I Did The Thing I Said I'd Never Do

The Second Cup Newsletter | Issue 02

We throw the word ‘never’ around a lot.

I’ll never let my child binge-watch Paw Patrol all afternoon.

I’ll never be caught in those ‘mom’ jeans.

I’ll never be able to eat all that.

Let me just tell you, the older I’ve gotten, the more wary I’ve become of the word ‘never.’ Because each episode of Paw Patrol gives me 28 minutes of uninterrupted me-time, mom jeans make me feel hot, and why yes, I actually can eat all that.

Today, I turned my back on another ‘never.’

I did the thing that I swore I would never do, and that was…. to create a podcast.

Yes, you read that right - the Second Cup now has a podcast.

You may be wondering why that was a ‘never’ of mine, and also why I did it anyway. In truth, I’ve never wanted to start a podcast because I didn’t want to add more noise. There’s a lot of people talking and sharing their opinions in this world, and I didn’t feel like I needed to be one of them (at least not orally).

But you know what I think we do need more of? Read-alouds.

It made me wonder: why are read-alouds so oft reserved for children?

That’s right. Read-alouds. As an educator, read-aloud was my favorite part of the day, and I know that it was for many students of mine, too. It didn’t matter whether recess was a trainwreck or math was a flop or everybody was up in arms about the last-minute menu change for lunch - when it was read-aloud time, the mood in the room changed. Vibes chilled. Kids listened.

The other night I couldn’t sleep and I felt sorry for myself. I wished someone would read me a bedtime story. I just knew that would help. It made me wonder: why are read-alouds so oft reserved for children?

My dream job would be to work for Audible. Perhaps this podcast will be my trial run.

Anyway, I’d like you to think of it as a read-aloud for YOU. Grown-up you.

Want to know what we’ll be reading?

Seven years ago I wrote a manuscript called The Joshua Year. I printed out the Word document, slapped a binder clip on it, and tucked it into my bedside table, where it has pretty much lived ever since.

I wasn’t sure where it was meant to live in the world, or even if it was meant to live in the world. But in conversations that I have had with friends and family and neighbors and strangers, it’s become increasingly evident that the issue I was grappling with in The Joshua Year - a pervasive undercurrent of anxiety that was ruling my life - is something that a lot of other people are wrestling with right now, too. And the journey that God took me on that helped me experience some serious liberation? If one Second Cup reader/listener could take a similar journey and experience freedom from the debilitating effects of anxiety, then why the heck wouldn’t I put it out there?

So The Joshua Year: Fear, Freedom, and What Happens In Between is coming to life. Now. In this place. As a podcast.

Chapter 01: Burning Bushes, is available now.

Chapter 01: Burning Bushes

I would love your feedback, Second Cup Family. I’m editing as I go, adding what I’ve learned in the seven years since I wrote this and also prayerfully including sections that I hope will help YOU experience a Joshua Year of your own. Hope that I’ll touch upon a specific topic? Think of this as a “Choose-Your-Adventure” type of situation. I will take any and all feedback into account as I transform this from bedside-table manuscript into open-to-the world podcast.

Here’s where I sign off. I’ve got a sick Vivi girl in my lap as I type, so we’re going to snuggle and drink smoothies.

Love to all,

Deidre