Sarah Schwerin: From Childhood Trauma to Hope

Wendy & Rich 0:01
Coming to you from the Freedom Federal Credit Union Studios, Hartford County Living presents, Conversations with Rich Bennett. Some I

Rich Bennett 0:27
stories entertain us. While others remind us that even in life's darkest seasons, hope can still take 

Sarah Schwerin 0:35
root. 

Rich Bennett 0:36
Sarah Cherine knows that journey personally. As an author, speaker, and survivor of abuse, she draws from her own path towards healing to share an honest message. Pain may shape part of our story, but it does not have to write the ending. And for those of you listening, do me a favor. Check out my other podcast, the author, pitch, because I had Sarah on there. Actually this episode may be up before then, because her episode comes out January 5th, and that's what she's talking about. Her and Craig me if I'm wrong, Sarah, it was your debut historical novel, The Willow Still Things, right? 

Sarah Schwerin 1:21
That's correct. 

Rich Bennett 1:22
Okay, and she's gonna be talking about that one, which is a very good book as well. How are you doing, Sarah? 

Sarah Schwerin 1:29
I'm doing good. Happy, happy to be on the show. 

Rich Bennett 1:32
You know what? So I'm happy that you're on two. Alright, so those of you listening, Sarah and I, how many times did we try to get this set up? 

Sarah Schwerin 1:42
Oh, a few technical problems are always fun, aren't 

Rich Bennett 1:45
they? Oh, guys, I didn't know if it was on my end or Sarah's end and I think what, after the third call, we finally figured it out. 

Sarah Schwerin 1:55
Yeah, it was the laptop. They keep changing those USB ports on 

Rich Bennett 2:00
Oh, 

Sarah Schwerin 2:00
us. 

Rich Bennett 2:01
yeah, well, how old was that laptop? 

Sarah Schwerin 2:03
Not as old as 

Rich Bennett 2:08
me. Don't even 

Sarah Schwerin 2:09
go, oh, I can't 

Rich Bennett 2:11
go. Go there. You already made me told me the University 

Sarah Schwerin 2:15
Oh, 

Rich Bennett 2:15
grad. 

Sarah Schwerin 2:15
I'm sorry. 

Rich Bennett 2:16
Are you kidding me? I already had a kid then. 

Sarah Schwerin 2:19
Oh, well, 

Rich Bennett 2:20
why? How old was he? I can't remember. I don't even want to go. I don't even want to go into there. So, you don't forget that. Okay, so, you know, we we talked to the past of the meetings and, but I really wanted to hear your story. So I love I would love to go back to the beginning. So, what parts of your own story actually shaped your desire to write about faith, healing, and hope, especially during life's hardest seasons? 

Sarah Schwerin 2:55
Yeah, the well, I'm a survivor of emotional, verbal abuse and sexual abuse and just having those past experiences. And, you know, I for a long time, I was in a pit of shame and guilt and just dealing with those things and I couldn't get past them. I couldn't deal with the things that had happened in my past, and the only way that I did that was through my faith in God. He was the what helped me to get past those things. 

Rich Bennett 3:25
Now, when you say your pit was this childhood trauma? 

Sarah Schwerin 3:28
Yeah, childhood trauma. 

Rich Bennett 3:30
Wow. 

Sarah Schwerin 3:31
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 3:32
All right. So how long before you actually, you know, started finding your faith in God, did it, did it help you? 

Sarah Schwerin 3:39
Well, I first found my faith at 14. I had believed 

Rich Bennett 3:44
Okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 3:44
in God then, and I stopped like doing drugs and drinking and doing those things. But I started early. It got me early. But I stopped those things, but then just some different things happened. And I went right back to some of those things. And then in my 20s, I went to counseling and that really helped kick off a new journey of healing. 

Rich Bennett 4:12
So were, were you in addiction? 

Sarah Schwerin 4:17
Not really. I mean, 

Rich Bennett 4:18
Okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 4:18
I really think that God kept me safe because I was just, I was only 14, so my parents 

Rich Bennett 4:23
Right. 

Sarah Schwerin 4:24
did walk to where I went some of the time. And so there was a lot more things I wanted to do. And so I wasn't, it wasn't as problem as it problematic as it is for some people. 

Rich Bennett 4:35
Okay. So I'd taking you to go through like a 12 step program or 

Sarah Schwerin 4:39
So 

Rich Bennett 4:39
anything. 

Sarah Schwerin 4:40
no, I didn't really go through a 12 step program. No. 

Rich Bennett 4:43
Okay. All right. So the first time that I walked us through that, when you found faith and it started healing you, can you walk us through that? 

Sarah Schwerin 4:55
yeah, um, so when I was, I had never really thought about like throughout my life I'd never felt really happy or at peace and then, 

Rich Bennett 5:03
mm-hmm. 

Sarah Schwerin 5:03
When I was around 14 I realized that my friends were getting into a lot of trouble and that they really didn't have that happiness or peace in their life at all. And I thought, have I ever really been happy? So I thought back to, um, thought back through my life and you know, since I was 14 it didn't take very long. 

Rich Bennett 5:23
Yeah. 

Sarah Schwerin 5:24
And I remembered being a little kid going to a church camp and I felt such a peace there, you know, I, I, I loved orange soda and so I would drink that and my little lips were orange, and I remember that and I remember there was sawdust and I'd play it and the sawdust with my feet and, you know, just I'd take off my shoes and play it in the sauna so, 

Rich Bennett 5:45
right? 

Sarah Schwerin 5:46
But for my little dirty toast, my orange lips, I, I remember that there was a peace there and that was what I really remembered most was I felt a peace wash over me there and I wanted to find that peace again because I never had any kind of peace in my life. And so I did go to a church camp, um, it was a different one but I found that peace again in, in my faith and just different people showed me what that looked like. 

Rich Bennett 6:15
So I fought because a lot of people, 

Sarah Schwerin 6:17
it 

Rich Bennett 6:17
is a 14 while at least nowadays wouldn't even have a clue. 

Sarah Schwerin 6:25
Yeah, I mean, I guess I was just so depressed. So, um, you know, I thought about ending my life all the time before that about hurting myself. I was all alone. I didn't have anyone to depend on and, you know, God swooped in and helps. He was my safe place. He was the one that I could rely on. 

Rich Bennett 6:46
Did your family go to church a lot or anything? 

Sarah Schwerin 6:49
They did. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 6:51
Okay. All 

Sarah Schwerin 6:52
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 6:52
right. So even though you were going to church all the time, I guess before 14, the faith really wasn't there even with camp. You just liked it, but you didn't know, right? 

Sarah Schwerin 7:03
Yeah, I mean, I went and I thought it was okay, but it wasn't something that affected me. It was just, oh, these, that's what these people do on Sundays. And then I 

Rich Bennett 7:12
Yeah. 

