Episode 520
Dreams, Denim, and Divine Conversations with Nala
Nala from the University of Dayton joins us to chat about the wild ride of navigating faith and life’s absurdities. We're diving into the nitty-gritty of the Beatitudes and whether they’re just guidelines for us earthlings or if they’re more about those heavenly VIPs. Spoiler alert: it’s a little bit of both! We also get into some hilarious anecdotes about church hopping, fashion faux pas, and the weirdness of dreams that make you think, “What the heck was that?” Honestly, it’s all about finding comfort in chaos and realizing we’re all just trying to figure this thing called life out together. So grab your snacks and get comfy; it’s about to get real!
Wrapping up this episode is a thoughtful reflection on the Beatitudes, as Nala shares an enlightening conversation she had with her boyfriend about whether these teachings are guidelines for life or characteristics of those already in heaven. Their discussion is layered with depth—exploring how these principles apply to their daily lives and the complexities of interpreting scripture. Ashley jumps in, adding her own experiences and thoughts, making it a rich dialogue about faith that feels both accessible and profound. They touch on how different translations of the Bible can impact understanding, and how navigating these teachings is a journey that requires both patience and discernment. It’s a beautiful moment where they connect their personal struggles with the larger narrative of faith, reminding listeners that it's okay to question, to explore, and to seek understanding. This episode wraps up with the kind of warmth and humor that leaves you wanting more, as Ashley and Nala promise to continue their deep dives into faith and life together.
Takeaways:
- Sisters in Christ, Nala and Ashley, share their personal experiences and struggles related to faith in this episode.
- The podcast highlights the importance of community and shared struggles in strengthening one's walk with Christ.
- Nala's humorous take on church hopping reflects a relatable struggle many face in finding a spiritual home.
- Both hosts discuss how their differing backgrounds shape their interpretations of Biblical texts and church experiences.
Transcript
Welcome back.
Speaker A:My name is Ashley, and this is the Black Sheep Christian podcast.
Speaker A:Today I have my sister, Christ.
Speaker A:Nala, welcome.
Speaker B:Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker A:Thanks for joining us.
Speaker A:Of course.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:Originally, when I found out you had a podcast, I was like, okay, I wanna be a guest.
Speaker B:But I was like, do you just ask to be a guest on people's podcasts?
Speaker B:So I just.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So thank you so much for having me.
Speaker B:I'm really excited.
Speaker A:Yeah, I'm excited for.
Speaker A:To have you too, because just as a sister now, we will probably be giggling and cackling just like what I did with Ikira, and eventually the three of us will come together.
Speaker A:But yeah, Nala and I, we met at UD and we have something in common.
Speaker A:We are sisters in Christ.
Speaker A:And with that, we have grown with each other, with our experiences and.
Speaker A:Yeah, just.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:And your strengths and with my weaknesses and how.
Speaker A:How beautiful that they just mesh together.
Speaker B:So I think about that from time to time, because everyone has their own specific and unique walk of Christ and their own journey.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:But with you, I feel like we have similar characteristics that we want to enhance and similar things we want to work on and similar struggles we have.
Speaker B:So it's one thing to be aligned with someone who has similar beliefs, but then when you find someone who has similar struggles, makes the walk a little bit easier.
Speaker B:I'm not looking for the easiest walk, obviously, because you want it to be difficult, but sometimes I'm like, is there anybody out there who's feeling the same way I am?
Speaker B:So when I come into your office, sometimes, usually we're just like chit chatting when we probably should be working.
Speaker B:Usually Ashley's working, I'm usually not working.
Speaker B:Ashley's able to multitask.
Speaker B:I can't.
Speaker B:Like, if I'm working and we're talking, I gotta choose.
Speaker B:And usually I choose talking.
Speaker B:But yeah, I just.
Speaker B:I feel I find so much comfort in conversing with you.
Speaker A:Yeah, same, same.
Speaker A:And when I converse with you, it's almost like, as if.
Speaker A:Like, I'm trying to describe the feeling.
Speaker A:Like, I know we have an age gap, but I don't feel that way when I speak with you.
Speaker A:Yeah, with some.
Speaker A:Some people, it's like.
Speaker A:Like you got some growing up to do, baby girl.
Speaker B:Like you're a child.
Speaker B:Get away.
Speaker A:But with you, I feel like you are just a young, old sl.
Speaker A:Lady just living in your soul.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker B:I see.
Speaker B:I think that was a compliment because I've all.
Speaker B:Like, people always tell me you're like an old lady and at first, I would take offense to it, be you're the grandma of the group.
Speaker B:And when I dance competition, we did the Adams family, and then, you know, like, how they got Morticia and then all the different characters, and they made me the grandma.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I'm like, are y' all in shade or what?
Speaker B:Are like, no, you're just like the grandma of the group.
Speaker B:And I was 16 at the time, so I'm like, y' all calling me old.
Speaker B:But now I understand that.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I appreciate you saying that.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:It's just the type of energy that you have.
Speaker A:I mean, like grandmas.
Speaker A:Well, a stereotypical grandma.
Speaker A:A good stereotypical grandma.
Speaker A:Because there's some crazy grandmas out.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:To say the least.
Speaker A:Like, a stereotypical grandma just brings comfort.
Speaker A:Um, her soul is just like fine wine, you know, you.
Speaker A:You can sip it and you.
Speaker A:You can feel or smell the notes in it and just appreciate the journey that.
Speaker A:That it went through to.
Speaker A:To.
Speaker A:To be where it is today.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Oh, not to call my grandmoms now about to do a dual FaceTime.
Speaker B:Whatever.
Speaker A:Be like, hey, grandma, you like fine white?
Speaker B:Like, where'd you learn that from?
Speaker B:That's so funny.
Speaker A:Oh, but, yeah, with Nell and I, journeys really spoke to each other.
Speaker A:Not.
Speaker A:Not just that we worked with ud, but with our church experiences.
Speaker A:And I commented how I church hop or I've had church top.
Speaker A:I'm getting a little old for church hopping.
Speaker B:No such thing.
Speaker B:Simply no such thing.
Speaker A:But when you're like, hey, that's cool, because I always felt that it was wrong.
Speaker A:Like, it wasn't, I don't know, kosher to be hopping around from church to church.
Speaker A:But when.
Speaker A:When you're like, oh, that's cool.
Speaker A:And I was kind of like, you know what?
Speaker A:That is kind of cool.
Speaker A:Because, you know, one thing that I would like to do is a series of different denominations.
Speaker B:Yeah, we were talking about that.
Speaker A:Yep.
Speaker A:Yep.
Speaker A:And I think.
Speaker A:I mean, as Christianity as a whole, we know that there are different denominations viewpoints of the Bible, but it's really not talked about.
Speaker A:Like, you learn a denomination just by talking to someone.
Speaker A:Well, that's how I learned, like, how the Lutherans.
Speaker A:What do they be doing?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:The Presbyterians doing.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:The Methodists.
Speaker A:And so you kind of learn just a piece from each denomination, but you really don't get a whole picture right sometimes.
Speaker B:And even when you think you have a decent understanding or picture, usually just based on biases coming from other denominations or what other denominations think goes on within that particular denomination.
Speaker B:So A lot of the times when your.
Speaker B:Your basic teaching of different denominations, like for me, comes from a Catholic school, they're going to tell you what they want you to hear, and that's nothing against Catholicism.
Speaker B:That's just how humans are.
Speaker B:We tell you what you want to hear.
Speaker B:So it's.
Speaker B:You have to really find strength and patience to explore that on your own and to do your own research takes a lot of time, a lot of energy, a lot of discernment.
Speaker B:There's so many characteristics I feel like you will enhance if you don't already have those characteristics when you're exploring different denominations.
Speaker B:And even, like you said, within each denomination, it can be the same denomination, but you still might have very varying beliefs or different ways that you read the Bible.
Speaker B:And I find that even just being Catholic, I find that I read the Bible, I've started to read the Bible different than other people who say they're Catholic.
Speaker B:And they might read it differently than I.
Speaker B:Than I do.
Speaker B:They interpret it differently.
Speaker B:So they start from different parts of the.
Speaker B:Of the book, and certain parts give them more comfort than they do for others.
Speaker B:So it's just.
Speaker B:There's so much even within one denomination that when you start to sprout out, you just.
