Giving Advice to Your Younger Self

Posted on July 18, 2025 by Karen Thomas Olsen

Have you ever been asked the question, “What advice would you give to your younger self?” Hmm. How would you answer?

Recently, I was sent this question in a short list of questions I was given to prepare for an upcoming podcast interview. I’m wanting to discuss my book, A Traveler’s Guide through Suffering and Joy, but first I’ll be asked some questions about my life.  Actually, the interviewers are looking to hear interesting life stories of faith more than they are interested in discussing the contents of a book.  I agreed to the interview, hoping that telling some of my story will be a platform to tell about my book, which will be the last topic of our conversation.  I don’t think that I can answer their questions about my life without referring to themes in my book. The last of the provided questions before discussing the book is about giving advice to one’s younger self.

This sounds like a currently popular and clever way to offer advice to others while revealing something of the arc of your own growth.  So I’ve been simmering on possible replies.

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Categories: A Traveler's Guide thr Suffering & Joy, Spiritual Growth | 3 Comments

On Reading Aloud

Posted on May 24, 2025 by Karen Thomas Olsen

Do you like to have someone read to you? Do you like to read aloud for others?

Paul is reading aloud to me a series that we’ve read numerous times. We’ve read this series on our own. We’ve read these books to our children. We’ve read them to our grandchildren. Why read them again? And why now?

Again? Because these stories engage our minds and comfort our spirits. Now? Because as my health has further limited me this year, Paul and I are further limited in our ability to do things together that would be either normal or desirable for a couple to do together. Paul is very physically active and I am not. Reading aloud offers a pleasant experience we can share together.

Paul is reading The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis to me.Paul reading to his wife. We are finishing tonight our fourth book, Prince Caspian. Reliving the Narnia stories takes us on adventures that cost little physical energy. Attention is needed, which does require some energy, and attention opens the mental door of imagination. Even at the age of 70, we imbibe biblical and virtuous lessons from these tales. We smile, laugh, and discuss.

Oh, did I write 70?

Today Paul turns 71!

Happy Birthday, my Sweetheart!

 

 

 

 

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Speaking of adventures through books:

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Categories: A Traveler's Guide thr Suffering & Joy, Christian Reader, The Roaming Reader | Tags: , , | 3 Comments

What Makes You Persevere? And Any Book Updates?

Posted on March 30, 2025 by Karen Thomas Olsen

What makes you persevere?

We’re still here, so apparently, we have persevered through the winter, and now spring unfolds upon us. Thank You, Lord! “We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord….” *

What makes you persevere? This question can take us in many directions, and no matter the direction (personal, psychological, spiritual, relational, or theological), it will take us deep into its own country.

I could story-tell about my winter in Florida, and I’d rather like to do so. I’d also like to delve into the biblical challenge to persevere as explained in Romans chapter 5. “Having been justified by faith… we exult in hope…”(Romans 5:1). Biblical hope empowers me to persevere. The Holy Spirit can use this chapter to motivate us. Before I say anymore about hope-induced perseverance, let me update you on some activity regarding my book, A Traveler’s Guide through Suffering and Joy.

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Categories: A Personal Note, A Traveler's Guide thr Suffering & Joy | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

From the First to the Last, Every Breath is Sacred

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Karen Thomas Olsen

While we walk through life one moment at a time, sometimes the moments feel like ages and sometimes they feel like fleeting breaths, flying through us unable to be caught. Such is life. I have a prayer to share with you today, but first, I’d like to repeat a few lines from a song by Claire Cloninger that I shared with you in my last post. After speeding through the first month of 2025, we need to remember:

From the first bright light of morning,

To the last warm glow of dusk;

Every breath we take is sacred,

For it is God’s gift to us.*

Therefore, together, let us pray:

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Categories: A Traveler's Guide thr Suffering & Joy, prayer | Tags: , | 5 Comments

As the Years Go By: Meaningful Breaths

Posted on January 10, 2025 by Karen Thomas Olsen

I opened the dashboard for this blog this morning wanting to write a new post. I’ve taken a break from writing, for the most part, since Thanksgiving. I needed the breather. While we are ten days into the new year, it is yet the new year, so I say with you, “Welcome to 2025!”

As I looked over my dashboard (the interior of my WordPress blog), I found that two readers recently had pulled up a very old post of mine dated January 17, 2012. (This blog was birthed in November of 2011.) At that time this blog was part of my ministry as the curriculum director for Troy Christian Schools in Troy, Ohio, although I was living in Arizona. My articles were short then because they were written mainly for parents of our students, and I posted more often.

The following is my January 2012 post which I find to still be relevant, as well as gentle and refreshing. It is short.

Let our work inhabit our prayer. Let our prayer inhabit our work.