Sarah Schwerin 7:12
realized that, that God isn't someone you worship only on Sundays. It's not someone in a building, but it, God is a person you can have a relationship with. 

Rich Bennett 7:24
Wow. So, What did you want to do with your, if you're a mommy, asking 

Sarah Schwerin 7:30
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 7:30
at what age did the abuse start? 

Sarah Schwerin 7:34
Um, so, yeah, my dad was fairly verbally abusive throughout my life. 

Rich Bennett 7:40
Okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 7:41
Just he, he was a kind person when he was out in the community, but at home, he was. would kind of bully my siblings and my mom and I. And so I was like two different people, you know, um, 

Rich Bennett 7:53
Right. 

Sarah Schwerin 7:53
now I recognize he was a very hurt individual. And he just kind of lived that hurt out, 

Rich Bennett 7:59
He 

Sarah Schwerin 7:59
um, but he, he, he heard a lot of people in the process. Um, and so that was throughout. And then the sexual abuse started maybe when I was around five or six. 

Rich Bennett 8:10
Oh my God. 

Sarah Schwerin 8:11
From a different family member, not my dad, um, 

Rich Bennett 8:14
ah, gee. 

Sarah Schwerin 8:14
And that lasted. I don't, I blocked some of it outside. I don't really. 

Rich Bennett 8:18
Yeah. 

Sarah Schwerin 8:19
It was a few times. 

Rich Bennett 8:21
Uh, it was, was your father former military or anything? 

Sarah Schwerin 8:27
He was actually, mm-hmm. 

Rich Bennett 8:28
Okay. Well, the reason. Because a lot of times with, well, I want to say a lot of times because I don't know what the actual numbers are. But people that have served in the military, depending on what they did, sometimes that attitude. 

Sarah Schwerin 8:45
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 8:46
Uh, comes home with them. 

Sarah Schwerin 8:48
I think so. And um, he didn't have a dad. And so he didn't really 

Rich Bennett 8:51
Uh, 

Sarah Schwerin 8:51
have a any model of what to be. Um, now that I, you know, through my faith, I've forgiven him and I've learned that he. He did the best he could with what he had, even though 

Rich Bennett 9:03
Yeah. 

Sarah Schwerin 9:04
it was painful at times. 

Rich Bennett 9:06
Well, 

Sarah Schwerin 9:07
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 9:07
I, 

and then you had the sexual abuse, you said, started at five. 

Sarah Schwerin 9:13
Well, I maybe five or six. I don't, 

Rich Bennett 9:17
Okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 9:17
I think it just happened a handful of times. I don't really, I've blocked, I blocked a lot of it out. And so that was, um, in college. Um, those repressed memories came out, which led me to, to seek counseling. I went to a Christian 

Rich Bennett 9:31
Okay.

Sarah Schwerin 9:31
council. And so that was. I know there's sometimes there's a still a stigma around going to counseling, but it's such, such an important thing 

Rich Bennett 9:39
I  

Sarah Schwerin 9:39
to 

Rich Bennett 9:39
was 

Sarah Schwerin 9:39
help 

Rich Bennett 9:39
going to 

Sarah Schwerin 9:40
with 

Rich Bennett 9:40
say, 

Sarah Schwerin 9:40
trauma. 

Rich Bennett 9:41
yeah, it's very important. Um, I believe, and here's the thing. I think, it all honestly, I think everybody has been through some type of trauma. And most of it is from the, you know, basically starting in the womb. 

Sarah Schwerin 9:56
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 9:57
Umm, and, a lot of people bother that stuff up, I don't even know it's there. 

Sarah Schwerin 10:03
Exactly, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 10:04
But if you go to Counseling or like somebody else I had on here who does the polygraph. Stuff. And that has, actually, he's actually done that with people and it's 

Sarah Schwerin 10:14
Mm-hmm. 

Rich Bennett 10:14
brought out some of those things. 

Sarah Schwerin 10:16
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 10:17
And even if you don't know, I think, eh you credit me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure when it came out for you, it's like a ton of bricks being lifted off your shoulders, isn't? 

Sarah Schwerin 10:29
Exactly. You know, um, when I first started to deal with, they were repressed memories and I feel like God kept me safe because I wasn't able to deal with them as a child, but as a young adult I could start processing through them. And it was very painful 'cause I couldn't stop them. But at the same time it was like that pile of bricks. It was like everything in my life made sense, you know, this is why I've been so depressed. This is why I don't like myself, this is why I'm uncomfortable in my body. And then once I knew this is the problem I could start working on it. 

Rich Bennett 11:02
Okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 11:02
And so it was, 

Rich Bennett 11:03
So- 

Sarah Schwerin 11:03
it was a relief, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 11:05
Yeah. Oh, oh I'm sure it was. 

Sarah Schwerin 11:07
But it's still painful and it's something that, you know, doesn't go away within a day. It gets- 

Rich Bennett 11:14
Oh, 

Sarah Schwerin 11:14
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 11:14
no. 

Sarah Schwerin 11:15
It's a 

Rich Bennett 11:16
Absolutely 

Sarah Schwerin 11:16
process. 

Rich Bennett 11:17
not. It is. And I think the healing is a lifetime. 

Sarah Schwerin 11:23
It's going to be a lifetime. Exactly, it's a lifetime. 

Rich Bennett 11:26
Because you, you, I mean, there could be still some stuff in your memory that hasn't, hasn't come out. You 

Sarah Schwerin 11:33
you, 

Rich Bennett 11:33
know that 

Sarah Schwerin 11:34
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 11:34
Don't know about, but it could be something that just one thing could trigger something. So that's why one of the things I always tell people is, well, mainly my kids, be careful what you say to people because you don't know what they're going through. 

Sarah Schwerin 11:54
Exa. 

Rich Bennett 11:54
And one word 

Sarah Schwerin 11:55
trigger 

Rich Bennett 11:55
could something. So you gotta be very careful with that. So with the healing, so you started at college, 

Sarah Schwerin 12:02
through- Mm 

Rich Bennett 12:03
went 

Sarah Schwerin 12:03
hmm. 

Rich Bennett 12:03
Bling. 

Sarah Schwerin 12:03
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 12:04
And everything. 

But then everything started getting better and then you started writing about it right because you were journaling about it. 

Sarah Schwerin 12:15
Yeah. I've always been a writer and so yeah, I just, I journaled off and on. Actually, I got married right out of college 

Rich Bennett 12:24
Wow. 

Sarah Schwerin 12:24
and- 

Rich Bennett 12:25
Okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 12:25
Yeah, I went, I did the four and a half year program. And so after that, that extra bonus semester, my husband and I got married and then we had kids two years later and I decided to homeschool them and so then I didn't seriously start writing until they were in high school. 

Rich Bennett 12:43
If you don't mind me asking, would you go to college for- 

Sarah Schwerin 12:46
I went for elementary education. 