Speaker B:You learn so much.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So that's amazing that you're doing that.
Speaker B:I feel like there's just going to be so many stories you can tell, so many experiences you'll be able to share, and anybody can do it.
Speaker B:I mean, we got Google, so chat, gbt.
Speaker B:Like, when you said that, I was like, wait, like, let me start looking into that, because with Dayton, there's churches everywhere.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:Literally everywhere.
Speaker B:And I. I would just was like, no.
Speaker B:Like, oh, they're gas.
Speaker B:And they're just saying there's churches everywhere.
Speaker B:There's not really cheap churches everywhere.
Speaker B:Every corner, you take boom to the church right there.
Speaker B:So I'm like, y' all really were not lying.
Speaker B:So to see how many churches there are and how the basic common belief is to believe in God, but there's different beliefs that are built upon that.
Speaker B:Yeah, I just.
Speaker B:I don't know.
Speaker B:There's so many differences and so many variations.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I don't know.
Speaker B:Do you think you'll church hop based on what you learn about.
Speaker A:I think I will a little bit.
Speaker A:I think I will.
Speaker A:Like, the other day, my dad was like, yeah, I can't remember what the conversation, but he was like, yeah, I used to grow up in a Presbyterian church.
Speaker A:And I was like, what?
Speaker A:I thought you were Southern Baptist.
Speaker A:All this time.
Speaker B:Yeah, I would have said we were talking about him and I didn't even know that.
Speaker A:I was like, what he's like.
Speaker A:But no, I'm Southern Baptist.
Speaker A:How did this journey happen?
Speaker A:Yeah, I need to ask more questions.
Speaker B:Oh my gosh.
Speaker B:Wait.
Speaker A:I need to ask more questions.
Speaker B:He was just keeping secrets, like it's nothing.
Speaker B:Yeah, I'm actually not from this country.
Speaker B:Like what secrets?
Speaker B:I think there are things because it's just like our parents, our grandparents, they grow up with their experiences and sometimes they don't share them because they don't think it's a big deal.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's a pretty big deal.
Speaker A:It is a pretty big deal.
Speaker B:You know, if he's, if he feels comfort where he is now, that's amazing for him.
Speaker B:But there's still a journey that he had to, you know, endure.
Speaker B:And I'm sure he's still on that journey because cuz your Walker Christ never ends.
Speaker B:So no matter how old you are.
Speaker B:That's so crazy though.
Speaker B:I'm curious to see.
Speaker A:I am too because I need to go further because my grandma, like all of the, all of the sisters, daughters, they couldn't wear pants.
Speaker A:And so by the time they became adults, a lot of them did except for my grandma.
Speaker A:So she continues to wear skirts.
Speaker A:Got you to this day, Sally, she has dementia so I can't have that type of conversation with her be like why and how.
Speaker A:But yeah, but the majority of them just ended up changing, changing their wardrobe.
Speaker A:I don't know if they changed their religion, but yeah, they couldn't do it.
Speaker A:And it's interesting because it kind of makes sense to me because I, as a kid I was not allowed to wear pants in church, so they allow me to wear pants like to school and stuff.
Speaker A:But in church I've always wore dresses or skirts.
Speaker A:And then it wasn't until I was an adult I started wearing pants.
Speaker A:And then it felt weird because I started wearing jeans.
Speaker A:Like I felt like I was sinning.
Speaker A:I'm gonna wear jeans today.
Speaker A:Cause I don't feel like dressing up.
Speaker A:And then I was just kind of like, you know, go to the church door.
Speaker A:Like I know I'm not gonna burn.
Speaker B:But this, they might burn me.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Feels weird.
Speaker B:That's so, that's so funny.
Speaker B:And I guess that's not something you even consider until you do become older, right?
Speaker B:Sort of look back on it because you probably just thought, oh, we're going to church.
Speaker B:Of course my parents told me to wear a dress or a skirt.
Speaker B:But now you're like, no, there was a genuine reason.
Speaker B:I mean, obviously if the reason was they just want you to dress a certain way, and that's understandable.
Speaker B:But there were actual.
Speaker B:I don't even know how to explain it.
Speaker B:There was like an actual legitimate, valid reason behind it as to why.
Speaker B:And it was deeper than what you thought.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:Or maybe it could just been like, my parents were like, we need to look nice.
Speaker A:You know, don't wear your school clothes.
Speaker A:Don't wear your outdoor clothes.
Speaker A:I don't know.
Speaker A:But, you know, now that we're having this conversation, it's like there's more questions that I need to.
Speaker B:Yeah, ask.
Speaker A:Like, why was I not allowed?
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:Tell me the truth.
Speaker B:That has me thinking.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker B:It's like the opposite for me.
Speaker B:So growing up, we.
Speaker B:We took him, as you are, very seriously.
Speaker B:Like, I'm talking like, we.
Speaker B:If I had sweatpants on in church, like, it was cool.
Speaker B:We would.
Speaker B:It wasn't.
Speaker B:It wasn't frowned upon because I'm Catholic, so.
Speaker B:And I went to Catholic school from Pre K to fifth grade.
Speaker B:So, like, three years old to 10.
Speaker B:That sounds like the right range.
Speaker B:The school I went to was in South Philly, so it was at that time, they still, the.
Speaker B:They still had the sisters teaching us.
Speaker B:Like, it was very much like old school, what you see on television.
Speaker B:And obviously we had uniforms and stuff like that.
Speaker B:But when we would go to church, I mean, you could pretty much wear what you wanted.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I just.
Speaker B:Now when I go to church and I.
Speaker B:And I. I'm meeting new people who go to different churches of different denominations, they wouldn't even dream of wearing jeans to church.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Even my roommate, she's Catholic, and we would go to mass together on campus.
Speaker B:Even what she would wear would be more formal, and it would be nicer than what I was wearing.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I'm like, maybe I'm the issue.
Speaker B:Like, I'm coming up in pants or sweatpants, looking a mess, you know, and everyone's dressed nicely.
Speaker B:But that just wasn't something people were focused on.
Speaker B:If you even made it to church with clothes, with all the kids, you know, that was an accomplishment.
Speaker B:So I appreciated that they weren't focused on clothing because, like I said, to even get up that morning and to get everybody there safely was probably what they were focused on.
Speaker B:But now that I have the wherewithal to be, like, maybe I shouldn't dress up in sweatpants, you know, Like, I. I'm a college student, so, like, obviously I'm broke, but am I Truly broke.
Speaker B:You know, like, if I'm paying money to go out to eat, I could pay money to go get a couple skirts.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know, If I'm paying $50 to get a seafood boil, I can go get a new Bible.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know, so you gotta realign your priorities.
Speaker B:And we like to say we're broke, but it's like we're truly not.
Speaker B:We just.
Speaker B:We're broke in a sense of.
Speaker B:We pay for what we want to pay for when we want to pay for it.
Speaker B:So I've been trying to alter my wardrobe and wear more appropriate outfits that.
Speaker B:Not even appropriate, but just.
Speaker B:I don't know what the word is.
Speaker A:Would it be like, I, I, if I'm reading you correctly?
Speaker A:Because I can't think of the word either.
Speaker A:So I'm going to describe it.
Speaker A:Is it something that is not, like, dignified, but something that glorifies what God created?
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah, we'll go with that.
Speaker B:No, pretty much.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Just putting effort into it and waking up and taking time to look presentable for church.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Because, I mean, I.
Speaker B:There are times where I take more time to look presentable for other places.
Speaker B:Like if I'm going to a concert, you're going to take two hours to get ready.
Speaker B:So why can't I take two hours to get ready for church?
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:But then again, on the flip side, some people.
Speaker B:Because, you know, we say, like, come as you are, some people don't accept that.
Speaker B:And they think if you're taking all this time to do makeup and to put all this into your looks and stuff like that, it's like you're truly.
Speaker B:Are you truly focused on the word or are you just worried about how you look?
Speaker B:So it's difficult to find that balance.
Speaker B:But since I've always been that person who hasn't really focused on how I dressed, now that I've come to try and focus a little more how I dress, I feel like I'm more worthy when I, like, step in to the church because I just.
Speaker B:I don't know, I just feel like I'm able to pay attention better.
Speaker B:You know, when you look good and you feel good, you're able to perform well.
