The two pastors continue their conversation with the Rev. Dr. Erin Raffety. This time, they are discussing her research. As an anthropologist, she studied Chinese foster parents and the kinship developed in various family configurations.

This interview was recorded in the same session as Episode 75 (7/14/2017) and contains similar sound quality imperfections due to the use of a new recording configuration. We apologize in advance for any distractions this may cause.

The two pastors ask the Rev. Dr. Erin Raffety to speak with them about the need for Medicaid. Erin’s three-year-old girl has special needs and they receive tremendous services from the state and federal government through Medicaid for her.

Please excuse the occasional sound imperfections in this episode. This is our first recording using our mobile setup and we are still in the process of determining the best configuration for our equipment. Thank you.

[PART 2 of 2]  The two pastors finish their conversation with friend Carol Osbourne about her childhood abuse. Resilience, healing, and wound care are all topics of discovery.

For Part 1 of this conversation, please listen to Episode 73, first published on June 30, 2017.

[PART 1 of 2] The two pastors ask their friend, Carol Osbourne, to tell her story about childhood abuse. Please join us again next week for the continuation of this conversation, which was recorded live in the sanctuary of Pastor Michael's church.

Pastor Beth describes the role her therapist plays in her life, and notes that people who need therapy often hesitate to see a therapist. The two pastors talk about how finding the right therapist can be compared to finding a safe, supportive church community in which to belong. A therapist or church community with unconditional regard for us can encourage us to be honest with ourselves and others, and allow us to be our imperfect selves.

The two pastors compare stories about their recent need for rest. They acknowledge our bodies need to shut down (“self-soothe”) periodically, not just be restarted hastily. But this self-soothing does not always come naturally. Sometimes we have to learn how to disconnect and give ourselves space. We need to give ourselves permission to do so and trust the process of letting go.

Pastor Michael had what he was calling the “disaster in Connecticut:” a broken-down car, feeling stranded, all on a holiday weekend. And yet in the midst of him needing to ask for help, he found that help was readily available. Listen in on these two pastors talk about the wealth of cultivated community.