Rich Bennett 12:49
So 

Sarah Schwerin 12:50
I was going to be a teacher and change the school system, but when I had kids I just, I just loved having kids and I wanted to stay home with them and we 

Rich Bennett 12:58
homes- 

Sarah Schwerin 12:58
decided to 

Rich Bennett 12:59
You created your own school system? 

Sarah Schwerin 13:01
I guess so. 

Rich Bennett 13:03
Yeah, I think that's something you're seeing more and more of though throughout the year is more people homeschooling. 

Sarah Schwerin 13:09
Yeah, I mean, I don't think it's for everybody, but it was definitely the right choice for us. 

Rich Bennett 13:13
Yeah. 

Sarah Schwerin 13:14
Our kids had some special learning needs that- 

Rich Bennett 13:19
Okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 13:19
That I felt like the school system couldn't handle and that was just the best way for us to make it work. 

Rich Bennett 13:26
And how many kids? 

Sarah Schwerin 13:27
Oh, two. 

Rich Bennett 13:29
Oh, two. Oh, okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 13:30
Not a 

Rich Bennett 13:31
I 

Sarah Schwerin 13:31
past. 

Rich Bennett 13:31
was a good student. I was just going to say because if you had a lot of kids in there now, you said both of them have some special needs that they need, special needs that they need? No, no, no, no, no, no. 

Sarah Schwerin 13:45
Yeah, our one son is- on the spectrum and the other one is- 

Rich Bennett 13:50
Okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 13:52
Just homeschooling was right for him. 

Rich Bennett 13:54
Yeah. 

Sarah Schwerin 13:56
So- 

Rich Bennett 13:56
You know what though, and here's the- Thank you for homeschooling, you know, because unfortunately after talking with several people actually on the show who have kids that are on the spectrum, it ain't just the public schools, even some private schools do not know how to deal with these kids. And it's sad. It's very sad. And it's important because they need the education as well. 

Sarah Schwerin 14:27
Exactly, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 14:29
But at the same time, we can learn a lot from them. 

Sarah Schwerin 14:33
Oh, 

Rich Bennett 14:34
I 

Sarah Schwerin 14:34
sure. 

Rich Bennett 14:34
think a lot of your school systems are missing out on. 

Sarah Schwerin 14:37
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 14:38
But that's a whole 'nother. 

Sarah Schwerin 14:40
That's a whole 'nother 

Rich Bennett 14:40
topic. Okay, I guess. Oh, it is, it is. All right, so you finished- or you finished college, you get married, have kids, you're in a room, schooling, and everything. But you never took any classes for writing. 

Sarah Schwerin 14:54
Um... Not! I don't know. Okay. I've been in, I wasn't a critique group when my kids were younger and I went to a conference and then I thought I could do both but it was a little too overwhelming. Since I started seriously writing, I've been to multiple conferences and taking in online courses and read at Udles of Books. I'm always trying to read a book about writing to help me become a 

Rich Bennett 15:24
writer. of, okay, 

Sarah Schwerin 15:26
So lots 

Rich Bennett 15:27
I was giving, 

Sarah Schwerin 15:28
lots of work now. 

Rich Bennett 15:29
Look at that. Okay. So, but you've written what? 

Sarah Schwerin 15:34
Two books. I've written two, two books. I'm working on my third but I have, I only have one published. So, 

Rich Bennett 15:42
wait a minute. You're working on your third book but the second one hasn't been published yet? 

Sarah Schwerin 15:46
Oh, the first one wasn't published. 

Rich Bennett 15:49
The first one wasn't published. I was hidden. 

Sarah Schwerin 15:51
Yes. So, I might come back to that. 

Rich Bennett 15:54
I was going to ask, and I think, when we were talking before, I may have asked you this, but why, why'd you never publish it? 

Sarah Schwerin 16:01
Well, to be honest, I couldn't find anyone to publish it. 

Rich Bennett 16:06
Okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 16:06
I wanted to be traditionally published which my, my book is traditionally published and, I mean, there's nothing wrong with self-published. I just, that's something I always dreamed having a book traditionally 

Rich Bennett 16:17
Right. 

Sarah Schwerin 16:18
published. 

Rich Bennett 16:19
Okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 16:20
And when I went back and read hidden, I realized it's not that great and most, most writers say that the first book you write is teaching you how to write a book. So most authors don't publish their first books. 

Rich Bennett 16:36
All right. Fred, did you try to send it to any art readers? 

And they're like, 

Sarah Schwerin 16:43
Oh, I did. Yes. And I had, I had a couple people that liked it and some that didn't. So it was kind of mixed, mixed bag. 

Rich Bennett 16:51
You need to publish it. Seriously. Look, I mean, think about it. All right. So Sarah, here's the thing. Like with podcasting because I learned never delete those old episodes. 

Sarah Schwerin 17:03
I 

Rich Bennett 17:04
go back and listen to them first episodes which anybody can listen to and I cringe. It's like, Oh, my God. That was awful. But you learn from it. And I think, I think other aspiring authors can learn from stuff like that too. Maybe you don't like it, but somebody reading it would like it as with the events reader copy that already happened. 

Sarah Schwerin 17:26
That's true. 

Rich Bennett 17:27
I'm just saying. So the third book is you're working on now, right? 

Sarah Schwerin 17:34
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 17:35
Okay, where are you hoping to publish that? 

Sarah Schwerin 17:38
I'm hoping to publish it next year. I finished writing it. I'm doing a lot of editing right now. I have to send it to my editor and then I can send it off to the publisher. 

Rich Bennett 17:48
Okay. So the Willow still sings. That's the only one that's been published traditionally 

Sarah Schwerin 17:55
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 17:55
so far. 

Sarah Schwerin 17:56
So far. 

Rich Bennett 17:56
So the new one is that going to be going through the same publisher? 

Sarah Schwerin 17:59
I hope so. That's my. 

Rich Bennett 18:01
That's my Go. Maybe you have an agent as well. 

Sarah Schwerin 18:05
Um, I don't currently have an agent. 

Rich Bennett 18:08
Sarah, that was the wrong thing. You're supposed to say the man upstairs is 

Sarah Schwerin 18:12
agent. 

Rich Bennett 18:12
my 

Sarah Schwerin 18:12
Oh, yes. Of course he is. 

Rich Bennett 18:14
You don't live in an apartment. Do you? 

Sarah Schwerin 18:18
There you go. 

Rich Bennett 18:19
Other you would have never found the other publisher. 

Sarah Schwerin 18:22
That's true. 

Rich Bennett 18:23
They aren't. And even 

that we talked about, the Willow still sings on the other podcast on the author pitch, tell everybody about the Willow still sings what this book is about. 

Sarah Schwerin 18:33
Sure. The Willow still sings is a 1950s historical. And it's based on my mom's life. And it tells the story of Florence, who, whose daughter contracts polio. And she has to hold her family together through, through all of that. 

