ETC S3E02 Blog: Road Tripping, Camping, and Conversations on Faith: Catching Up with Friends After a Summer Apart
Oct 6, 2023
The end of summer often signals a return to routine and reconnecting with friends you haven't seen for a while. For Michael, Chad, and Doug, it was a chance to catch up on their summer adventures and dive into deeper conversation.
These three friends took full advantage of the warmer months. Michael and his family went on an epic 5-week, cross-country camping trip visiting national parks. Chad also embarked on a camping trip up to Glacier National Park. Doug meanwhile spent the summer overseas.
Swapping travel stories led naturally to reflections on faith. All three friends have roots in the Restoration Movement, a Christian tradition that emerged in the early 19th century. They discussed what it means to identify with this tradition today. There was thoughtful wrestling with notions of Christian unity, praying for revival, and navigating institutions and denominations.
While acknowledging tensions, the friends kept coming back to finding connection points. As Michael put it, "There’s something about what’s happening in this congregation that has proven to be attractive in the best sense of the term, attractive to people coming from all sorts of Christian backgrounds.”
Though the conversation was filled with weighty topics, levity emerged too. Michael and Doug updated each other on upcoming writing projects. Michael just had a book published in June and has another one underway. Doug is making progress on his dissertation. Jokes were made about whether people actually take the time to read the books they buy.
The beauty of this podcast lies in the authentic back-and-forth between friends. It sounds like three people picking up right where they left off. Questions are raised, experiences are shared, faith is discussed—all in a spirit of honesty and goodwill. The mix of summer adventures, reflections on Christian tradition, and good-natured humor makes for a thoughtful yet casually enjoyable listen.
The next time you reconnect with old friends, follow Michael, Chad, and Doug's example. Swap travel stories, discuss meaningful topics, and most importantly, just appreciate the gift of friendship. Wherever you are on your faith journey, having people to share the road with makes all the difference.