Speaker B:So I feel like I'm able to pay attention more.
Speaker B:I make sure I eat before I go to church, too.
Speaker B:Because when I go to church hungry, all I'm thinking about is food.
Speaker B:And that's a horrible thing to admit, but I'll be like, azariah, we need to stop and get something to eat.
Speaker B:Because I'M not gonna be to sit in church.
Speaker B:What do you mean you're not gonna be able to sit in church?
Speaker B:I'm like, I'm starving and my stomach is growling and when I should be focusing on James 5, I'm gonna be thinking about a hoagie.
Speaker B:So please give me something to eat.
Speaker B:So just taking that time to prepare yourself before you go into the house of God.
Speaker B:At least that's something I've been focusing on.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:That's beautiful.
Speaker A:I like your skirt though.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker B:I actually got it from Goodwill.
Speaker B:Oh, I know.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker B:Goodwill is.
Speaker B:It's like one of those things as a kid we will always donate to but we never went to buy from.
Speaker B:And not because you know, there was a reason.
Speaker B:There wasn't like a distinct reason why we didn't.
Speaker B:We just never did.
Speaker B:But now I go to Goodwill now because I'm like, this skirt probably costed $60 from wherever it's from and I got it for $10.
Speaker B:Think it might even be cheaper.
Speaker B:I don't really buy anything for full, full price.
Speaker B:I just don't.
Speaker B:Because why am I paying $60 for a shirt?
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:Like what?
Speaker B:I'll just wait till it's marked down or until someone else has had it and then they're ready to get rid of it.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Like this shirt is from Aerie and It was originally 50, I think.
Speaker B:So I waited till it was like 60, 70% off.
Speaker A:Good for you.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker A:I'm not doing that.
Speaker B:I just, I can't bring myself to do it.
Speaker A:I could understand.
Speaker A:I could understand.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:So this morning I woke up and I was like Nala.
Speaker A:I was Nala.
Speaker A:So these colors.
Speaker A:Cause you're more of a brown.
Speaker B:You think so?
Speaker A:I feel like you wear more brown.
Speaker A:Am I wrong about that?
Speaker B:No, no, you're right.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Because I.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:I had to think about it.
Speaker B:I do.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I like neutral brown.
Speaker B:I used to be like wearing black all the time.
Speaker B:Wait, so I look inspired?
Speaker B:You?
Speaker A:I did my look inspired.
Speaker A:I was like if I was.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:If I was Nell off.
Speaker B:You look beautiful.
Speaker B:I actually was going to comment on your outfit.
Speaker B:I was like, there's a time and place, let me wait.
Speaker B:But your sandals are so cute.
Speaker A:Where you get from Kohan?
Speaker A:It was an out outlet.
Speaker B:Kohan has good shoes.
Speaker A:They do, they do.
Speaker B:I'm glad you went to the outlet cuz again I ain't buying Gohan.
Speaker B:You know my aunt will buy them full price.
Speaker B:I'm like, cuz you got it.
Speaker B:You work for irs like you got it.
Speaker B:I go to UD for a living, so I don't have it.
Speaker B:But do you have an outlet at.
Speaker B:In Cincinnati?
Speaker A:Yeah, they do.
Speaker B:Okay, that's.
Speaker B:Is that the one?
Speaker A:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So I got that and then I got.
Speaker A:Now it's kind of hidden.
Speaker A:And it's funny because when I went first went in there, there was like this space and I was like, what's going on with that space back there?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:It looks like as if nobody's not allowed to go back there.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:I boldly went back there.
Speaker A:And so it's like.
Speaker A:Clarence.
Speaker A:So when you walk in, of course you're gonna have men.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:And then women's.
Speaker A:And then there's this like.
Speaker A:Like this, like this door area where you think like, oh, that's employees only.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:But when you will look behind the wall from floor to ceiling is clearance shoes.
Speaker A:What?
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:Because why do you try to hide it, girl?
Speaker B:That's another thing.
Speaker B:Like if they're.
Speaker A:What?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So what caught my eye was like there were shoes because, you know, there's a.
Speaker A:What do you call it?
Speaker A:A register.
Speaker A:And then there was like a stack of shoes that was like a distance.
Speaker A:And that's what caught my eye.
Speaker A:And I was like, well, those shoes look like on sale, but that space looks like employees.
Speaker A:So I was like.
Speaker B:I was like in the cut.
Speaker B:Like, oh, yeah.
Speaker A:So I went in and then my mom found me and she went in and then my dad found me and then other customers followed.
Speaker A:They're like, we didn't know this was back here.
Speaker B:Patron setters.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:Because why are you trying to hide it from us?
Speaker B:Like they're on sale for a reason.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:So get rid of them.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:Employees were like, yeah, we want these after we're done with our hours.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:What else good.
Speaker B:Did you found that?
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:So there you go.
Speaker A:If you ever decide to check out there.
Speaker B:I'm gonna have to.
Speaker B:Yeah, I have to get as a ride to drive me because I don't drive, so.
Speaker A:It's okay.
Speaker A:It's all right.
Speaker B:He'll do it.
Speaker B:I gotta wait till I get paid, but okay.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:But I do like your outfit.
Speaker B:I. Banana Republic.
Speaker A:Of course.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:Me and Banana are having.
Speaker A:We're going through a moment right now.
Speaker A:This is actually from the men's.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker A:Banana.
Speaker A:I am tired of the bland one color T shirts.
Speaker A:Why do the men get designs and women have to have like pink, blue, purple.
Speaker A:Those are wonderful.
Speaker A:Banana.
Speaker A:I do appreciate them, but I will like pattern.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Like Ralph Lauren.
Speaker A:You Know, sometimes I. I like pattern.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So this is actually a men's shirt.
Speaker A:And then that lion that I wear from time to time, the blue one, that's also a men's shirt.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So I. I did one of those discoveries, you know, walking around like these, and I went to the men, and I was like, oh, here's the gold shirts.
Speaker A:And then my mom came, and then Jalen came.
Speaker B:You just put people on is what I'm hearing.
Speaker B:Because you have.
Speaker B:What was it?
Speaker B:Cole, Han, Banana Republic?
Speaker B:I'm gonna start following you.
Speaker B:If I go shopping, be like, look at these shirts.
Speaker B:Yeah, that is so funny.
Speaker A:And then my mom.
Speaker A:My mom likes the men's shirts better than the women's because she likes how the sleeve goes down further.
Speaker B:Me too, because why are they cutting at my armpits?
Speaker B:Like, my armpits are out and they're cut off.
Speaker B:Like, I'm sweating.
Speaker B:I need my armpits.
Speaker B:No, I agree.
Speaker B:That's so irritating.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So my mom likes the cut of how men's shirts go down.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker A:Then the women's shirts.
Speaker A:So that's what.
Speaker A:Comment that she said.
Speaker A:I was looking for more designs and patterns, and Jay was just a Gen Z, you know, just being a Gen Z.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:What you like is what you like.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:No, I'm with your mom on that.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:That's how it is.
Speaker B:Do you.
Speaker B:I don't know if you guys have Primark here.
Speaker B:Primark is, I'm pretty sure, originated in the UK because when I went to London, I went to London for a class trip when I was 18.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:When I was a senior high school.
Speaker B:But Primark is a store here, and it's a huge store, and it has, like, very affordable clothing.
Speaker B:But the question is always like, is how long is it going to last?
Speaker B:So I'm from Philly, so we have.
Speaker B:Anybody who knows is aware of the area King of Prussia Mall, which is, like, one of the biggest malls in the country, Might be, like, the third largest mall in the country.
Speaker B:It's huge.
Speaker B:It's massive.
Speaker B:And it has Primark.
Speaker B:And I will go there, and I will go in a women's section.
Speaker B:I'm like, be like, okay, let me get a few shirts.
Speaker B:Why did a sleeve stop at my collarbone?
Speaker B:I like, I don't get it.
Speaker B:It's supposed to be a T shirt.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:Not a halter top.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:And it would stop.
Speaker B:I'm like, I'm not doing this.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I'll go to the men's section.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Irritating.
Speaker B:But I'm grateful because I see how many stores, the many sections there are for women or women clothing.
Speaker B:And sometimes like, I see that there really aren't that much for like men.
Speaker B:Certain stores are, but like, there's.