Rich Bennett 18:50
I mean, it was, that's right. Cause we were talking. Was it your mother dead? How? What had polio? 

Sarah Schwerin 18:56
She did 

Rich Bennett 18:57
or her grandmother, your mother 

Sarah Schwerin 18:58
My 

Rich Bennett 18:58
did. 

Sarah Schwerin 18:58
mom did. 

Rich Bennett 19:01
How was that growing up for you? 

Because I mean, a lot, I, first of all, let me, let me back up because a lot of people I remember because I'm a lot younger than, I mean, I'm a lot older than you, Sarah. So I remember the polio shots or was it sugar cubes? I can't even remember. But a lot of people today don't know what polio is. So explain to everybody what polio actually is and what it does to a person. 

Sarah Schwerin 19:31
So polio is a virus. And sometimes it doesn't do very much because it'll just look like a mild flu or a cold. But in some cases, like with my mom, it can cause complete paralysis. And then when the paralysis leaves, then it can weaken the muscles. So for her, she couldn't, she didn't have the use of her legs very much. She did a little throughout her life up into probably like her 30s, early 40s. She was able to walk with crutches and use her legs somewhat. But then as I became older and she became older, obviously, she had to be confined to wheelchair. 

Rich Bennett 20:15
Now it was You guys actually took care of her then at that point. 

Sarah Schwerin 20:21
No? Yeah, no, not really. I mean, she was my mom. She had, um, she had four kids and she raised the four of us. Um, she lived a very full life. Uh, 

Rich Bennett 20:32
so even in the wheelchair? 

Sarah Schwerin 20:33
Yeah, I mean, we would drive her places, but you know, she, she cleaned the house, she did the cooking. Um, I mean, of yes, she was limited in some things. 

Rich Bennett 20:44
Right. 

Sarah Schwerin 20:45
She used to drive, but then she, I don't remember her driving, but, um, but she couldn't, 

Rich Bennett 20:52
she wasn't 

Sarah Schwerin 20:52
you 

Rich Bennett 20:52
going to 

Sarah Schwerin 20:52
know, 

Rich Bennett 20:52
let it take her down. 

Sarah Schwerin 20:54
She was not going to let her take it down. And that's what I see in a lot of, as I research the book, so many of the police survivors, their, their tenacity is so admirable because they weren't going to let anything stop them. And my mom was the same way. 

Rich Bennett 21:09
Is that why you wrote the book? 

Sarah Schwerin 21:11
Yeah, I wrote the book because my mom was so, she was such a force to be reckoned with. And so, 

Rich Bennett 21:16
Yeah. 

Sarah Schwerin 21:17
um, since your great lady, um, a woman of faith in her faith, encouraged me and just that her persistence throughout everything. 

Rich Bennett 21:28
Wow. That, uh, okay. Now was she? Actually, I don't know. Are people born with polio? 

Sarah Schwerin 21:35
No, 

Rich Bennett 21:35
Or is that 

Sarah Schwerin 21:36
it's, 

Rich Bennett 21:36
kind? 

Sarah Schwerin 21:36
it's a virus that you contract, contract. Mm 

Rich Bennett 21:40
hmm. How old were, how old was she when she contracted? 

Sarah Schwerin 21:42
So I believe she was seven. 

Rich Bennett 21:45
Oh my god. 

Sarah Schwerin 21:46
Mm hmm. 

Rich Bennett 21:47
Wow. 

Sarah Schwerin 21:48
So yeah, I mean, right when after she got it, she, she, um, she was off school for a while, but she went to school. And back they put all the kids with any kind of, um, what we call special need, whether it's physical or emotional or mental, they put them all together. And 

Rich Bennett 22:04
Yeah. 

Sarah Schwerin 22:04
one classroom and then they were like knitting podholders. And so she was determined to get out of that classroom to be in the real classroom with with her peers. And so she eventually was able to get out of that. But 

Rich Bennett 22:19
Wow. 

Sarah Schwerin 22:19
she didn't let anything stop her. She was, she was awesome. 

Rich Bennett 22:25
Bam. The, and the thing is, I'm glad you talked about that because with polio, a lot of people don't know what it is. An I might be wrong, but I thought I saw something where maybe not in this country, but another country, polio was making a comeback. 

Sarah Schwerin 22:44
So polio is not eradicated. They still have polio in some countries. Um, like in the Western world, it's most, it's mostly, it's, it's eradicated. We don't have polio here, but it has been being seen in the water. 

Rich Bennett 23:00
So 

Sarah Schwerin 23:00
it could be coming back. 

Rich Bennett 23:04
Wait a minute. It's been seen in the water. 

Sarah Schwerin 23:07
Yeah. So it's passed through fecal matter. And so 

Rich Bennett 23:11
oh, 

Sarah Schwerin 23:12
lovely topic. So and I am not a scientist. So please, anything I say, please go back and 

I'm not an expert on polio. I just 

Rich Bennett 23:23
lot. 

Sarah Schwerin 23:23
have read a 

Rich Bennett 23:29
Oh, God. Okay. We'll get off the fecal subject. Okay. God. All right. So the, the other thing about you, you know, you're also. We're going to complete left turn 

Sarah Schwerin 23:45
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 23:45
here, Sarah. Don't worry about it. But your speaker is well, correct? 

Sarah Schwerin 23:49
That's right. 

Rich Bennett 23:51
All right. So when you get on the stage, is the speed, where you're actually speaking about? I have a funny feeling 

Sarah Schwerin 23:56
already. 

Rich Bennett 23:56
But I'm asking you anyways. 

Sarah Schwerin 23:58
So I talk about my healing from abuse and I do, and I talk about different topics from the Bible. 

Rich Bennett 24:05
Now how long have you been, um, basically doing the stage, doing the speaking? 

Sarah Schwerin 24:11
No, I have to remember. 

Maybe about three years. 

Rich Bennett 24:18
That's it. 

Sarah Schwerin 24:18
Oh, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 24:21
Really? 

Sarah Schwerin 24:22
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 24:23
All right. What makes you decide to do that? 

Sarah Schwerin 24:27
Oh, it was totally a God thing I'm very shy. 

Rich Bennett 24:32
I was the shyest kid. No. 

Sarah Schwerin 24:33
Yeah. I was the shyest kid you've ever met. Like I would hide behind my dad, so I didn't have to talk. 

Rich Bennett 24:42
Are you serious? 

Sarah Schwerin 24:44
Yeah, I would, like, get 

Rich Bennett 24:45
Okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 24:45
so nauseous before I spoke. 

Rich Bennett 24:49
Okay. How long have you been doing podcast? 

Sarah Schwerin 24:53
Not very 

Rich Bennett 24:54
Who 

Sarah Schwerin 24:54
long. 

Rich Bennett 24:54
tell me three years as well? 

Sarah Schwerin 24:56
Like maybe three months. 

