating because I really just I believe I believe I mean, I have I have have lots of I have lots of friends, like, around me and my space here that I had made at UT Martin. Especially, I had a broom a roommate at the time, best friend, you know, and so we, had each other during these times and spaces. I really I really am I hesitate because I I wanna say it was God and God alone Mhmm. During that time, because I have always historically been so bad about, voicing my needs and what I need in a moment, and especially amidst a pan a global pandemic. And around this time, my my parents actually divorced in March of 2020.
Audrey:So I I had this divorce trauma, and I had this pandemic trauma. And also, the CP church has been kind of dealing traumas to some of my friends as well. And so there were lots of people amidst all of this time that were just really, really hurt and really, really affected. And, I've always been so bad about asking for help. So I don't I never did.
Audrey:I think I picked up things along the way that I thought would help but didn't. They just made it worse. But god god was there.
T.J.:It sounds like and looks like I've asked a question that doesn't quite have an answer yet. And I think that's okay. Having space and time and distance away from, you know, things that are new or fresh and we're still processing, we don't always have the language to articulate what's going on. And perhaps, Audrey, I've asked a question that doesn't quite have the language to describe it. So maybe we'll come back to this in a minute.
T.J.:But let let's take a break from this space and share with me how you ended up, at Memphis Theological Seminary in in pursuit of a master's degree. So kinda walk me through, that process and, where you are now with it because it's kinda what led to the genesis of me reaching out to you. Sure.
Audrey:I graduated from UT Martin in May of 2021, and I had been accepted to a graduate program in English because at this point, I had told myself I wanted to be an English professor. Mhmm. And it didn't feel right. And I I it's funny to me. Just all it's just always funny to me looking back as
T.J.:to why
Audrey:I know it wasn't right. It wasn't right. I I was told by so many other people. I don't know. It just wasn't right.
Audrey:So I did it. I didn't go. And seminary never left. My mom is a seminary graduate. Mhmm.
Audrey:Again, all of these spaces that I had believed, I had felt where I believe I had felt the presence of God the most strongly. All of the seminary just felt like the the right next step for me. Again, I have always found so much joy and love and comfort in these spaces and the people who were operating and helping with these faith within and throughout and among these spaces. And so I felt like I needed and wanted to know more. What do what do you know, how do I do that What and, admittedly, I think I joined I started seminary.
Audrey:I told myself I wanted to learn Aramaic. I wanna be able to read the whole bible, like, as it was, you know, written. I wanted to, you know, what is what am I what are we missing here? Right? I I mean, I just wanted to know.
Audrey:I was trying to know.
T.J.:So you set some academic goals?
Audrey:I did. I set some academic goals. And I've I think, historically, those have always again, the people blazer in me and having to you know, being praised in certain ways from former teachers, I had always sought validation in academics, and I was I mean, I'm I'm pretty good at DJ. I'm pretty good.
T.J.:What did you find did you find some of the answers that you were seeking through your studies?
Audrey:No questions. No. No. I think, yes and no. I mean, that's such a that's a that's an involved question.
Audrey:I think no question were unlocked.
T.J.:I'm laughing because it's true. Yeah. Right. No. It's almost a loaded question.
Audrey:Yeah. New questions were unlocked. Definitely, this is and there were definitely people and dialogues and at least processes, liturgies. Like, there were things along the way that that helped grow and help flesh out some of these questions. But,
T.J.:But added more. Yeah.
Audrey:I don't even know or understand right now with that question.
T.J.:Well, okay. I can speak for me. I I believe that I've certainly gained some knowledge looking back on my education. I certainly gained knowledge, gained skills of how to study. And because of those skills and because of some of that knowledge, as I get older, as I read and continue my studies, I end up having more questions and discovering questions that I didn't even know existed in that process.
T.J.:So in the pursuit of searching out meaning and answers to questions, I find both meaning and additional questions and sometimes answers, but not all the time. Most of the time, more questions. Mhmm. And then being comfortable with that, I think, is also part of the journey. You know, that maybe there is kinda like our faith, there is no point of, like, arrival.
T.J.:Like, oh, I have arrived. Faith is relationship with God is an ongoing journey. And you have to be comfortable of knowing that there really isn't a place of arrival. Let's talk about the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. I like asking each guest looking at the denomination that you are a part of, you've grown up in, that has educated you, encouraged you, helped you grow spiritually and develop?
T.J.:What are your hopes? What are your ideas for this denomination, this family denomination, moving into the future, moving deeper into the 21st century?