Speaker B:So when I go through the mall, there's so many stores that are geared towards women.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:I'm like, that's kind of crazy.
Speaker B:So I feel like it would be difficult to shop as a man.
Speaker A:Men's fashion is sad.
Speaker A:I. I have to admit, like one day I was just sitting almost like y'.
Speaker A:All.
Speaker A:I know y' all got these shirts from different stores, but all these shirts look like the same striped square, the same colors, red, blue put together.
Speaker B:Yep.
Speaker A:I'm like, men's fashion in America needs a revival.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:And they be all wearing the same khaki shorts.
Speaker A:Come on, guys, come on.
Speaker B:Like, did y' all shop together?
Speaker B:Did you carpool?
Speaker B:I'm confused.
Speaker B:And that's not a knock on them.
Speaker B:I mean, and then things that they.
Speaker A:Think they're just getting what's available.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:And I understand that.
Speaker B:And I shouldn't even say that because they're probably.
Speaker B:There are things that women typically wear where men are like, how can you wear those?
Speaker B:Like, I don't know if you know, like bubble skirts.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:I got a bubble skirt before I knew that it was just that hated piece of fashion.
Speaker B:Yeah, I thought it was cute, you know, like I got it from Aerie and it was buy one, get one free.
Speaker B:So of course I was going to get that.
Speaker B:Cuz their skirts again are $60 when I could literally make it for $20.
Speaker B:But I was like, okay, let me get it.
Speaker B:And then I went on tick tock and men were like, if a woman's wearing a bubble skirt, I know to stay away.
Speaker B:Well, I'm like, I have a boyfriend, so stay away.
Speaker B:Anyway.
Speaker B:But I didn't know that people didn't like the bubble skirts.
Speaker B:And I'm like, dang.
Speaker B:So I. I mean, I don't know.
Speaker B:I guess they're just happy to wake up and put some clothes on maybe.
Speaker A:But I, I need men's fashion.
Speaker A:Have a revival.
Speaker A:I feel like they, they deserve.
Speaker A:Yeah, a revival.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:I don't know what it looks like.
Speaker A:I don't know what it is.
Speaker B:But yeah, I know there's always trends for women.
Speaker B:And then men are just.
Speaker A:I know.
Speaker A:They're just there.
Speaker A:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker A:They're just left behind.
Speaker B:I don't get it.
Speaker B:It's like, how can you expect them to do better when they're not Given the resources to do better.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:You know, and they're good, some good looking brothers, but they have to like.
Speaker A:But depending upon where you live, like the, the stores or fashions are available to you, like, clearly I enjoy going to Columbus for shopping.
Speaker A:I feel like it's my backyard or my front yard, whatever we call it.
Speaker B:You go to Easton Mall.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:I just went there for the first time.
Speaker B:It's very nice.
Speaker A:It is very nice.
Speaker A:Easton, the Polaris, because that one is like easier to get to, you know, off the highway.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:I enjoy those.
Speaker A:In Maryland, there was quite a bit more with the, with the malls and everything.
Speaker B:Chicago, Oh, I can't imagine.
Speaker A:Nashville.
Speaker A:Oh, and then when you're here in Dayton, it's just like, oh, Fairfield.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:They need to do better.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:Cuz what?
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:But you know, it, it's.
Speaker B:Honestly, I appreciate the fact that the good malls are a trip away because I won't go there as often.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Like if I live close to Easton.
Speaker B:You want to talk about actually being poor and broke?
Speaker B:I genuinely wouldn't have any money because I would have consistently be shopping.
Speaker B:You and me both, and I can't do that.
Speaker A:You and me both.
Speaker B:And I mean, there's no shame.
Speaker B:People always say, oh, it's time to spend money I don't have.
Speaker B:And some people do that and that's cool.
Speaker B:But it's like, should I buy groceries this week or should I go to aerie?
Speaker B:But I don't know.
Speaker B:Fashion is such a weird thing and I find it crazy now that people genuinely will wear whatever they want from whatever generation or whatever decade, and people just find a way to make it fashionable, make it acceptable.
Speaker B:But you can just wear so many different things in different decades.
Speaker B:And I mean, people might talk trash, but like, no one's truly going to care.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:So yeah, I found out that my grandmaster wore pantyhose.
Speaker B:And I'm like, I heard, I didn't.
Speaker A:Know this is coming back.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:And I'm like, really?
Speaker B:And I guess, I mean, I've never really wore pantyhose and I danced growing up, so I always wore tights, which was the closest thing to pantyhose.
Speaker B:She wears them underneath her pants.
Speaker B:She wears them just with anything.
Speaker A:Oh, wow.
Speaker B:I'm like shout out to you.
Speaker B:Because it just gives more of a formal look.
Speaker B:She says.
Speaker B:And I get that.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Also probably just like the job she has.
Speaker B:She works for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, so understandable that she's always dressed very nicely.
Speaker B:And she's one of the few People of color in that office.
Speaker B:So it's like, if you don't even dress a certain way, you're already, you know, looked down upon.
Speaker B:God forbid, a buns on loose.
Speaker B:Oh, my gosh.
Speaker B:Like, calm down.
Speaker B:But that's a different story.
Speaker B:But, yeah, she'll wear pantyhose with pants, and she has flats on, and I'm like, just, like, webbing it between your feet.
Speaker B:And those are her pantyhose.
Speaker B:Took me down to realize that I just never understood.
Speaker B:And I was like, she just.
Speaker B:It gives her that complete finished look.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Wow.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:We just went off on a tangent.
Speaker B:We really did.
Speaker A:But this is how.
Speaker A:What we normally do anyways, we just start at point A, and then we wrap around, and then somehow we get.
Speaker B:Back to point A. I want to say it's a full circle.
Speaker A:It is a full circle with us.
Speaker A:Oh, goodness.
Speaker A:Let's see here.
Speaker A:I'm looking at my notes.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker A:Like, we really.
Speaker A:We really went on.
Speaker A:We really went on a.
Speaker A:A whole other level.
Speaker A:Let me see here.
Speaker A:Oh, you did.
Speaker B:But I wanted to go based off what you were going to talk about.
Speaker A:Let's.
Speaker A:Because we already talked about my notes last time.
Speaker B:I know, but I still.
Speaker B:I mean, it's your podcast, so I wanted to, like.
Speaker A:But you're my guest.
Speaker B:True.
Speaker A:If you want Cheetos, have Cheetos.
Speaker A:If you want fruits and vegetables, have fruits and vegetables.
Speaker B:I'll take the Cheetos.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:We kind of.
Speaker B:We talked about this, and I feel like I keep coming back to it, but just talking about the Beatitudes, and I just.
Speaker B:I keep going Back to Matthew 5.
Speaker A:Oh, yes.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:I was.
Speaker B:I was with my boyfriend, and we were talking about it also last night.
Speaker B:Wait, what should I start with?
Speaker B:Let me go back.
Speaker B:Let me start with what happened last night.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:So I. I watched Grenfell Tower.
Speaker B:Oh, yes.
Speaker B:Oh, my gosh.
Speaker B:Beyond sad.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:Beyond unfortunate.
Speaker B:Angering.
Speaker B:I just.
Speaker B:From the first, like, shot they showed of the tower, I was almost in tears because I was like, that's insane.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I mean, I watched, like, Chicago pd, Chicago Fire, so, like, I would like to think I know a little bit about fires.
Speaker B:I remember thinking, there's no way that tower should have gone up in flames as quick as it did.
Speaker B:And that's what I thought when I first seen the first clip.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:I was like, that's genius.
Speaker B:It's like someone literally just put gasoline on the tower and lit a flame.
Speaker B:Like, that's what it looked like.
Speaker A:And nobody was prepared.
Speaker A:Like, nobody.
Speaker A:Like, the residents Obviously, the firefighters, even the command center, because they're like, they didn't have tv, so they couldn't.
Speaker A:They didn't see what was going on.
Speaker A:So it was like a failure at every step of the door.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:And to see the scapegoating and the blaming of people and one company making a statement of blaming the next company.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:I mean, it was to be expected.
Speaker B:That's how you're going to react.
Speaker B:But I think what really got me was the stay put part that threw me off.
Speaker B:Because here.
Speaker B:And just like when I've grown up, there's a fire, you do not stay put.