Rich Bennett 24:57
Okay. Really? That's it. And you've been speaking for only three years? All right. Oh, okay. Now I have to 

Sarah Schwerin 25:06
So 

Rich Bennett 25:06
know. 

Sarah Schwerin 25:06
I'm a newbie. I guess. 

Rich Bennett 25:08
Do I? 

Sarah Schwerin 25:09
Minubi. 

Rich Bennett 25:10
Anubie. All right. So where was your first speaking engagement? 

Sarah Schwerin 25:17
So the first, it was at a Bible study. 

Rich Bennett 25:20
And a Bible study with how many people? 

Sarah Schwerin 25:23
50. 

Oh, you know, I did do before that. 

And that was maybe four, four years ago. I did a show 

about suicide awareness. And that was, that was for quite a few people. And it was on, like online. So 

Rich Bennett 25:46
online, but not in front of real people. 

Sarah Schwerin 25:48
Yeah. Just maybe 

Rich Bennett 25:49
Little bit of a liberal phrase. It was a photo of real people, but it was virtual, so... Which is a... 

Sarah Schwerin 25:56
20 people in the audience. 

Rich Bennett 25:58
Okay, which can still... when you're doing it in front of a crowd live, versus virtual, it can still make a big difference. So... with the virtual one, since that was your first one, how hard was that for you to speak with everybody? Or did you turn the camera off so they couldn't see you? 

Sarah Schwerin 26:18
Oh, I was actually at, like, a theater, so it was very nerve-racking, because it was the first time I shared my story publicly about being abused. 

Rich Bennett 26:27
it. You're listening to the conversations with Rich Bennett. We'll be right back. 

I've always said, "Trust Matter." Especially when you're investing in your home. And that's exactly why, when it comes time for me to replace my windows and doors. Well, Belair window and door. Your local window depot. There are family and business right here in our community. And what I love is they combine top quality products with honest, no pressure service. I've done my homework, and their triple-pain windows really stood out to me. Better energy efficiency, less outside noise, and just an overall upgrade you can feel. And their doors? Whether you're looking for something durable, secure, or just want to boost your home's curb appeal, they've got options that really make a difference. For me, it comes down to trust, and I really trust Belair window and door to get it done right. If you're thinking about upgrading your home, give them a call at 410- 941-3499 or visit their website at bellairwindowendour.com. Tell 'em Rich sent you. 

Alright, so you were at a theater, but it was, it was being done virtually. 

Sarah Schwerin 28:08
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 28:08
Like a TEDx talk almost? 

Sarah Schwerin 28:10
Similar, yes, similar. Not a TEDx, but similar. 

Rich Bennett 28:14
OK. So you're very nervous for that, but there was no live crowd, just virtual crowd. 

Sarah Schwerin 28:21
there was 

Rich Bennett 28:21
No, 

Sarah Schwerin 28:22
maybe like ten people. 

Rich Bennett 28:24
Ten people. Wow. OK. How long was the speech for? 

Sarah Schwerin 28:30
15, 20 minutes? 

Rich Bennett 28:32
15, 20 minutes. OK. The reason I asked is because I know a lot of people should get out there and speak and tell their story. But they are. They're nervous. They're shy. But it takes time to get through it. So was there any times where the first time you were speaking, you just, you know, you feel like that, like your gut was about to come up. And you were just about to lose everything or you just broke down, crying or anything like that the first time. 

Sarah Schwerin 29:10
not 

Rich Bennett 29:10
Or you just 

Sarah Schwerin 29:11
that time I was really nervous and afterward I was shaking, but. I think it was 

Rich Bennett 29:17
You got 

Sarah Schwerin 29:17
such a relief to share it. And 

Rich Bennett 29:20
the yeah, 

Sarah Schwerin 29:20
to know that other people are there that other people have experienced similar things because. Like you said, I think so many people are scared to tell their story. And I feel like if I tell my story that can encourage other people and give them strength to tell their stories. 

Rich Bennett 29:38
And you could be saving somebody's life. Life as well. 

Sarah Schwerin 29:42
Exactly because I have, I had not heard many stories until I went to counseling that were similar to mine. 

Rich Bennett 29:50
Really? 

Wait a minute. So I know your shy. But did you have social anxiety as well? 

Sarah Schwerin 29:59
I was never diagnosed with social anxiety, but I definitely had something. I mean, I was so shy. 

Rich Bennett 30:06
Okay, so it could be why you never heard those other stories. 

Sarah Schwerin 30:10
That could be. Yes. I mean I, that could be. 

Rich Bennett 30:15
How? 

How many times have you been on stage speaking so far now? Are let me rephrase that because you could also do it virtually. So how many different speaking engagements have you done so far? And there's what four years? 

Sarah Schwerin 30:27
Oh my goodness. 

Rich Bennett 30:28
or 

Sarah Schwerin 30:28
I have no idea 

Rich Bennett 30:29
doing a lot. 

Sarah Schwerin 30:30
Yeah, a lot. I work for a 

Rich Bennett 30:32
Wow. 

Sarah Schwerin 30:32
ministry called Stonecroft Ministries. And so I travel around the state of Florida giving my testimony. 

Rich Bennett 30:40
When you're going to get out of the state, you need the tour 

Sarah Schwerin 30:45
Well, 

Rich Bennett 30:45
elsewhere. 

Sarah Schwerin 30:45
right now I'm volunteering. So I need more opportunities. For people to help me with 

Rich Bennett 30:51
Okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 30:51
that cost of the traveling. 

Rich Bennett 30:57
Michelle Love, if you're listening to this, I will put you in contact with Sarah. And you need to take her on the road with 

Sarah Schwerin 31:08
you. 

Rich Bennett 31:08
So a friend of mine who's been on the show several times. I love it. And the church was called Voices of Truth. So now she's got an RV her in another pastor having RV, which is called Voices of Truth and Hope on Wheels. And that's what they do. They've been so far they've only been in Maryland, but no, I think they think they may have gone up to Delaware in New Jersey, too. And they're just taking the church on the road. They'll set up in like parking lots, put at the tent, go into the stores, and just ask if people how can I pray for you? And I she wants to take it where it's so big to yes, they're doing like stages and all that. 

Sarah Schwerin 32:03
to 

Rich Bennett 32:04
But I told her, 'cause she kept calling it an RV, I said, "No, it's the vot." Voices of Truth. So that's what it is. It's the vehicle of truth. The vehicle. So you're also, alright, so you not only telling your story, you're also when you get up there speaking, talk about different from the Bible, you said, right? But not like given a sermon, correct? 

Sarah Schwerin 32:28
Well, I'm an assistant, I actually forget my title, I should look it up, but I speak with my Bible study. And it's 

Rich Bennett 32:36
okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 32:37
Actually, focus on a book of the Bible for a year. And right now we're doing Mark and First Thessalonians, and so I'll give a 20 minute talk about that. So it's about about four to five times a year. There's a lot of fun. 