Audrey:I think what you're doing here is beautiful. I think that, again, I think the at least for me in my experience, it's like the Internet and just social media and gaming, the gaming sphere, like, all of it feels very at the forefront. And so I think really playing into that reality is gonna be the
T.J.:Here's why I'm laughing. Not at what you said, but to consider I'm assuming you're talking about, like, podcast and the conversation that we're currently having on the forefront. When I actually see it as an ancient practice and and underutilized of 2 people being in dialogue, being in conversation, and that we press forward to never let, you know, anything supersede or replace or diminish people in dialogue. That's how things move forward. So I see it as something new.
T.J.:And we make mistakes along the way. We can't express our words in the way or emotions or our brain fires faster than our lips and tongue can move and and but the other person, you know, understands because they do the same thing and and so they wait and listen eagerly for the other person. That's why I was laughing, because I do think about these things. I I just see I see this as old. Yeah.
T.J.:Podcasting, I guess, generally speaking, is a new medium. But what you and I are doing and what Cumberland Road is is very old and ancient. Mhmm. I wish
Audrey:And I
T.J.:I don't know why it has to be a marvel.
Audrey: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 could pick up something like that of their own just offering space for dialogue within churches. And I don't wanna I also I wanted to add that I as somebody who always just I'm biting my tongue a little bit, I think. But as somebody who always felt and loved those spaces, like those church camp spaces and those Sunday school spaces and school spaces, I don't I don't I I like in person to tell, like, you know, you can only you can do what you gotta do in this in this world. We know we are hours apart from each other, so that's fair.
Audrey:It's just it just makes you wonder about what the future I mean, that's why I said that, because I don't I don't know.
T.J.:I
Audrey:don't really know what my hopes and, like, plans and visions are for the future of the CPC because of the just interpersonal realities that we
T.J.:I think that's fair, Audrey, because I've caught you, I gather, in a time of transition in your life, you know, from many directions. You have new ventures going on in your life. And, you know, things are still unfolding. And maybe I'll I can come back around, swing back around in time. You might be able to answer or have a better response for that question.
T.J.:So let me shift it again to another one. Share with me some music that has really impacted your faith, changed changed your faith, informed your faith over the years.
Audrey:Wow. Okay. Well, I think, again, I think from early, I can remember the gospel, like, bluegrass this gospel music and the old school hymns. Like, I think I don't know if it's celebration hymnal, but I think Natalie, every time I say, celebration hymnal, but the old school hymns, like, I loved I loved the I loved Elvis gospel music. I thought Elvis, and now that song is escaping me, t j.
Audrey:I'm the worst. It's the it's, like, best song ever, which I don't know. Right? Okay. I'm sorry.
Audrey:Okay. Yeah. He put me on the spot, but I asked me this is why I work at the look. The record shop's really hard because okay. Here's what I'll say.
Audrey:Yeah. I really like the music at the the Mount Ararat Church. I'll go back to that. I I also have found myself here, lately. I think Munc and Sons have been, like have always been there for me, like, in some ways.
Audrey:And I've kind of gone back to them here recently, and they're still
T.J.:they're still here. Is it in the lyrics? Is it in the music? Is it is it the band itself? What
Audrey:Their sign no more album, like, if front to back is lyricist like, lyrical, open beauty and, like, faith fueled in my opinion and my listening experience. So I'm I am I like I like lyrics. I like good beats too, and they're just fun. You know? I I've seen them once.
Audrey:I've I was thankful to see them once in 2018, and we were like nosebleeds, but it was still just such a, I mean, such a vibe, you know, so much energy and community and spaces like that. Similar like Avett Brothers, like, they have a lot of which I think there are more. Mhmm.
T.J.:Alright. I really, enjoy music, Audrey, but and I but I have no musical talent. So for somebody who's in music, in the way that you are, I'm kinda curious. Do you have any musical talents? Can you sing?
T.J.:Play an instrument?
Audrey:Yeah. Yeah. Again, always a people pleaser and always picked up habit hobbits. Hobbies and habits.
T.J.:Pick up hobbits?
Audrey:Yeah. Just one of the right. No. That's off the record. Take it
T.J.:No. No. No. I had a tongue twister earlier. So now I don't feel so bad.
T.J.:Those those will not be edited out. We'll we'll leave those in there.
Audrey:I I love it.
T.J.:Okay. So you pick up hobbits. But when you're not picking up Yep. Hobbits, you have some habits.
Audrey:That I do pick up. I I was a clarinetist in school. I'm gonna toot my horn and all state clarinetist, so she did that thing. Oh, hey. Yeah.
Audrey:Right? Thank you. I didn't even mean to do that. Oh, wait. Okay.
Audrey:Yeah. I'm sorry, TJ. I I have a guitar that I know some chords on that I like to play, but I'm not a great guitarist. I have a ukulele. That's the same.
Audrey:I do like to sing, but I've never really been like the odd on stage. I like doing karaoke.
T.J.:Okay. Alright.
