S17 E10 - Cultivating Unity
Abiding Together
In this episode, we conclude our series on the garden of our hearts and explore what it means to cultivate unity—which is especially important as we enter the busy and often stressful holiday season. We talk about the difference between anger and contempt and how contempt can not only fracture relationships but also plant seeds of division in our hearts. We also reflect on how we can respond to discord with humility, a holy curiosity, and a genuine desire to understand. Ultimately, unity begins with love, bears good fruit, and reflects the presence of Christ within us. Heather’s One...
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S17 E9 - Cultivating Beauty
Abiding Together
In this episode, we continue our series on the Garden of Our Hearts and talk about the cultivation of beauty. Beauty has the power to transform, heal, and lift us into communion with God, but it must be cultivated with care and intention. We discuss what it means to co-create with God, slow down and savor little moments, and rediscover beauty in the people closest to us. Even when the world around us feels barren or artificial, the Lord invites us to see beauty with new eyes and let the Holy Spirit reveal His presence in unexpected ways. Heather’s One Thing - The designed by Every...
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S17 E8 - Cultivating Peace
Abiding Together
In this episode, we begin a series on cultivating the garden of our hearts and reflect on what it means to cultivate peace–as a fruit that grows from communion with God. The cultivation of peace is not something we control. It comes from learning to rest in God’s presence, even amid life’s storms. We talk practically about how to tend the soil of our hearts, so that peace can take root and grow into a fruit that becomes a visible witness to others. We also discuss how Jesus, the Prince of Peace, invites us to make room for His presence, allowing His breath to bring healing where fear and...
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S17 E7 - Staying Grounded When Storms Come
Abiding Together
In this episode, we talk about what it means to weather the storms of life well. Everyone experiences difficult moments throughout their lives and these storms come in all shapes and sizes. In each one, we have the opportunity to respond from a place of truth and peace instead of fear. We share practical ways we’ve learned to weather the storms in our own lives, from simplifying life to immersing ourselves in Scripture. We also explore how pain, though difficult, can lead us into deeper healing and communion with God. No matter what you’re facing, you are not alone—He is near, and so are...
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S17 E6 - Return to the Heart with Dr. Shane Owens
Abiding Together
In this episode, Dr. Shane Owens, a scholar of St. Augustine, joins us to discuss the power of memory. Together, we explore how memory is a place to where we withdraw to understand our identity, shape our whole self, and begin to see God working in our lives. Memory exists for the purpose of hope and we not only talk about how the Scriptures and Eucharist bear the memories of the Church, but also how our sorrowful memories can become sources of hope. Heather’s One Thing - (A conversation with Fr. Dave Pivonka and Dr. Shane Owens) Heather’s Other One Thing - Franciscan...
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S17 E5 - The Ministry of Presence
Abiding Together
In this episode, we talk about what it means to bring God’s Presence into our relationships with others. Through His life, Jesus shows us how to live at the pace of the Holy Spirit and create space for authentic connection. We explore how easy it is to overlook the significance of ordinary moments and how, through slowing the pace of our lives, we have powerful opportunities to love, listen, and become more attuned to those around us. We also discuss the importance of healthy boundaries, the freedom that comes from not needing to fix others, and how it’s God’s love that shapes how we...
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S17 E4 - Hope in Humanity
Abiding Together
In this episode, we explore the gift of tears and the importance of allowing ourselves to cry. We reflect on our experiences with crying and talk about how tears, especially in painful moments, can be a powerful expression of surrender, lament, and hope when offered to God. With the help of the Holy Spirit, our sensitivity and capacity to cry reflect the way we were beautifully created to respond to what breaks God's heart. We discuss the vulnerability of crying, the pain of resisting it, and how Jesus crying out on the cross reveals the value of our own cries. Whether you're too tired to cry,...
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S17 E3 - The Spirit Awakens Hope
Abiding Together
In this episode, we talk about how God is at work in our lives even when sorrow feels overwhelming. This Jubilee year of hope is still a light for us, especially when we feel stuck, overwhelmed, or tempted to despair. We talk about the “fatigue of living”, what happens when we isolate ourselves, and why the micromovements of our hearts are so important. God has not guaranteed us an easy life, but He abundantly offers us Himself. With Him, we can encounter Jesus deeply, allow the Spirit to help us overcome our fears, and journey through this life with more hope than we thought possible....
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S17 E2 - The Mysteries of Our Lives (Part 2)
Abiding Together
In this episode, we conclude our series by reflecting on the sorrowful and glorious mysteries of our lives. In the midst of our own sorrows, we talk about the mortification of authentic love, what it means to carry our cross, and how to be patient when a particular suffering seems endless. We also share the glorious ways God is working in our lives. From the beauty of color to raising our expectations in faith, we ponder how Jesus’ presence in the sufferings of our lives often restores us more deeply than if He simply just healed our pain. Heather’s One Thing - by Katie...