Rich Bennett 32:52
So you do Bible study a lot? 

Sarah Schwerin 32:54
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 32:54
Alright, sir. Let me, this is a question that I heard the other day, and it wasn't on a podcast, and maybe it on a TV show. And I've never thought about that, because a lot of people, when it comes to Bible study, they start with Genesis. What? So I'm going to ask you what, what book should people start with when it comes to learning the Bible for Bible study? 

Sarah Schwerin 33:25
Oh, I definitely think they should start with one of the Gospels, maybe Mark? 

Rich Bennett 33:31
Okay. Okay, because I've been told, yeah, I've heard, 

Sarah Schwerin 33:35
or Matthew, 

Rich Bennett 33:35
John's a good one, 

Sarah Schwerin 33:36
Matthew. John, yeah, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, one of those. 

Rich Bennett 33:41
Okay. I think that's where a lot of people hate to say, but lose interest. They start with Genesis and it's like, yeah, how many people hear about Adam and Eve all the time? 

Sarah Schwerin 33:53
Exactly. And then you're going in through all the HBGat and she begat and those things, and 

Rich Bennett 33:59
boring. 

Sarah Schwerin 33:59
it gets a little 

Rich Bennett 34:00
Yeah. 

Sarah Schwerin 34:00
That's right. I mean, those things are important, but we can get bogged down in them. 

Rich Bennett 34:05
Oh, yeah. So with this is interesting, because the Bible study, I love, and there's so many different versions of the Bible, too. And that's another thing where people get confused. It's like, where do I start? Which Bible do I get? And everybody's different. Because you don't, yeah, I mean, one person could start with like the King James version and they're fine. But somebody else would be lost reading it, but then somebody, I'm going to get it wrong. Is it NIV? 

Sarah Schwerin 34:44
That's one, yeah. Anyway. 

Rich Bennett 34:45
Yeah, but then somebody could read it and then you have even the more modern Bible. I don't even know what the names of those are, because I think that's something that a lot of the younger generation is missing and they need that. They need it desperately. And well, we know that God, I don't want to say God's missing from a lot of things. God's never missing. But I think that a lot of more people need to accept God into their life. 

Sarah Schwerin 35:19
Yeah. Well, I mean, the great thing about the Bible is it has, advice and hope for whatever we're going through. I mean, it was written so long ago and it can seem like it's not relevant, but it really is. And I think when 

Rich Bennett 35:33
yeah, 

Sarah Schwerin 35:33
you start studying it, you'll find that it is relevant. 

Rich Bennett 35:40
Have you ever thought about becoming a scholar of the Bible? 

Sarah Schwerin 35:44
Well, funny, you should ask.I've  taken some seminary classes, so I've, but I got a little bogged down so I'm currently on a break from that. 

Rich Bennett 35:54
What did you play? Are you playing on Gwonbag or 

Sarah Schwerin 35:55
I 

Rich Bennett 35:55
Philly? 

Sarah Schwerin 35:56
would definitely like to. Yes. 

Rich Bennett 35:59
That is awesome. Okay. So when you finish, let me know because I have another podcast you can get on. Not 

Sarah Schwerin 36:05
Oh, 

Rich Bennett 36:05
mine. 

Sarah Schwerin 36:05
okay. I'll let you know. 

Rich Bennett 36:06
No, there's a, there's a young lady that I've been, her and I get together through virtual, of course, because I mentor her on her podcast, but she talks to different scholars and theologians all the time about the Bible. 

Sarah Schwerin 36:24
Oh, awesome. 

Rich Bennett 36:26
And her it's called Biblically Speaking with Cassia and Bellino. Her podcast is awesome. And I, 'cause there's different podcasts, I listen to when it comes to the Bible. Some, I love listening to her, because like the latest episode, they were talking about, uh, Moses and, um, then I listen to another one, which is the Bible study. And what was, what was the latest one I was listening to? Ah, anyways, but, so, yeah, let me know when you're done that, because I think it'd be awesome. And since you're also an author now, 

I'll give you more homework. 

Sarah Schwerin 37:08
Uh-oh. 

Rich Bennett 37:09
Um, have you ever thought about writing, um, a book of devotionals? 

Sarah Schwerin 37:15
Yes, I have. And I write devotions, singular devotions. I have a blog where I write a monthly devotion. And then I submit different articles and things from time to time. 

Rich Bennett 37:29
It's on your blog? 

Sarah Schwerin 37:31
Yeah, I have a monthly devotion on my blog. Mm-hmm. 

Rich Bennett 37:35
Well, you say you submit articles. 

Sarah Schwerin 37:37
Yes, so I write for, I write for some magazines that I submit, I submit articles to magazines, and then I've written some online devotions that have been published. 

Rich Bennett 37:48
Okay. Well, what magazines so people can get the magazines and read 

Sarah Schwerin 37:52
Um, 

Rich Bennett 37:52
your stuff? 

Sarah Schwerin 37:52
I'm in Bible advocate, and then I have a, 

Rich Bennett 37:55
okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 37:57
I have a devotion in upper room and mature living. 

Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 38:06
Really? 

I, so I've heard of mature living and no, not because of my age. Uh, what's the other one? Guide post? 

Sarah Schwerin 38:16
Upper room. 

Rich Bennett 38:18
No, yeah, upper room. But I know there's another 

Sarah Schwerin 38:20
Oh, Bible. 

Rich Bennett 38:20
one. Guide post. 

Sarah Schwerin 38:21
Oh. 

Rich Bennett 38:23
No, no magazine called guide post. Have you looked into it right in, or some in stuff to them as 

Sarah Schwerin 38:28
I 

Rich Bennett 38:28
well? 

Sarah Schwerin 38:28
have, but I've not been accepted yet. 

Rich Bennett 38:30
Okay. All right, so if anybody from guide post is. You know this, Kelly, uh, you need to accept Sarah's stuff. God. Are you so with 

Sarah Schwerin 38:42
I like 

Rich Bennett 38:43
this, with the speaker, because we know you're going to get out of the state of Florida and, and start touring 

Sarah Schwerin 38:49
the country, 

Rich Bennett 38:50
to speak. But if people want to have you come and speak to a group, or 

Sarah Schwerin 38:56
um, 

Rich Bennett 38:57
I could, actually, I even, I could see you. What's that big one that goes through life search? 

I think it is with Tim Tibeiro and a bunch of other people. I could see you speaking with them too. They may, maybe they won't let you because you'll, you'll, don't, I mean, you'll be the headliner. Uh, but how do people get in touch with you if they want you to come and speak? 

Sarah Schwerin 39:21
Sure. They just visit my website, SarahSherene.com. 

Rich Bennett 39:25
Are you better spell the last one? Even though I'll have the links in the notes. I actually spell, spell completely, because some people spell Sarah different too. 

