Tanya Marlow Evolving Faith talk: A Story of Suffering, 2019

If you missed my Evolving Faith talk, 2019 (Tanya Marlow: A Story of Suffering), fear not! Sarah Bessey and Jeff Chu host a wonderful podcast for Evolving Faith community, and Episode 5 has the recording and transcript of my talk, together with their comments.

Here’s a little taster of my talk:

We are storied people and look to narratives to find our place in the world.

America has a narrative that if you work hard enough and think positively enough, you’ll be healthy and wealthy and maybe change the world. Britain has a narrative that there’s no point in trying to change the world, because there’s nothing you can do. But a cup of tea will probably make everything better. And both of those narratives are being tested out right now. 

But they’re extremely powerful, and we measure our lives by them. And the most dangerous stories are those that are true for a few, but not for all, but told as if they’re the only story. So what happens when your individual story clashes with the big story? And today, I want to share with you three stories that don’t fit the expectations of Christian suffering—my story, our story, and God’s story.

And here is just one of the loveliest comments they make about my work:

I was myself in an accident about five years or so ago and my life was pretty changed by the development of chronic pain and illness, and honestly it was Tanya’s work and life and theology, among a few others, that was a huge help to me. She gave me language for this shift and lament that I needed to experience—yet another season of wilderness in my own life. We return again and again until the wilderness becomes a friend, maybe. But I’m personally very grateful for her work and witness. It has really mattered to me. – Sarah Bessey, 2019

Please do check out their amazing podcast, and listen to or read my story or transcript here: Evolving Faith Podcast Season 2, Episode 5: Tanya Marlow – a Story of Suffering.

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