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Take a read:

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Categories: A Traveler's Guide thr Suffering & Joy, prayer | Tags: , | 6 Comments

Eating My Own Spiritual Casseroles and Growing Thereby

Posted on November 24, 2024 by Karen Thomas Olsen

This past week I received 110 copies of my newly published book and have taken time each day to eat and walk my way through my own copy, highlighting and marking as I go. Spiritually thirsty and hungry, I’m letting my own chapters, rich in Scriptures, feed me. I’m needy. I need everything in these pages and so much more.

I’m reminded of Martin Luther’s insight that to form a theologian (that is, every Christ-follower) three ingredients are necessary: prayer, meditation on Scripture, and affliction.  We are blessed with an abundance of opportunities to experience all three of these. Really?

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Categories: A Personal Note, A Traveler's Guide thr Suffering & Joy | Tags: , | Leave a comment

A Book is Born (and a website and a podcast)!

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Karen Thomas Olsen

A Traveler’s Guide through Suffering and Joy is now listed on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble!

My publisher says the book is now “live” meaning distributors have access to it now, so you should be able to find it at other book distributors besides Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

However, it will not be released until November 19 (instead of the 14th as previously expected), because of some glitches the printers experienced with the cover last week. All is settled now, and books are being printed. A box should arrive at my house tomorrow so that I will have the first physical look and touch!

You can find it on Amazon, add it to your list, and then order it on the 19th, or you can pre-order it now at Barnes and Noble.

Here is the Barnes and Noble link:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-travelers-guide-through-suffering-and-joy-karen-thomas-olsen/1146540977?ean=9781961093836.

We’re still adding things to the website and we’ve started a podcast called Trail Mix.  My husband, Paul, and I recorded our first episode yesterday and hope to have it up on YouTube and on my website tonight – Lord willing! Check back on the website tomorrow to see if you can listen to the first episode in which Paul interviews me about the book. You may want to share this with friends.

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Publication After the Election

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Karen Thomas Olsen

Autumn’s drama dances on the stage this season. Rich reds, oranges, and tans overtake our maple and oak trees here in Indiana, enhanced by clear blue skies. ‘Tis the season.

Everywhere the season is dramatic. Sorrowfully so, in weather-torn and war- torn regions within our country and around the world. Anxiously so, with the coming elections in the USA. Personally so for me, as my book, A Traveler’s Guide through Suffering and Joy, prepares to be launched. Hopefully so for you, my readers as you anticipate the benefits of reading and sharing my “labor of love”,  as Dr. Walter Kaiser Jr.  so graciously describes it in his endorsement.

“So, what’s the release date?” you ask.

I finally have an answer. The book will be released on November 14, and will be available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and I believe CBD (and other main sites I’m not sure of).  Since it is so close to the election, my publisher and I decided to wait until after this to release the book.

My favorite tree of drama in our neighborhood. When you drive down our street, the street dead ends at this house where you must turn right or left. It is worth pausing at the stop sign just to stare in wonder at God’s artistry. Thank You, Lord!

During this season, what can and should you and I do?

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Categories: A Traveler's Guide thr Suffering & Joy, Government, Joy & Suffering -- Good & Evil | Tags: , , | 2 Comments

Announcing a Move!

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Karen Thomas Olsen

Within the next few weeks my book will be released: A Traveler’s Guide through Suffering and Joy. When I have a release day, I will let you know, and I hope you will order the book!

In preparation for its availability, I have contracted with a lovely web designer to construct a new website for me that will hold all of my various projects. When you opened this post today, you opened JourneyNorthCharacter on my new website: http://www.KarenThomasOlsen.com . Going to the blog as you normally do will also take you to the new site. After you have read this post, click on the box in the upper left to explore the website. This is just the start, but it is a beautiful beginning.

Danette, my web designer, is an artist and photographer. She also designed the cover of my book for both the front and the back. The photography is her original work, and she also designed the word layout. I love the fonts she chose.

Let me show you the entire cover wrap.  The front cover photo features the Elk Mountain range in western Colorado, while the back cover shows the Maroon Bells, two peaks within the Elk Mountain range and the lake below. On the back cover are two endorsements, the book description, and my bio paragraph. Danette designed it all so attractively. What do you think?

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Categories: A Traveler's Guide thr Suffering & Joy, Spiritual Growth, The Roaming Reader, Theology, Travels | Tags: , , , | 6 Comments

“Think and Do.” Where’s the “Feel”?

Posted on September 26, 2024 by Karen Thomas Olsen

When I was a child in elementary school, we used these workbooks called Think and Do. They were a part of our Language Arts curriculum. We practiced our developing reading skills through our grade level reading books plus these corresponding workbooks. I liked the workbooks, I realized later, because the exercises broke concepts down into steps and showed patterns that I could then apply.

Reading did not come easily to me, so I needed process steps to make connections. No matter the mental process we engage, we are always thinking and doing. Think and do.

Where does the “feeling” come in? Emotion is always present in both the thinking and the doing. We cannot think anything or do anything without emotion permeating thought and action.

Why do I bring this up? Recently I was asked about how I process my feelings as part of my faith. Interesting.

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Categories: Devotional, Spiritual Growth | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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