Sarah Schwerin 39:34
Sure. It's Sarah SAAH and Sherene SCHW, E-R-I-N. 

Rich Bennett 39:44
Okay, so with you, besides the author and the speaker, and I want to say also a healer because when you talk to people and you tell your story, I think you are healing them in a way. What's the next big thing for Sarah? 

Sarah Schwerin 40:02
Well, my next big thing is, is I'm writing another fiction book at the moment, but I'd like to, 

Rich Bennett 40:09
one. A fourth one? 

Sarah Schwerin 40:10
oh, that's the 

Rich Bennett 40:10
Or 

Sarah Schwerin 40:11
third 

Rich Bennett 40:11
are you talking about the third one, Schill? Okay, 

Sarah Schwerin 40:13
the next one is a book based on my healing journey to help other people get through their own healing journey, and that's really what I want to, to send out there. It's kind of my life's work. 

Rich Bennett 40:26
Oh, you know what? I-- So, like a memoir? 

Sarah Schwerin 40:33
It-- it-- It's kind of like a memoir, but it's going to have action steps to help people to get out of whatever 

Rich Bennett 40:39
Okay, 

Sarah Schwerin 40:40
it's 

Rich Bennett 40:40
like them. 

Sarah Schwerin 40:40
holding 

Rich Bennett 40:40
It's like a journal. Okay, so like a journal and said, well, no, more like a 

Sarah Schwerin 40:45
More 

Rich Bennett 40:45
guide. 

Sarah Schwerin 40:45
like a guidebook. 

Rich Bennett 40:46
I guess you could say a memoir guidebook. 

Sarah Schwerin 40:48
Sure. 

Rich Bennett 40:50
And 

maybe, I guess in that, I know you're going to-- you say you're going to have some, would you say like work things in the back? 

Sarah Schwerin 41:01
Yeah, I'd like to have different 

Rich Bennett 41:02
Or-- 

Sarah Schwerin 41:03
journaling prompts and-- 

Rich Bennett 41:05
Sure, okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 41:06
Oh. You know, resources, 

Rich Bennett 41:08
kinds. I 

Sarah Schwerin 41:08
all 

Rich Bennett 41:08
was trying 

Sarah Schwerin 41:09
to answer. To help-- to help people. 

To get out of whatever's holding them back. 

Rich Bennett 41:17
So now that you've been on the stages, you've been on the podcast. Is the shyness slowly, but surely going away? 

Sarah Schwerin 41:26
Oh, sure it is. Yeah, I like to speak. I am an introvert, so I need-- I'm going to have to take a nap after this, but I do like to speak. 

Rich Bennett 41:37
Sarah, you're too young to be taking naps. Come on now. Don't be taking naps. Just get playing you sleep at night. Women, is that really a thing for introverts? 

Sarah Schwerin 41:46
Oh, well, I mean, I really don't take a nap, but I need time by myself. 

Rich Bennett 41:50
I 

Sarah Schwerin 41:53
don't take naps, but I just need time to de-people. 

Rich Bennett 41:58
Alright, so those of you listening, in case you didn't know, before we start it, Sarah was really giving me a hard time of picking on me. And, yeah, I think she's starting to mess with me again. 

Like I said, you're not just healing other people, you're healing yourself, as well. And I know the first time you spoke, you even said it felt like a ton of bricks being lifted off your shoulders. 

But each time you speak, does it just feel like those bricks are slowly but surely just becoming feathers? 

Sarah Schwerin 42:53
Oh, definitely, yeah. And, you know, I enjoy it more each time. 

Rich Bennett 42:59
Yeah. Alright, so Sarah, here's the hard thing for you. Because I love the feel good stories. And I am sure that you've had people come and speak to you after when you're speaking engagements or even people that have read your book have gotten back to you and thanked you. And you share a feel good story about somebody that you've actually been able to help and didn't realize you helped more or less. Yeah, just from your speaking or from the book. 

Sarah Schwerin 43:34
And I like feel good stories, too. And I think that it's not really one story, but I think my favorite when I'm done speaking is when someone comes to me with tears in their eyes and they just nod at me and they shake my hand and they can't really say anything, but it's that we see each other. They know what I've went through and they're saying, I see you and thank you. And they don't really even have to say a word because we kind of know each other's hearts. And me, that's a special bond. 

Rich Bennett 44:09
I was going to say, how many hugs have people given you? I'm sure you get hugs a lot afterwards. 

Sarah Schwerin 44:15
No, I, to be honest, I was never a hugging person, but I love it because it's a such a affirming thing, because it's a hug of, I've been there. That's what 

Rich Bennett 44:28
Yeah, 

Sarah Schwerin 44:28
the hug is saying. 

Rich Bennett 44:29
it feels good. Yeah. Yeah, it just, it warms your heart. 

Sarah Schwerin 44:34
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 44:35
That's somebody I'm not too long ago, too. And they said you should try to get seven hugs a day or get hugs a day. 

Sarah Schwerin 44:42
Well, that's good. Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 44:43
which I had, look, I have a hard time trying to hug my wife because she tells me to get away. And my daughter looks at me, and he's like, no, I don't think so. I always have to go hug strangers in order to. 

Sarah Schwerin 44:55
And 

children and so I relate 

Rich Bennett 45:01
Oh, so they don't hug you back. 

Sarah Schwerin 45:02
No, they're in the early 20s, so I have to wait a few more years. 

Rich Bennett 45:06
See, now that's funny because my son is 34 and he has no problems giving me a hug. My daughter is 25 and no, she won't give me a hug. It's like why she did 

Sarah Schwerin 45:21
young. 

Rich Bennett 45:21
what she was 

Sarah Schwerin 45:22
You have to steal it. 

Rich Bennett 45:23
But, yeah, Yeah, 

Sarah Schwerin 45:26
no. 

Rich Bennett 45:27
no, I mean, yeah, it will be me hugging her but she ain't getting hugged. It's, you gotta get it. It's, it's nice when you get the hug. 

Sarah Schwerin 45:36
There you go. 

Rich Bennett 45:36
I get bigger hugs from the dog next door. 

Sarah Schwerin 45:41
Uh 

Rich Bennett 45:42
She might be upstairs. I hope she didn't hear now. 

Sarah Schwerin 45:44
oh. 

Rich Bennett 45:44
She is upstairs. I know. I'm in trouble. 

Sarah Schwerin 45:47
Well now. 

Rich Bennett 45:49
So before I get to my last question, actually, let me tell everybody this first. Oh, tell everybody where they can purchase your book. The will of still things. 

Sarah Schwerin 46:01
Of course you can get it on Amazon Walmart dot com, books a million anywhere that quality books are sold. And you can ask. 

Rich Bennett 46:08
And where do people? 

Sarah Schwerin 46:09
Books store your local bookstore if they can carry it. 

Rich Bennett 46:13
And where do people sign up for your newsletter? Because you have a newsletter. 