Speaker B:You don't hide.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:You leave.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:So the fact that their policy will stay put, and that policy was based on the thought that these high rises are made to not burn.
Speaker B:So if you do stay put, you're better off.
Speaker A:Right, Right.
Speaker B:But the foundation of that is based on.
Speaker B:Okay, the companies have done what they're supposed to do to make sure that if one.
Speaker B:One unit catches fire, the others don't.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:And if that were the case they put would actually be effective.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:I wouldn't follow it because you're not going to tell me that the thing next to me is on fire and I'm staying put.
Speaker B:I'm getting out of there.
Speaker B:I'm grabbing my dogs and I'm getting out.
Speaker B:Like, I'm not staying put.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:But to just see the way people put trust into individuals and human beings.
Speaker B:But I watched that.
Speaker B:And afterwards, I don't know if it's because I watched that or just happened to overlap, but I remember watching that.
Speaker B:I remember I got up to go to the bathroom and it was like, maybe like 15 minutes after I'd watched that.
Speaker B:I was like, okay, let me go to the bathroom, whatever.
Speaker B:It was getting late.
Speaker B:And then I just felt this.
Speaker B:And it was also after I'd had this very weird dream about a family member who's passed away.
Speaker B:He was.
Speaker B:He was my cousin, but we pretty much grew up together.
Speaker B:Lived together for some time.
Speaker B:His name was Johnny and he passed away when he was 14.
Speaker B:He had meningitis and he sadly passed away.
Speaker B:And I remember I had a dream right before I watched that documentary, I had a dream about him that he had come back.
Speaker B:And I thought, like, you know, I saw him.
Speaker B:I was giving him a hug and stuff like that, but he was not trying to talk to me.
Speaker B:And I was like, why are you trying to talk to me?
Speaker B:Like, he just.
Speaker B:There was so much negativity.
Speaker B:And I was like, the last time I Saw you was at a birthday party, and then you passed away.
Speaker B:Like, I'm happy to see you.
Speaker B:So after that dream of watching the documentary, I felt this extremely weird and unnerving, like, presence around me.
Speaker B:When I felt that, I said, oh, no.
Speaker B:Whatever that is, you need to get away from me, because no one should play like that.
Speaker B:Like, I really don't play like that.
Speaker B:Like, if I feel any presence, I'm leaving.
Speaker B:Wow.
Speaker B:Like, some evil.
Speaker B:I don't know what it was.
Speaker B:It was just.
Speaker B:It was an evil presence that I knew was not supposed to be there.
Speaker A:That's really interesting, because I had a dream.
Speaker A:You said that that was last night.
Speaker A:I had a dream the night before, and I didn't know the people, and my daughter was like a toddler.
Speaker A:And I think that represented the innocence of somebody.
Speaker A:But two people committed suicide in my dream.
Speaker B:Really?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And I don't even know.
Speaker A:So it's interesting how you had that and then I had it the night before.
Speaker A:So I feel like there's somebody.
Speaker A:I don't know.
Speaker A:I'm still trying to understand dreams, and I feel like there may be, because I'm like, who?
Speaker A:And I think it's a representation of something.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:And I feel like, who is.
Speaker A:What is happening, what's around?
Speaker A:So for you to have that dream and then feel that presence last night is really.
Speaker A:It's kind of putting my ear up.
Speaker A:Like, oh, something's.
Speaker A:Something's happening.
Speaker B:It.
Speaker B:And I was trying to explain to my boyfriend, and I was like, he's gonna think I'm crazy.
Speaker B:But I'm like, no, he's not.
Speaker B:But I felt like I was crazy.
Speaker B:But I explained.
Speaker B:I was like, there feels like there's someone watching me.
Speaker B:And it felt like there was death in the air.
Speaker B:And I was getting scared, and I was getting anxious.
Speaker B:And it got to the point where I was, okay, let me go to the kitchen.
Speaker B:And I still felt that.
Speaker B:And it got to the point where I was looking over my shoulder, expecting something to be there.
Speaker B:This is embarrassing.
Speaker B:It got to the point where I was running back and forth.
Speaker B:I was like, okay, turn off the light.
Speaker B:Run back to the room.
Speaker B:Because I was afraid something was gonna happen.
Speaker B:I just.
Speaker B:That's.
Speaker B:It's one thing to have worldly fears.
Speaker B:Like, as you know, I can't stand spiders.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Like, I'm terrified of spiders.
Speaker B:And we were talking about how spiders might be in heaven.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:I'm have to talk to God about that, because I know I'm not gonna have fear in heaven.
Speaker B:And Obviously, that's like a worldly fear.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:But that feeling last night goes beyond any fear of a plane.
Speaker B:I don't like planes.
Speaker B:I don't like spiders.
Speaker B:Those are my two biggest fears that goes beyond those fears because it just.
Speaker B:I didn't know what was there, and it felt like the most evil presence, and it felt like there was death in the air.
Speaker B:And I was convinced.
Speaker B:I was like, oh, my gosh, I'm not gonna make it through the night.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I went back in.
Speaker B:My boyfriend, he was asleep, and I said.
Speaker B:I woke him up.
Speaker B:I said, yo, we gotta pray, because I don't know what's going on.
Speaker B:I was like, I need you to pray with me.
Speaker B:And I just.
Speaker B:I don't know what's going on.
Speaker B:He's half asleep and he's like, huh?
Speaker B:And I'm like, I love you, and I know you're asleep, but please wake up, because I'm about to turn.
Speaker B:I'm sorry.
Speaker B:About to start panicking, and he woke up and he was like, get on your knees.
Speaker B:And he got on his knees and we started praying, and he just started rebuking, whatever that feeling was.
Speaker B:And a lot of times, like, he'll pray and I'll pray out loud, too, and we'll just pray out loud together, but I just had to sit there and just listen to him and then also, like, tune back in with what I was praying about.
Speaker B:And we prayed for, like, I would say, like, five to 10 minutes, which is not the longest, but it's longer than I thought it would have been.
Speaker B:And he was just praying for, like, protection and praying that whatever spirit that was just to be erased.
Speaker B:And after praying, I did feel better, but I just.
Speaker B:That feeling last night, I haven't had that feeling in such a long time.
Speaker B:And not to that extent.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Because in my dream, Jalen was young, and I was trying to shield them.
Speaker A:Like, don't look.
Speaker A:Don't look.
Speaker A:But I remember I had a dream with my brother, and he was young and he was sad, and I was like, why are you sad?
Speaker A:And then in the morning, I was like, let me call my brother.
Speaker A:And so I called him, and he had a dream about me.
Speaker A:And so if I didn't have that dream to check up on my brother, I don't think I would have had.
Speaker A:It was reciprocated, you know, for him to be able to.
Speaker A:So for you to have.
Speaker A:I had something.
Speaker A:And then I wonder if it's.
Speaker A:If the two are connected.
Speaker A:I don't know.
Speaker A:I gotta pray about it.
Speaker B:I know.
Speaker B:And that's why I've turned.
Speaker B:I mean, I. I'm.
Speaker B:I grew up, or I didn't really grow up turning to prayer as much as I do it now.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I knew that when I felt that presence, I said, let me just go sit down.
Speaker B:But I'm like, no, I need to pray, because that's the only thing that's going to help.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And even with the podcast, I was like, azariah, I'm kind of afraid.
Speaker B:Like, I don't know.
Speaker B:I don't know what I should say.
Speaker B:Like, with talking points.
Speaker B:And I was like, I just.
Speaker B:I was getting anxious.
Speaker B:I was getting nervous as anybody would.
Speaker B:And he was like, you need to pray now.
Speaker B:Old me would have been like, can you give me your real answer?
Speaker B:And that's horrible to admit, but I'm like, I know I need to pray, but can you, like, give me words of encouragement?
Speaker B:But he was like, the only answer there is is to pray about it and to just ask God for guidance.
Speaker B:So a lot of times I. I tend not to turn to prayer and to ask God for guidance instead of relying on my worldly distinctions and what I believe in.
Speaker B:Because for me to be like, n. You can do this, Nala.
Speaker B:You got this.
Speaker B:It's only going to go so far.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I don't know.
Speaker B:I just.
Speaker B:I prayed to God.
Speaker B:I don't have that feeling for a long time.
Speaker B:Such a horrible feeling.
Speaker B:But it.
