Finding Meaning in Our Stories Through the Words of Others with Bob Harding

Cultivate the Ordinary

In this episode, Travis and Jess engage with Bob Harding on a fun and lively conversation around seeing the world and finding meaning in our stories through quotes. Bob is the pastor at CrossLife Church in Spartanburg, SC. He wrote the foreword to Travis' book Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope.

He and Travis have a huge love of quotes and talk about why this is for each of them. They also discuss some of their favorite quotes around the topics of wonder, adventure, the corruption of power, understanding our belovedness, and seeing God at work in the everyday.

Jess shares a profound quote from Fred Rogers. Interestingly, Bob has a really cool story about Mr. Rogers talking to his son on the phone years ago. His words left an imprint on Bob and has influenced how he listens to and responds to those he meets today. Words enrich our lives and help us see things in ourselves, others, and the world around us in new ways.

Quotes discussed in the podcast:

Being beloved is our identity, the core of our existence. It is not merely a lofty thought, an inspiring idea, or one name among many. It is the name by which God knows us and the way He relates to us. Brennan Manning

What kind of Christian can best endure suffering? That Christian doesn’t exist. I could handle your problems easily. You could handle mine with a yawn. But it didn’t happen that way. I got the ones I couldn’t handle; so did you. Gene Edwards

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, covered in scars, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming “Yahoo, what a ride!” Bear Grylls

There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in. Graham Greene

Power puts everyone to sleep, as much as possible. Its great system, the great method is that of putting to sleep, anesthetizing, or, better yet, atrophying. Atrophying what? Atrophying the heart of the human person, our needs and desires, imposing an image of desire and need that is different from the boundless urge we have in our heart." Luigi Giussani

Our culture has filled our heads but emptied our hearts, stuffed our wallets but starved our wonder. It has fed our thirst for facts but not for meaning or mystery. It produces "nice" people, not heroes. Peter Kreeft

CrossLife Church in Spartanburg, SC

Additional resources from Travis and Jess:

Guided Pace website: resources for coaching, soul care, and spiritual retreat offerings

Travis' books:

Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope

Redemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's Grace