Sarah Schwerin 46:17
You and they can sign up on my website. Sarah sharing dot com, s a r a h 

Rich Bennett 46:23
Okay. 

Sarah Schwerin 46:23
s ch w e r i n. 

Rich Bennett 46:27
Those of you that are listening, you know, you already know what I'm going to say. After you purchase the will of still things. 

And you read it. Make sure you leave a full review everywhere. You can leave reviews. Take a photo of yourself holding the book, post on social media, tag Sarah, tag myself, share it with people and buy copies for other people. Sure, I think it's an honorable form, 

Sarah Schwerin 46:51
as well. Not yet. We hope to be. 

Rich Bennett 46:55
So plans on doing it? 

Sarah Schwerin 46:57
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 47:00
Okay, good. Good. So before I get to last questions or anything you would like to add. 

Sarah Schwerin 47:07
I think you've covered most of It's been a 

Rich Bennett 47:11
it. 

Sarah Schwerin 47:11
great. 

Rich Bennett 47:11
I did. You sure? Sure. I didn't miss anything. 

Sarah Schwerin 47:18
I'm sure. 

Rich Bennett 47:19
So I'm putting her. I'm putting you on the spot. Dan, now you gotta think, 'Wait a minute, did you wear a shirt?' I see. I need you to pick a number between one and 100. 

Sarah Schwerin 47:33
25. 

Rich Bennett 47:36
25? 

Sarah Schwerin 47:37
8. 

Rich Bennett 47:37
You're 

Sarah Schwerin 47:37
Yes, that's my age. 

Rich Bennett 47:39
What? 

Sarah Schwerin 47:40
My oldest son is 22, so that's a weird. 

Rich Bennett 47:46
You adopted him 

Sarah Schwerin 47:47
when he was... That's 

Rich Bennett 47:47
That's true. Yeah, you adopted him when you were 

Sarah Schwerin 47:51
true. 

Rich Bennett 47:51
3. 

What is the most challenging idea you've ever had to grapple with? I guess what we've been talking about. 

Sarah Schwerin 48:06
The most challenging idea I've ever had to grapple with? 

Rich Bennett 48:11
I 

Sarah Schwerin 48:11
think would be why it's got to allow suffering. 

Oh, is that where you're going? No, no, okay. 

Rich Bennett 48:24
No, I was... No, no, n, look, you picked the... 

Sarah Schwerin 48:26
Oh, I picked it. 

Rich Bennett 48:29
Yeah, you pick number 25. And that's what number 25 is. What is the most challenging idea you've ever had to grapple with? Wait, 

Sarah Schwerin 48:37
that or algebra, 

Rich Bennett 48:41
so... No, but I would... Algebra is not an idea. But no, that was a good answer about why does God allow suffering? 

That's... Wow, 

you know. Mmm... Why do you think he does? 

Sarah Schwerin 49:04
Well, I don't think he allows it so much as we live in a world where we're allowed to make choices and we make crappy choices a lot of the times. And people really mess up and make... We've made a mess of things. But the good news is that God can bring good out of our choices, and that's what he's done for me, and that he can provide hope and encouragement, and he's with us every step of the way, as we have to live in a world where bad things happen. 

Rich Bennett 49:36
Yeah. I think also one of the reasons he allows it is so we can learn how to heal from 

Sarah Schwerin 49:45
it. Exactly. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 49:48
And to help others as well. I mean, face it, we... I think, I mean, if you go back to the beginning of the Bible, there was always suffering. 

Sarah Schwerin 50:00
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 50:01
but people had to learn how to heal from 

Sarah Schwerin 50:06
it. Exactly. 

Rich Bennett 50:08
Wow. Mmm. Sarah, I want to thank you so much. It's great to be able to talk with you and not have the sound going in and out. 

Sarah Schwerin 50:19
Oh, I do love when technology works. Such a good thing. 

Rich Bennett 50:25
Yo, make sure you say hi to Minnie Mouse. Now all the listeners are going to like, what, and the word, do you talk about an average? You have to see what's behind her. So, she is a big Disney fan. Is it... I take it Mickey and Minnie are your favorites? 

Sarah Schwerin 50:43
You know, actually Bell is my favorite because she likes to read, but I like Mickey pumpkins, and since while we're recording this, it's Fall, I have my Mickey pumpkins out. 

Rich Bennett 50:57
You couldn't find any Bell pumpkins? 

Sarah Schwerin 50:59
No, they make some. If someone finds 

Rich Bennett 51:01
I was going to say, wasn't 

Sarah Schwerin 51:03
one, 

Rich Bennett 51:04
Bell's, wasn't Bell's dress yellow? 

Sarah Schwerin 51:05
Your ride. Mm-hmm. Pumpkins are 

Rich Bennett 51:09
Oh, 

Sarah Schwerin 51:09
orange. 

Rich Bennett 51:09
the, 

uh, not all pumpkins are gourds. 

Sarah Schwerin 51:14
I 

Rich Bennett 51:16
mean, you could get a giant 

Sarah Schwerin 51:18
spaghetti... 

Rich Bennett 51:19
Marsh and make it into... oh. Bell's... well it's yellow. I say, right? Oh, God, 

Sarah Schwerin 51:29
okay. Okay. 

Rich Bennett 51:30
I share a thanks in the light. 

Sarah Schwerin 51:33
Look forward to talking to you soon. 

Rich Bennett 51:35
Sarah's story reminds us that healing is rarely a single moment. It is a lifelong process that can begin when we finally name what happened, seek support, and realize we no longer have to carry everything alone. We heard how faith and counseling help Sarah confront the childhood trauma she had buried, and how sharing her story has allowed some of those heavy bricks to slowly become feathers. We also learned about the extraordinary strength of her mother, who contracted polio as a child, but refused to let it define what her life could become. That resilience inspired Sarah's novel, the Willow Still sings, and it continues to shape her work as an author and speaker. Perhaps the most powerful lesson from this conversation is that telling our stories can create a connection words cannot always explain. Sometimes it's a tearful look, a handshake, or hug that simply says, 'I see you, I've been there too'. Sarah's story shows us that while suffering is part of this imperfect world, it does not get the final word. With faith, support, and the courage to keep moving forward, something meaningful can still grow from what we have endured. Please visit SarahSharon.com, and I'll have the link in the show notes, to learn more about Sarah. Sign up for her newsletter and find out where she will be speaking, and definitely pick up a copy of The Willow Still sings, and after you read it, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need this message of resilience and hope. A special thank you to Bel Air Window and Door for sponsoring this episode, and helping us bring these meaningful conversations to you, until next time. I'm Rich Bennett. Thanks for listening, and remember, every great conversation starts with someone willing to listen, and someone willing to share. Now it's your turn. Join the conversation by sharing this episode, leaving a comment, or reaching out to me directly. Take care. Be kind to one another, and I'll talk with you again soon.