Speaker B:It's necessary because it also, for me, I was like, okay, this is also God telling me not to get too comfortable because I feel like I've been getting too comfortable.
Speaker B:I haven't been praying as much.
Speaker B:I've been opening my Bible as much.
Speaker B:I haven't been dedicating time to him as much.
Speaker B:Like, he's always on my mind.
Speaker B:I'm always thinking of him, which, you know, is enough to an extent.
Speaker B:But it's like, I'm not showing.
Speaker B:My actions are not showing that I truly want to benefit from God and truly want to deepen my belief in him.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So for me, that was also to him, not God telling me, because that was.
Speaker B:That was from down there.
Speaker B:That was like Satan.
Speaker B:He was slithering his way through.
Speaker B:And I was like, okay.
Speaker B:And he does not get too comfortable.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:It also reminded me that not every presence is from God and not like, the devil does play a part in our lives.
Speaker B:And that's something I didn't really grow up knowing.
Speaker B:I grew up knowing, oh, the devil, he's down below.
Speaker B:He's Satan.
Speaker B:He was Kicked out of heaven.
Speaker B:Like, you know, the basics, but at least with my understanding and what.
Speaker B:I've always grown up as a Catholic, we don't talk as.
Speaker B:We don't talk so much about the presence of saying and that not all blessings are from God.
Speaker B:That's not taught.
Speaker B:At least it wasn't taught for me.
Speaker B:So now that I go to my.
Speaker B:My boyfriend's church and he's apostolic and we talk so much more about the enemy and about what he's able to do.
Speaker B:We talk more about discernment.
Speaker B:Now I feel like I actually understand more about it.
Speaker B:So knowing that I had to pray once, I felt that was definitely.
Speaker B:I knew it was a step closer.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I knew that I was actually doing something beneficial by praying.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Rather than just being told to pray and just praying just because you've been told to.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So, yeah, now I don't have to get too comfortable.
Speaker A:Yeah, I'll pray for you over that one.
Speaker A:I remember there was a couple of dreams that you were talking that.
Speaker A:That I had, and one of them was, I am friends with somebody and I had a dream where.
Speaker A:This is going to sound really weird.
Speaker A:It was a pregnant woman.
Speaker A:It was two pregnant women.
Speaker A:I was like in court and so I was advocating for a pregnant woman.
Speaker A:And then they're like, yeah, sure, you know, let, let, let's.
Speaker A:Let's help them out.
Speaker A:And then, then there was the other one, and they're like, nope.
Speaker A:And I was like, whoa.
Speaker A:And I was like, you know, being a lawyer like this.
Speaker A:And the other.
Speaker A:Are we supposed to help out?
Speaker A:And they're like, no.
Speaker A:And I had a church member and I was really confused.
Speaker A:I was like, what does this mean?
Speaker A:And so it ended up being that they're two spirits and one is.
Speaker A:Is being allowed to be in and another spirit, because there is.
Speaker A:Is not being allowed in.
Speaker A:So there are two spirits that are asking to be in the same space.
Speaker A:And so that was one.
Speaker A:And then.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah, guidance.
Speaker A:That's what the one you're talking about.
Speaker A:So then I had one dream where the person was.
Speaker A:We were in a store.
Speaker A:And so the person.
Speaker A:God, you know those motorized cards at the grocery store?
Speaker B:Those are the bane of my existence.
Speaker B:That sounded horrible.
Speaker B:No, I.
Speaker B:Sorry, go ahead.
Speaker B:I just.
Speaker B:I always get people always trying to run me over and then they die and it gets stuck and I have to bring them back when I was a.
Speaker B:A cashier.
Speaker B:But I'm sorry, go ahead.
Speaker A:Oh, I didn't know it.
Speaker B:Yeah, I would have to bring them back.
Speaker B:And then they Would die.
Speaker B:So I had to push it.
Speaker B:Yeah, but go ahead.
Speaker A:I'm sorry, I thought you were thinking of a shopper.
Speaker A:And they were hit.
Speaker A:People running into you.
Speaker B:That too.
Speaker B:PTSD in all different forms.
Speaker A:And so they got the cart, but I was putting it back, and they were frustrated with me putting it back, even though they were the ones that got it in the first place.
Speaker A:So then we were walking the mall.
Speaker A:Big mall.
Speaker A:Don't know which mall, but it was big.
Speaker A:And my legs were cramping.
Speaker A:And I was like, I need to walk faster in order to stretch on my legs.
Speaker A:So as I'm walking faster, I'm feeling better.
Speaker A:And then in the process, people are coming up to me.
Speaker A:So, like, oh, I got a question.
Speaker A:Or there's some praise, or, you know, we're like, fellowshipping for a little bit.
Speaker A:And I look back and they're still behind me.
Speaker A:They're not even attempting to catch up.
Speaker A:So I get to a point where I'm outside of the mall and it's a parade, and all I can think of is the person who's still in the mall.
Speaker A:And I was like, I wonder how I'm gonna get home.
Speaker A:I'm worried about my ride.
Speaker A:And there's this big parade.
Speaker A:And so, like a flash mob.
Speaker A:No, it was just like.
Speaker B:Just like people were just standing there.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:It was a genuine parade.
Speaker A:Like, people standing and then people in vehicles, like, going.
Speaker A:Like a typical parade.
Speaker B:Interesting.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And so I told a church member, and this is what with.
Speaker A:What you're trying to describe is if you are following in Christ.
Speaker A:And when I was telling about that, that was my confirmation that I was following in Christ.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And the other person is not.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Because they were left behind.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And they were still.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:Because they chose not to catch up.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:And here I am continuing and receiving, being fed, but they're.
Speaker A:They're still walking the same speed.
Speaker B:Wow.
Speaker A:So hopefully I pray that you will be able to.
Speaker A:To at least God will let you know, like, yeah, you're doing all right.
Speaker B:I hope so.
Speaker B:Because after that last night, I was like.
Speaker B:I was.
Speaker B:It was to the point I was like, let me go.
Speaker B:Let me go run my happy behind to the chapel.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Even though it was like, I don't know, 12 something at night or 12am, I guess.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:And as you get older, you start to realize dreams do tell you things and God is speaking to you.
Speaker B:So I remember, like, there used to be this search engine growing up as a kid, and you could put your dream in will Give you a meaning.
Speaker B:And obviously it wasn't based within Christianity or anything.
Speaker B:It was just like, if you had a dream about clouds, this is what this means.
Speaker B:But now that I'm actually able to connect my dreams to God and to what I believe in, I'm like, there are things that I need to pay attention to in my dreams.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:You may have some wild ones.
Speaker A:I'd be having some.
Speaker B:That.
Speaker A:The reason why I restarted this podcast was because I had a wild dream.
Speaker A:And I was like, what does this mean?
Speaker A:And she was like, you should be teaching again.
Speaker A:I was like, what?
Speaker A:Stop.
Speaker A:I put a piano through a car wash.
Speaker B:I remember you said that.
Speaker A:I was just like, what does this mean?
Speaker B:Like a grand piano.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:It's a real car wash. And then as I was drying it, before I could dry it, my old body was on the piano.
Speaker A:And so I'm moving my body.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And I'm making fun of myself.
Speaker A:And I was just like, look at this.
Speaker A:And my body is like, it's very zombie life.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:And I'm like, moving my old body out of the way.
Speaker A:Like, here, have a seat right here on this bench.
Speaker A:And I'm making fun of myself.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:And I'm like, what does this mean?
Speaker B:Because.
Speaker B:What does it mean?
Speaker B:You know?
Speaker B:And it's like, from a worldly standpoint, you're like, this is what this means.
Speaker B:But then it's like, let me dive deeper, right?
Speaker B:And let me pray about it.
Speaker B:Let me read some scriptures to actually make those connections.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Dreams are.
Speaker B:There's, there's.
Speaker B:They can be very scary and nerve wracking.
Speaker B:But after that, I was like, God, I just want to dream about food and clouds and stuff.
Speaker B:Because after those dreams, I mean, I know you're teaching me things, but sometimes I'm like, I need a break.
Speaker A:I understand.
Speaker A:Because I get warnings.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:You don't.
Speaker A:I. I don't want you in my dreams at all.
Speaker A:The only time I had a really good dream was with Mary Ellen, remember?
