KarenHerbert

John Paul II speaks of the Gospel of Suffering. He says “The Redeemer himself wrote this Gospel, above all by his own suffering accepted in love” in Salvifici Doloris. We, meaning everyone, are burdened with suffering. It’s natural for us to wish that, and basically expect that God will take it away from us. Suffering cuts directly to what it means to be human. It demands respect and a response. We suffer when we experience any kind of evil, be it “large” or “small.” We want to view suffering through the lens of redemption. Christ answered the question about suffering with his own suffering–and as he did so, John Paul II says that evil was laid bare “before the eyes of Christ’s soul”. And it could not stand. The cross broke evil, somehow, in a way we don’t understand (e.g., read Romans 8). So now, as we approach suffering through the lens of redemption, it is possible to meet there the living waters of life that flow from Christ. WE can actually find redemption in the midst of suffering. We meet Christ there. It’s really important that in this lens, we hold together the Cross and Resurrection and DO NOT allow them to be separated. Listen to the discussion on the podcast! Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

What kind of energy are you bringing to situations where you suffer? Is it the kind of energy that leads to faith and hope, and finding purpose? The energy around your suffering tells you a lot about what you might be able to do differently. There’s no “right” way to suffer, nor can anyone tell you what you should do. Indeed, suffering is not going to go away in this present age; it is inextricably wound around us in a tight web. The questions we have for ourselves revolve around how we are going to let suffering shape us and what impact it will have on us and those around us. Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

When life in the Spirit encounters the world, it doesn’t fit. There’s suffering at the points of collision. Life in the spirit, living in the new creation, being an agent of King Jesus, living the gospel - however you want to talk about living the new reality created by the resurrection - creates pain points because it doesn’t conform to this world. We are not conformed to this world. Instead, with the power of the Spirit, we conform this world to the reality of the new creation in the kingdom of God. That’s a via crucis, a road marked by suffering. Sometimes we get pulled into strange ideas about suffering being the coin of our salvation that we use to earn our way to God’s favor. That’s an idea that misses the point. Instead, keep your eye on the end game, which is participating, through the power of the Spirit, in eternal life in the new creation where the kingdom of God is fully present in the unity of heaven and earth. Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

Sometimes we get bogged down in WHY am I suffering? Scripture does not really give us a direct explanation of why evil and its consequent suffering exist. Instead of a tidy explanation, we see the story of what He has done in history, in the Jewish people, and in Christ. We create theories and explanations but these fall short. "I sought whence evil comes and there was no solution", said St. Augustine. Asking WHY we are suffering in a particular way can easily get us stuck in frustration. Because we cannot “solve” our own suffering. God will draw a purpose for you out of your suffering. That’s because God can draw good out of evil. Even though He allows evil to take place, it is not because He wants you to suffer. He does not create evil or suffering. What you learn from suffering is not “why” you suffered. Suffering is transformative and draws us more closely into seeing and experiencing God’s glory - the glory of the magnificent, tremendous power of the presence of God ruling over heaven and earth in His amazing, redeemed, new creation kingdom. Mentioned in the show Lisa Mladnich’s book True Radiance, which is out of print but used copies are available, try Amazon. Listen to her interview in Episode 67. Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

Pentecost, the Ascension, and Daniel 7 - these are all tightly linked. It engenders hope to think about these connections. We love hope! We need it. The Spirit goes forth to renew all the Earth. Let’s invite it to start with each of us. Daniel 7 promised that great things that would happen when the Messiah returned. All power and kingship would be given to one like the son of man. That was fulfilled in the ascension when Christ went to Heaven to take up his kingship and start reigning. One of his first ACTS (like Acts 2) was to send the Holy Spirit from Heaven to Earth. The great interlocking of God’s creations of Heaven and Earth is well underway. That’s what we are part of; the reign of the King in his kingdom. The Holy Spirit is “power from on high” for us to participate in that and be comforted. Let’s transform our hearts and minds to be agents of the Kingdom. Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