Audrey:And I'm saying at church, I guess, a few times, but not I should do it more. I get yeah. No.
T.J.:Alright. Let me ask you, about movies. Same question about music, but goes for movies. Any particular movie that really moved you has impacted your Christian faith? Made you ask questions about God, about people, about humanity, about the universe.
Audrey:I that is a good question. Woof. The only one coming to mind is, yeah. I don't media see that's funny? Yeah.
Audrey:Maybe I'm not great at picking up movies. My media has something especially here lately has been very limited. The only one coming to mind right now is Eternal Sunshine, but that's more of a again, that's
T.J.:me. Who's in that movie?
Audrey:Jim Barry. I can't think that. Is it Kate Winslet?
T.J.:Okay.
Audrey:It's Jim Barry. I think Kate
T.J.:Winslet. E Eternal Sunshine. I'm not
Audrey:Well, it's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is the full name of it. But it's a
T.J.:Okay.
Audrey:It's a sad movie. I don't know if it helped my journey out. I,
T.J.:did Well, in fairness, that was the first movie that stuck out. Why do you think that was the first one?
Audrey:Any kind of complicated, love stories, I think, make me ask big questions.
T.J.:Okay. Alright. Fair enough. Yeah. Yeah.
T.J.:You know, a good good book, good song, a good movie that, encourages you to look inwardly and ask questions about yourself. You know, those are the ones we end up recommending or revisiting. So I I think that's fair. Alright. Now I'm gonna throw you a softball question.
Audrey:Please. Yeah. Lisa says Yeah.
T.J.:Yeah. Yeah. Okay. No. I'm just kidding.
T.J.:Okay. I've asked you about music. I've asked you about a movie. You've just come you're on this side of graduate school, of a master of arts. Is there any book that you have read recently that you would recommend to other people?
T.J.:A book. I don't think I can give you an easier pitch than that.
Audrey:Yeah. Sure. Just 1? Okay. Yeah.
Audrey:That well, that's the thing. Okay. I think Can I do 2?
T.J.:Yeah.
Audrey:Okay. Thanks, TJ. No. No. You can
T.J.:do you can do 3. I just I narrowed it down to 1 because I didn't want you struggling with oh, no. You know, I don't know if I can think of 1. So if you No.
Audrey:That's fair. That's fair. The music and movies, I've just gotten a little over I I overdid myself the first 25 years, so the books are, I think, more fresh.
T.J.:Okay. This is this is it. This is the trivia. This is, you know, the the books that Audrey recommends are
Audrey:Woof. No. I, I would say the one that helped open my eyes. And both of these are seminary books, I will say.
T.J.:Okay. Heavy read?
Audrey:No. So this first one's well, both are both are pretty light. This first one's especially light. It's called Out of Many Fates by Eboo Patel. It's a very it's a good book that discusses, yeah, finding God and, the religion of others, the religions of others.
T.J.:Okay. What was the other one?
Audrey:The other one, I feel like, is more a little more text book y, but I think it sheds light on today, it's, the church in a global the church in a global globalized world, but the title that's the subtitle. It's called burning center forest borders, by an Eleazar Fernandez. I'll throw out another one too. Barbara Brown, Taylor, Holy Envy. That's another that's a light read like a but it's another good.
T.J.:Okay. Holy?
Audrey:Holy envy.
T.J.:Envy. Okay. Alright. You you said those, 3 with good confidence, great confidence.
Audrey:Yeah. And shout out to, doctor Janelle Baker at Memphis Theological Seminary because I think all all each of those came from one of her classes and, each very good one.
T.J.:Alright. Audrey, thank you for giving me your evening to share your faith and, open up your life a little bit. And, thank you for being vulnerable in a time of transition. I appreciate that. And there's something meaningful to be able to be vulnerable in the space with another human being.
T.J.:I believe that clarity and some comfort can come from that. And, I hope I hope others as they hear your journey that they also will find some comfort than not being alone.
Audrey:Yeah. Yeah. We always have each other, and that is the beautiful beautiful reality. So thank you for being here, TJ, and for, again, asking me to be here. It's been a long and long no.
Audrey:I'm not gonna start. Anyhoo, I'm just
T.J.:I didn't know where you were going.
Audrey:Okay.
T.J.:Thank you again for listening to The Cumberland Road. When Audrey and I met for this conversation, we met during a transitional time in her journey. To her credit, she was both brave and vulnerable enough to be a guest, and I am appreciative of her doing it. In closing, Barbara Brown Taylor wrote, I decided I will keep the faith. Faith in God and God's faith in me and in all the companions whom God has given me to help see the world as god sees it so that together we may find a way to realize the divine vision. If some of us do not yet know who we are going to be tomorrow, then it is enough for us to give thanks for today while we treat each other as well as we know how. Thanks for listening.