Speaker B:I don't know if I heard this one.
Speaker B:Mary Ellen.
Speaker A:Oh, wait, yes, I do.
Speaker B:You told me about this one.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:And I'm like, jumping on house.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:And I'm like, Mary Ellen, like, life is bliss.
Speaker A:To tell you you were in my dream.
Speaker A:That was the only time.
Speaker A:But if I dream about you, it's not a good thing.
Speaker A:Like, it's a warning.
Speaker A:It's danger.
Speaker A:Something bad's about to happen.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:And I'd be like, can I have a dream about somebody winning the lottery?
Speaker B:Me.
Speaker B:It can't be me.
Speaker B:I know.
Speaker B:I'm like, can I?
Speaker B:That's so true.
Speaker B:Yeah, that.
Speaker B:That is true.
Speaker B:But I think it's because we.
Speaker B:We become fearful.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I'm trying to be less fearful and just more aware, but that's difficult to do.
Speaker B:I know you have.
Speaker B:Especially about loved ones.
Speaker B:Yeah, especially.
Speaker B:They're not even here anymore.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Like.
Speaker B:And that's why I'm like.
Speaker B:I was just.
Speaker B:I was like, why am I having this dream about Johnny?
Speaker B:Because.
Speaker B:Yes, he had.
Speaker B:When he was here, he had such.
Speaker B:He was just such an amazing person.
Speaker B:And he was.
Speaker B:He was like a brother.
Speaker B:I mean, we grew up together, we lived together.
Speaker B:And just.
Speaker B:Just to know that.
Speaker B:I mean, he's not here anymore.
Speaker B:I know he was called home early for a certain reason, because to get meningitis at 14 and to, like, he was perfectly fine.
Speaker B:We.
Speaker B:I remember we had a birthday party for my younger brother Max on Sunday.
Speaker B:Saw him on Sunday, perfectly fine.
Speaker B:And then he passed away Tuesday morning.
Speaker B:So for that, like, to happen, for him to get sick on Monday and then to pass away Tuesday, I mean, it was quick.
Speaker B:No one was expecting it.
Speaker B:So to know that he was called home so early, I'm just like, okay, he's up there.
Speaker B:He's doing what he's supposed to be doing.
Speaker B:Like, there's a reason why he was called home so early.
Speaker B:But then to have that dream.
Speaker B:I've always had positive dreams about Johnny, but when I had that dream, I was just.
Speaker B:I was confused and I was.
Speaker B:It was sickening.
Speaker B:I mean, no one wants to have that dream.
Speaker B:And he had a sister who's like my sister.
Speaker B:We call her Spooky because she's born a day before Halloween.
Speaker B:So she just finished her freshman year at Howard.
Speaker B:So I know, I'm so proud of her.
Speaker B:But they were.
Speaker B:They were siblings.
Speaker B:That was her brother.
Speaker B:So I've always have only had positive dreams about him and positive dreams about Spooky.
Speaker B:But then when I had that dream about Johnny, I was like, I don't know what's going on.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I don't know if it's also because I watched a documentary and to know, like, 72 people did die.
Speaker B:And maybe I just was so focused on that.
Speaker B:And then I was watching other documentaries.
Speaker B:People have passed away to then have that feeling.
Speaker B:I was like, you know, let me turn on the Testament of Moses.
Speaker B:Let me stop watching these documentaries.
Speaker B:So I'm probably going to take a break from watching those, which makes me upset because I just told you.
Speaker B:I was like, I want to get back into documentaries and stuff.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah, there's.
Speaker B:There's so many different ones.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:But I'm a criminal justice major, so it's like, I. I'm.
Speaker B:I want to watch Dateline.
Speaker B:We were just talking about Dateline.
Speaker B:Like, I go down a rabbit hole.
Speaker B:I want to watch Dateline and watch those ones.
Speaker B:I'm like, none of them gonna be feeling presences after, you know, like, Dayline can wait.
Speaker A:Well, you know, but that.
Speaker A:That's what I did with Sinners.
Speaker B:The movie.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, that's what I did with Sinners because my boyfriend wanted to watch it and I knew how to be at work, you know, the next day, and I said, I was like, I. I can't.
Speaker A:I can't do this right now.
Speaker A:Because.
Speaker A:Because I knew what that movie would.
Speaker A:Would do to me.
Speaker A:And so we ended up watching it over the weekend.
Speaker A:But I mean.
Speaker A:I mean, the movie was good.
Speaker A:It was great.
Speaker A:I mean, I. I thought it was gonna be more horror, but it wasn't.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:But the vampires were just a representation of a spirit.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:But it's.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker A:It's enough to make you feel uncomfortable.
Speaker B:No, it really is.
Speaker B:Like, have you up out of your seat especially, like.
Speaker B:And did.
Speaker B:So you saw it on a weekend.
Speaker B:Did you see the movie theater or.
Speaker A:Did you see it at home?
Speaker B:Okay, I saw it in a movie theater twice.
Speaker A:Oh, wow.
Speaker B:So, I mean, it's on a big screen in my face, and I'm like, oh, my gosh, calm down, calm down.
Speaker B:Like I said, where I was like, should I get up and walk out?
Speaker B:But I was like, no, because I wanted to learn from it.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Some people really did feel very like they.
Speaker B:Some people said that they couldn't finish it.
Speaker B:I didn't get that feeling.
Speaker B:Like you said, it wasn't.
Speaker B:There wasn't horror, but the connection between biblical foundations and Christianity and then connecting that also to, like, post slavery and the racism that was within.
Speaker B:And just like a little.
Speaker B:The scene with the Native Americans arriving to the house and trying to warn them, and just there was so much with it, and there's.
Speaker B:It's just seeing, like, different communities and how they had Asian people within there and then had black people.
Speaker B:So, like, there was so much in there within Christianity and race, certain relationships, and I think they did a good job integrating that.
Speaker A:They did.
Speaker B:And without creating a horror movie.
Speaker B:Now, that guy, what was his name?
Speaker B:I can't remember the main one.
Speaker B:The main vampire at the end.
Speaker A:Oh.
Speaker B:Oh, I can't remember his name, but he Was creepy.
Speaker A:He was.
Speaker B:He was ext.
Speaker B:And I think it's because of.
Speaker B:Because of his.
Speaker B:Of his presence and because of his demonic.
Speaker B:Like, he was creepy, but not because of, like, oh, jump scare.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:Because it was what he was after.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:Like, ooh, I've been craving.
Speaker A:It wasn't like, the fact that he was craving for the character's blood.
Speaker A:Like.
Speaker A:Like in vampire movies.
Speaker A:He was like, I'm not craving for blood.
Speaker A:It was like he was craving for his.
Speaker A:His talent.
Speaker A:He wanted to take away his purpose.
Speaker A:And I think that's like.
Speaker A:But, you know, even the father.
Speaker A:If people.
Speaker A:I'm sorry, spoilers.
Speaker A:But even the father in the end, because it was kind of like it.
Speaker A:It goes both ways.
Speaker A:Because, yeah, it's like, that's the devil's music.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:I mean, but it was just kind of like he had a purpose.
Speaker A:He felt that he was called to do something, and then two sides are trying to stop him from his purpose.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And it is like when one of the twins was telling him, you need.
Speaker B:You're not going to Chicago.
Speaker B:Like, you need to go back home and just be there.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:Was trying to protect him from those spirits.
Speaker B:And then it's.
Speaker B:I don't.
Speaker B:People have disag.
Speaker B:They disagree about certain things.
Speaker B:But for me, music and rap, if.
Speaker B:Depends on what you're talking about and why you're doing it.
Speaker B:People.
Speaker B:I mean, a lot of people think, oh, rap is the devil's music, but it's what you're talking about within it.
Speaker B:Because my boyfriend, he does Christian rap.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So it's why you're doing it, what you're talking about, and what you truly feel behind it and that.
Speaker B:That creates the different paths of what.
Speaker B:Like, what path you're going down.
Speaker B:Are you going down the path of greed and all these different horrible sins that can come about with rap music?
Speaker B:Or are you doing it for God and you're doing it for a true divine purpose?
Speaker B:But, yeah, that.
Speaker B:I had to see that movie twice because there was so much to unpack.
Speaker A:And there is.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:I saw it with my friend Kalia, and then I saw it with Azariah, and he was like, I love the movie.