Lisa Mladinich helps people grow exponentially in their God-given talents. She’s a Catholic coach, mom, bestselling author, and an inspiration to listen to. Finding and (loving to be) using your strengths is primarily, and this is really important to keep in mind, for getting closer to God. It also helps you understand your weaknesses. It’s so rewarding to be more of who God meant us to be: life is better, we are better, we are closer to God, we do better in our relationships, and we step up and pitch in to do our part in the Kingdom of God. Lisa’s Stuff: Lisa’s website: Wonderfullymade139.com Lisa’s podcast: Talent Talk Tuesdays

Making your contribution is… awesome! There’s something about you that’s so unique that only YOU can make that contribution to building up the kingdom of God. As you transform God’s creation, you are transformed. Because you are cooperating with the Holy Spirit that’s working on you even as you work with it to do your special thing. It’s a little intimidating to think there’s a role that is just for each of us, but it’s going to be a role for which we are well-suited to play. Because God knows each of us very well and has some things “planned out for us in advance”. As mentioned in the podcast: Paul: A Biography by N. T. Wright, pub. HarperOne, 2018 Christifideles Laici, An apostolic exhortation by John Paul II, 1988 We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10 The Church is like a living body with many very different vocations. Every member offers a totally unique contribution on behalf of the whole body…. The faithful engage in an ever-clearer discovery of one's vocation and the ever-greater willingness to live it so as to fulfill one's mission. God calls me and sends me forth as a laborer in his vineyard. He calls me and sends me forth to work for the coming of his Kingdom in history. This personal vocation and mission define the dignity and the responsibility of each member of the lay faithful. -Christifideles Laici, at 20 & 58, paraphrased Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

Self-acceptance is one of the keys to life and is indispensable to Christian life. If you want to really change, you need self-acceptance in order to do so: it always precedes real change. Self-criticism is a common but weak alternative practice that many people embrace. Repeat: self-criticism is a bad habit that’s puny and wears you down. Self-acceptance, on the other hand, lets you see the same things in yourself, but without flinching. St. Francis de Sales practiced self-acceptance when he counseled us “not to fret over our own imperfections and to say to ourselves: Well, my dear friend, here we are again! Let us get up again and call on God’s mercy and hope to help us. Be of good heart, be on guard moving forward, and with God’s help we will do better!” Listen now and join us!! Mentioned in the podcast: Ethical Excellence; Philosophers, Psychologists, and Real-Life Exemplars Show Us How to Achieve It by Heidi Giebel Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter by Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

With acceptance, even though it doesn't change objective reality, the attitude of your heart is very different. You can enter into that reality with faith, hope, and love and find God operating there. You can find your peace which is always vital. You own your freedom and agency. Getting to a place of acceptance is often a key in coaching. It’s also a spiritual discipline. Paradoxically, more acceptance means more freedom. Freedom, properly understood, creates agency. Now positive change is enabled. Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

I am reliably informed that with great beer comes great responsibility. OK. Certainly with Freedom comes Responsibility. You have AGENCY as a person. Freedom is for agency. I am sometimes quick to throw in the towel and say: I have no power here, no options, no choices, no mas. But I am always an AGENT; I am an actor as in “active”; I am a cause. Not THE cause, but A cause. John Paul II compares the attitude of “I am a cause” to “something is happening to me or in me over which I have no influence.” You are God’s representative on Earth. You have agency. What does that mean? Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

Apologies are just a step in a relationship, perhaps a way to get a conversation moving again. Sometimes they don’t seem to “fit” the situation. Or we sense that the other person will use them to make us feel more guilty or to manipulate us. We talk about complex situations and how an apology might fit in. There are also reasons that we and “they” resist making apologies. Knowing how to decide if, when, and where to make your apology is an art. Get some ideas and grounding by listening to this episode. Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

Freedom is FOR what? We hear a lot about what we’ve been freed FROM, like sin and death (yay for that!), and not so much about what we are free FOR. Freedom is the foundational bedrock for the human spirit and central to your Christian walk. There are a lot of misconceptions and failures of imagination when it comes to thinking about freedom. We use this podcast season to clear some of those up so you can have, hold, and step into your wonderful Christian freedom. Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

