The Asha June, Oh! Report

Diving right on into the deep end in this third week of the new year. We’re talking about pushing back the darkness in this divided world by coming together, getting close, seeking out proximity with people, seeing the humanity in everyone.When we keep others at arms length, it’s easy to then turn them into a stereotype, which then dehumanizes them, which then leads to violence. Dehumanizing someone — stripping them of their humanity — then leads to violence because if we don’t see someone as the human being that they are, well then why should we care if they’re being harmed?I’m sharing uncomfortable, embarrassing truths about myself and my own journey in hopes of inviting you to get weird too. We’re all in this together.If you connected with, were challenged by, or even just a little bit curious about the quote I shared from The And Way, make sure you don’t miss next week’s pod. It’s an eye-opening, encouraging, equipping conversation with the author herself (and my dear friend), Kelsey Blahnik! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ashajuneoh.substack.com/subscribe

Grateful for y’all sticking with me through the both/and of this podcast, friends. The tears and the celebration. The weariness and the hope. We are here to have messy, honest conversations; and today was definitely that.Today, we’re talking about when detours, disappointments, setbacks, and stalling are actually setting us up for more than we could ask or imagine.ALSO! I’m finally able to tell you about a super cool book I’ve had the joy and honor of helping to write over this past year! It’s a collaborative book project BY women, ABOUT women, and FOR women called The Other Disciples: Conversations About The Twelve Named Women Jesus Called to Follow Him.I had the joy and honor of writing the final chapter, all about my girl Elizabeth (my soul sister from another generation). The book is under the umbrella of an incredible new ministry by women, about women, and for women called… Also Called. You can follow along for book updates and tons of encouraging content here on Substack, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Pinterest, and wherever you listen to podcasts. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ashajuneoh.substack.com/subscribe

Last week, we talked about the physical act of going to your arms while running and what it means to go to your arms spiritually. It’s a really cool connection and conversation, sparked by something my husband shared with me. I left the house for dropoff/the gym/all the errands, and when I got home, he was like, thanks for the shoutout. Also, I did some more digging and found out that…And then he proceeded to share with me a list of things that left me standing there thinking, well, where was all this when I recorded this podcast two days ago?! So I crammed him in the podcast closet again, and VOILA! Go To Your Arms, Part Two. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ashajuneoh.substack.com/subscribe

Continuing the conversation on freedom (maybe forever) with a fun one today. Part of this pod is a cut from This Hope: A Journey of Getting to Know God, and today is the day these words get their time in the sun.If you haven’t read my whole heart in black and white, the “journal entry” reference may have been confusing. The bones of the book are my real, unedited, and in-the-moment journal entries from the 70 months my husband Jake and I tried, waited, hoped, prayed, and longed for our child. Yes, it was heart-wrenching to write; and I’ve heard you’ll want tissues nearby while reading (or listening! ).At first glance, it’s a book about 70 months of infertility and adoption, but the heart of This Hope is a messy, honest conversation about life and longing and the ways God meets us and invites us to get to know him in the middle of it all. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ashajuneoh.substack.com/subscribe

Lament may sound like a weird or churchy word, but I’m going to boldly claim that it’s the most powerful and practical gift ever.Lean in, lament, and be filled with the truth that leads to freedom. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ashajuneoh.substack.com/subscribe