Speaker B:And he understood more from just seeing it the first time than I did because he's.
Speaker B:He's his walk with crisis.
Speaker B:He has more.
Speaker B:I feel like, probably discernment.
Speaker B:He's able to understand things quicker than I am, especially with biblical foundations.
Speaker B:But, yeah, it's a.
Speaker B:It's a good movie.
Speaker B:And I'm not like a huge Michael B. Jordan fan.
Speaker B:I don't.
Speaker B:It's not that I don't like his acting, but, like, when people, like, lose their minds over him, I don't.
Speaker B:And people that do, that's cool.
Speaker B:Like, that's fine.
Speaker B:I mean, to each their own.
Speaker B:But, like, I've.
Speaker B:I don't know, I just, I never do.
Speaker B:But he did an amazing job in that.
Speaker B:And to.
Speaker B:To play two different characters at the same time, people are like, what do you mean?
Speaker B:I said.
Speaker B:I was like.
Speaker B:I remember I said to my friend, I was like, that's so crazy.
Speaker B:And so much talent he has that he was able to play two different characters.
Speaker B:Like, he's an actor.
Speaker B:That's his job.
Speaker B:But I'm like, you can still give props.
Speaker B:Twitter do.
Speaker B:Like, that's a difficult thing to do when you're playing in the same movie in the same time span.
Speaker B:But then to switch different characters, you know, like, it's one thing to act as one character for a two hour movie, but to switch characters and then they look alike because they're twins, like, that has to be confusing.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And they have completely different personalities.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:So he did an amazing job.
Speaker B:Props to him.
Speaker B:He's never going to see this, but props to all of them.
Speaker A:But I agree.
Speaker A:I don't want to Forget you're Matthew 5.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:I. Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:Cause I started to get off on other stuff.
Speaker B:I'll be quick.
Speaker A:No, it was good.
Speaker B:It was.
Speaker A:It was.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Well, when we do our podcast with ikeara, there's so many things we can talk about.
Speaker B:Oh, my God, I'm excited.
Speaker A:We're not.
Speaker A:We're gonna need more than an hour.
Speaker B:Oh, I know.
Speaker B:I'm setting aside like a day.
Speaker B:I just.
Speaker B:The Beatitudes and talking about how.
Speaker A:My.
Speaker B:Boyfriend, he asked me a question, which is.
Speaker B:I felt so happy, just happy that he asked because typically I'm going to him.
Speaker B:Like, sometimes I feel like he's like my biblical encyclopedia.
Speaker B:I'm like, what does the scripture mean?
Speaker B:What does this mean?
Speaker B:What do you think this means?
Speaker B:Well, he came to me and he was like, do you think the Beatitudes are for us to follow, or are they a guideline and principles that people that are in heaven or that are going to go to heaven, that they followed?
Speaker B:And I was like, I think it's both.
Speaker B:I think it's easy to misinterpret the Beatitudes as guidelines and principles that we should follow as people on earth.
Speaker B:But reading it and reading it, just reading past, I think it's.
Speaker B:It's Matthew 5 and I think is verse 3 through 10, 10 if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker B:But reading the scriptures prior to that and then reading them after just lets you know that these are the guidelines and these are the principles and characteristics of people that are in heaven or that people are, that are going to go to heaven.
Speaker B:So they're not just characteristics or principles that we should follow.
Speaker B:We shouldn't just be worried about.
Speaker B:This is a list that we want to follow.
Speaker B:So sometimes people just take them and they say if I do all of these things that I will be blessed and I will receive victory and I will, well, I will see God.
Speaker B:But these are also just characteristics of those people who will go to heaven, of these people that already are in heaven.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So such a complicated.
Speaker B:Everything with for me within the Bible is complicated because there's so many different meanings that people give and so many different interpretations.
Speaker B:So I have such a difficult time understanding scriptures that may be simple to others, even just certain translations like King James.
Speaker B:Like I'm reading, I'm reading poetry, I'm reading Shakespeare and I don't even like Shakespeare.
Speaker B:I feel like I'm literally reading Shakespeare.
Speaker B:So sometimes I'm like, no, let me pull up NLT and King James is great, but sometimes I genuinely don't know what's being said.
Speaker B:Yeah, I'm like, what?
Speaker B:Yeah, what?
Speaker B:And I'm so focused on what's being said, I'm missing the meaning.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:I'm looking at what does this word mean?
Speaker B:I'm looking up at the saurus.
Speaker B:What is the synonym for this?
Speaker B:What's an antonym for this so I can know what I'm talking about.
Speaker B:About.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:But yeah, I just, I find so much comfort in the Beatitudes.
Speaker B:And as a kid in Catholic school we would talk about them and we're taught them and there's eight of them and you know, we would go through them.
Speaker B:But to actually like read them and to understand there's a certain level of comfort you receive from them.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I mean I like reading out of Matthew.
Speaker B:One of my favorites is definitely I like Corinthians, 1 Corinthians, probably 1 of my favorite books.
Speaker B:But I do like reading out of Matthew as well.
Speaker A:I love Matthew.
Speaker A:Matthew is one of my favorite gospels.
Speaker A:Same just cuz he put so much information.
Speaker A:Proverbs is my least favorite book.
Speaker B:Really.
Speaker A:I went through Proverbs and I said, I hate this.
Speaker A:This is choppy to me.
Speaker B:Really.
Speaker A:It's like, love your mom.
Speaker A:Don't do this.
Speaker A:Yeah, don't do that.
Speaker A:Stop.
Speaker A:I. I wish it was more poetry.
Speaker A:Like.
Speaker A:Like Psalms.
Speaker B:Gotcha.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Interesting.
Speaker A:Just.
Speaker A:I just feel like it's very cut.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Don't go with the women who drink.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Like, can we be more deeper than that?
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:And I say that because it's like, throughout the entire book.
Speaker A:Like, chapters are different.
Speaker A:Like, there's more of a story.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Like, David put on armor.
Speaker A:David couldn't do the armor.
Speaker A:And, you know, I was like.
Speaker A:But then.
Speaker A:But in Proverbs, it's not like that.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:That's like a chapter is like line one, line two.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:Line three.
Speaker B:I. I will agree.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:That's interesting you say that, because I've found I don't find much comfort in Proverbs.
Speaker B:But then I'm like, maybe that's not what it's for.
Speaker B:Like, certain books I find comfort in.
Speaker B:And I'm like, maybe this is just.
Speaker B:I need this to be cut and dry and to teach me.
Speaker B:So I try to get out of.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:You're not supposed.
Speaker B:We're not supposed to find comfort in every single book.
Speaker B:Like Romans.
Speaker B:Romans kind of scares me.
Speaker B:And because I'm Catholic, a lot of times they don't pull out of Romans because it says a lot of things about that we shouldn't do.
Speaker B:And I've been told before that traditional Catholics usually don't like to talk or pull scriptures out of Romans.
Speaker B:Don't know if that's true, but I just been told that.
Speaker B:But that is very much, like, to me, it's telling you what's right, what's wrong.
Speaker B:So I don't find comfort out of it.
Speaker B:I. I've become fearful, but it's a good type of fear.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So with Proverbs, I. I definitely agree with what you're saying, but I was like, you know, maybe it's not.
Speaker B:I don't like it.
Speaker B:Maybe I just need to like it for different reasons.
Speaker B:If I'm looking for a certain feeling, I'm not going to get it from this book.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:That's beautiful that your boyfriend came to you as iron sharpening iron.
Speaker B:Literally.
Speaker A:Oh, my gosh, this hour went so quick.
Speaker B:I know it did.
Speaker B:I'm sad.
Speaker B:I'm, like, looking at the time and I'm sad.
Speaker B:I want to go to my appointment.
Speaker A:I know about.
Speaker A:About.
Speaker B:Do they need me?
Speaker A:Well, Grandma, I mean, yeah, whatever you want to do.
Speaker B:I want to be here for more decades.
Speaker B:I guess I gotta go.
Speaker A:Well, I am Ashley, and this is Nala.
Speaker A:I appreciate you.
Speaker A:I love you, sister.
Speaker A:And I pray for you.
Speaker A:I love you.
Speaker A:And I'll see you guys next time.
Speaker A:Bye.
Speaker B:Bye.
Speaker B:Bye.