Happy Easter, everyone! What a great season to be in. Let the party begin! This is your bonus Easter episode. We spend a lot of time and energy thinking about what's gonna happen when we die. We don't, really, as Christians, spend nearly enough time thinking about what's going to happen when we're resurrected. The gospel message directs us to this new kind of life that Jesus has opened up for us in his cross and resurrection. The question of “what's gonna happen when I die” is, scripturally, turning the gospel on its head because what the gospel directs us to is “what’s going to happen when I am resurrected” (knowing Jesus was the first to do that). Join us! Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

A good apology can clear the air. A bad apology will make everything worse. Learning how to make a good apology is a relationship-saver. But nobody tells us how to do these things. I guess that’s why most of us are not very good at apologies! What a shame! We dig into to-do’s and to-dont’s on this episode. If you’re like us, you will discover that you have some apology habits that need an upgrade. Email us with an example of an apology that DID or DIDN’T work for you. Resource: Harriet Lerner’s book, Why won’t you apologize? Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

There’s a big gap between reconciliation and modern ideas of forgiveness. This gap appears at all levels - between individuals, in local groups, and in nations. Modern forgiveness focuses on releasing anger and hurt so we can move on and be at peace. That’s so important! Reconciliation goes even further and seeks a renewal of the relationship after facing the difficulties of acknowledging the harm to the injured persons. Reconciliation is often not possible and that creates a gap. Once you see this gap, you can appreciate what’s missing from forgiveness. Understanding this gap helps you come to terms with what’s missing, accept it so you can have that release in forgiveness, and perhaps consider reaching further for reconciliation. We are called to reconciliation, that’s what’s held out to us in scripture as our model to imitate. It hurts when we can't have it. As Kingdom people, we want to have a bias to reconciliation. Reconciliation is more possible than we think because it’s God’s way and desire. Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

Forgiveness doesn’t have a simple definition or formula. It’s an act of will that also engages with the heart, which can be enlarged, illuminated, and encouraged but not commanded. Forgiveness has huge personal benefits, like releasing toxic emotions. It also extends into the world with social and political impacts. Forgiveness does not overlook wrongs - instead, it puts a spotlight on them so that what needs forgiveness is known to all and can be grieved. It does not cater to wrongdoers but creates new boundaries to be enforced. Forgiveness is not reconciliation although it’s a step towards it. Forgiveness is part of writing a new story for you in connection with the person or situation that’s being forgiven. Most of all, forgiveness is part of being an active member of the Kingdom of God, which is a kingdom of forgiveness and reconciliation for all. Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

Forgiveness is one of those things you know you should do but nobody tells you how. It’s not easy. And it’s indispensable to the Christian life. In this episode we start off a podcast season on forgiveness with a theological perspective: Forgiveness is a way of life. Think more in terms of identity to step into than another obligation for you to deal with. Forgiveness is like a door that allows forgiveness to be received and to be given. The question is: how will we allow the door to open a little more? Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

There’s an enormous evangelization opportunity for us. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet people with their deepest needs. What is it? It’s marriage. People of all ages, even today in 2023, long for great marriages. We, Catholic parishes everywhere, can help. J.P. De Gance helps parishes help others build marriages and, by the way, grow their own parishes. In fact, his organization Communio has a track record of doing exactly that. Learn about the state of marriage, why it has everything to do with the future of the Church, and how we can help others be blessed. Want to evangelize? Get your parish involved with Communio. J.P. De Gance co-authored a book with all the details about WHAT and HOW there is a marriage vocations crisis and WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. It’s called Endgame, The Church's strategic move to save faith and family in America. We would love to hear from you! Send a text to us at The Catholic Midlife podcast with your thoughts as you listen: 612-208-9150. Email us at: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/ In the interview with J.P. De Gance A short video about transforming your parish to be a center of marriage evangelization; share with your parish leadership: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8f4PEXT7Hs Communio website: https://communio.org/ Website to Get the Book ENDGAME (Or go to Amazon): https://communio.org/endgame/

We commit listening violations frequently. It’s natural to jump in with our me-centric perspective. Listening, however, is other-centric when it’s performed at more than a surface level. We talk about some of the common listening violations and suggest alternatives. We want you to come away from this episode with ideas about how to spot what’s missing when your spouse is listening to you and what you might be overlooking as a listener. Listening is directly proportional to giving and receiving intimacy. Most of us are never taught even the most basic listening skills. Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