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S17 E1 - The Mysteries of Our Lives (Part 1)
Abiding Together
Welcome to season 17! In this episode, we continue our tradition of reflecting on the mysteries of our lives based on the mysteries of the Rosary. In every season of our lives, we’re given opportunities to grow in charity and to receive God’s grace. Periodically, it is important to pause and reflect on how God has been working in and through our lives. In our conversation, we model what this looks like and discuss how the virtues of each mystery of the Rosary align with the mysteries of our lives and the fruits God is cultivating. Join us today as we share the Joyful and Luminous mysteries...
info_outlineIn this episode, we explore the gift of tears and the importance of allowing ourselves to cry. We reflect on our experiences with crying and talk about how tears, especially in painful moments, can be a powerful expression of surrender, lament, and hope when offered to God. With the help of the Holy Spirit, our sensitivity and capacity to cry reflect the way we were beautifully created to respond to what breaks God's heart. We discuss the vulnerability of crying, the pain of resisting it, and how Jesus crying out on the cross reveals the value of our own cries. Whether you're too tired to cry, afraid to show need, or already feel safe expressing emotion, we invite you to see crying as an act of worship and intercession. In our sorrow, God meets us with love, truth, and the hope that He can actually do something with our pain.
Heather’s One Thing - Spirit Breathe by Sarah Kroger and Echo Harbor Worship
Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Beloved Son by Carrie Daunt
Michelle’s One Thing - Her new back porch!
Other Resources Mentioned:
- Pope Leo XIV’s General Audience of September 10, 2025
- The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
Journal Questions:
- When was the last time I cried?
- What would it look like for me to cry well?
- Where has my heart been repressed?
- Where do I need to cry out?
Discussion Questions:
- How did Pope Leo’s words change your perspective on crying?
- How are you tempted to give in to cynicism?
- In what ways are you self-reliant in this season of life?
- How can you be an empathetic witness to someone crying out in their life?
Quote to Ponder:
“Finally, she asks God to give her a gift of tears to draw his mercy down upon the world, and especially upon his church. In one of her visions, Catherine records having been told by God: “If you open your mind’s eye you will see that the Holy Spirit weeps in the person of every one of my servants who offers me the fragrance of holy desire and constant humble prayer.”
(St. Catherine of Sienna, The Dialogue Study Edition)
“We are accustomed to thinking of crying out as something disorderly, to be repressed. The Gospel confers an immense value to our cry, reminding us that it can be an invocation, a protest, a desire, a surrender. It can even be the extreme form of prayer, when there are no words left. In that cry, Jesus gave all that he had left: all his love, all his hope.” (General Audience, September 10, 2025, Pope Leo XIV)
Scripture for Lectio:
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1)
Sponsor - Beata Home:
This episode is sponsored by Beata Home, a boutique-style print shop founded by Katie, a wife and mom of four. The word Beata is derived from the Latin word for “blessed,” and that is her hope, that each piece will be a blessing to homes and families. Born out of the conviction that beauty has the power to evangelize, Beata Home makes it easy for Catholic families to surround themselves with art that reflects their faith and lifts hearts and minds to God.
Beata Home offers something for every family and every budget:
- Digital downloads for instant access and affordable printing
- Fine art prints in sizes from 8x10 up to 30x40 inches
- Ready-to-hang framed artwork in seven different frame styles
Artwork is printed on museum-quality paper with archival inks, ensuring beauty that lasts for generations. Whether it’s a small image for a prayer corner or a statement piece for your living room, Beata Home makes it simple to bring beauty and faith into your everyday spaces.
The heart of Beata Home is sacred art, but the collection also includes carefully chosen vintage artwork because all beauty points to the Creator. Visit beatahome.com to explore the growing collection, and as a gift for Abiding Together listeners, use the code ABIDING10 for 10% off your first purchase.
Support a Catholic family business and bring beauty into your domestic church with Beata Home!
Chapters:
00:00 Beata Home
01:14 Intro
02:04 Welcome
03:58 Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder
05:11 The Pain of Resisting Tears
06:58 Crying Out is Vulnerable
08:50 Tears are a Gift
11:45 A Remedy for Self Reliance
13:23 What Happens When We Stop Crying Out
15:25 Crying with Others
17:53 Being Needy vs Having Needs
20:41 Sometimes All We Can Do is Cry
22:54 God Speaks to You Though Tears
24:30 Slowing Down
26:37 Crying as an Intercession
28:46 One Things