When we are not satisfied with something in our marriage, it’s up to us to do something about it. Because that’s when things change, when someone is ready to make the effort to figure out what and how to change the patterns in the relationship. Often we have an idea that it’s just one “thing” that we are after. “Things” however almost always exist on a continuum. For instance, there’s no vision if we don’t have enough of both light and darkness because no contrast means there’s nothing to see. If we are not growing, we are going backwards, that’s the law of nature. Today’s podcast talks about three tensions. Three “things” that are in opposition. But they aren’t really in opposition; it’s more like they are different ends of the same thing, or part of the same continuum. One of the “things” is Independence versus Intimacy. These are in tension in marriage. There’s always at least one area where we want more of one or the other. Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

Join the conversation with Phil and Michelle at Connected Marriage, which has been transferring skills to married couples for more than a decade. Midlife is a time when our past investments and patterns start to yield fruit. You have mixed results. What’s going to change? Where is turning toward your spouse (not) happening? Also, why do women tend to give up on an area of relationship at about the time that the men are starting to notice it? Join us! Get in touch with guests Phil or Michelle at www.connectedmarriage.org Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

Grow grow grow. Worried about how great your marriage is going to be when it’s back to “just the two of us”? You should be! Maybe not worried, exactly, but proactive. What to do? Date nights? Common interests? Karen and Curtis invite you to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. What’s really going to serve this marriage? Think in terms of growth. Think SHARP! S is for Shared Vision. What are things you want to be able to say about your marriage in 10 years? What stories will you tell about your together experience? That’s “S”. Listen in for the rest! Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

Everything pertains to love! That’s the title of a new Papal letter out on St. Francis de Sales, Totum Amoris Est, published on the 400-yr anniversary of the death of de Sales. It inspired us. St. Francis’ description of the love of God uses emotional language instead of dry philosophical arguments. It’s striking how de Sales worked hard to make loving God be attractive to his contemporaries. It was also striking how de Sales described the devout life (being holy) in terms of having an interior energy and alertness that's alive to God and the world instead of being a set of rules. He lived in a time of religious wars, yet stressed that God always used attraction and persuasion to draw people to him. Despite being in the midst of violent religious strife, he did not retreat from the world but chose to engage in it. Pope Francis, in this reflection on DeSales, leads us to discern our situations: What does love look like here? Where can love be found? de Sales poses these questions not as a theory or a sweet ideal, but as a man that was in full contact with the extreme conflicts of his day and as a spiritual advisor to thousands of men and women. What great questions! Discerning what we need to do is our job and our challenge. Join us when you listen to the podcast and be inspired! Read Totum Amoris Est here. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/20221228-totum-amoris-est.html Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

Life goals are so important! Without goals, momentum starts to take over your life. You live in reaction mode. Your past controls your future. Your day-to-day life blocks your bigger questions about what your life goals are. What are you going to put on the table? Because God is waiting to help you bring your gifts and talents into play. We often want God to simply tell us what to do. At The Catholic Midlife podcast, we believe He is often waiting for YOU to tell HIM something you want to do. What will you offer? Here are some signs that you might be letting momentum take over your life: You are not setting goals. Your goals are not stretching and changing you. You are not acting like an apprentice in any areas of life; you are comfortable; you lack resilience dealing with obstacles; or you live by checking off your to-do list versus focusing on your goals. Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/

The question for goals is: What is the harvest that you want? Goals are all about the Law of the Farm: you plan, you prepare the field by removing rocks and tilling, you plant, you water, you do the right things in the right season, and finally you harvest. Goals engage the law of the farm by creating the plan & engaging the process. There is SCIENCE to this; there is also ART. You make a lot of decisions along the way that changes the process or influence the outcome. Goals are so helpful in keeping us moving! It’s easy for inertia to grab us with the result that we go in circles or dig into our rut deeper. Join us as we share tips and traps for setting goals. Contact Info Email or text us: Text: The Catholic Midlife podcast: 612-208-9150. Email us: TheCatholicMidlife@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecatholicmidlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicmidlife/ Website: https://thmlcoaching.com/podcast/