My dad's a pastor and a seminary professor; my mom, she has such

Host: The room was quiet, save for the occasional hum of the air conditioner and the soft tapping of a distant keyboard. Jack leaned against the counter, stirring his coffee absentmindedly. Jeeny sat at the window, her gaze out at the bustling street, but her mind was far away. The city was alive, but here, in the warmth of the café, a different energy lingered, one of reflection and unspoken understanding.

Jack: “You ever think about where you come from? About your family, the people who shaped you?”

Jeeny: “All the time. You?”

Jack: “I keep coming back to this quote I heard the other day. Allyson Felix—she said, ‘My dad’s a pastor and a seminary professor; my mom, she has such great faith.’ There’s something about that. It’s like her whole foundation is built on faith, on belief. It made me wonder—what does it take to grow up with that kind of conviction?”

Jeeny: “It takes a lot. Faith like that—it’s not just about what you believe; it’s about the way it shapes everything. I think growing up with that kind of strong foundation, like she did, it’s a part of you. It’s in the way you see the world, in the choices you make. There’s a strength in it, don’t you think?”

Jack: “I get that, but don’t you think there’s a certain pressure with having parents like that? A pastor and a seminary professor? I mean, there’s this expectation—to live up to something bigger than yourself, right? It’s like you have to be perfect all the time.”

Jeeny: “Maybe. But at the same time, it’s not about being perfect, is it? It’s about the faith you carry with you, the understanding that you’re not doing it alone. Growing up with parents who have great faith, like Allyson’s mom, I imagine it gives you a sense of purpose, a center in the world that doesn’t always make sense.”

Jack: “But where does that leave the rest of us? The ones who don’t have that kind of faith growing up. I mean, is it even possible to build that kind of trust, that conviction later in life?”

Jeeny: “I think it is. Faith isn’t just something you inherit; it’s something you choose. It’s the belief that something greater than yourself is guiding you. Whether that’s a belief in God, in the universe, or in something else entirely, it’s about finding your anchor. Allyson’s parents gave her that foundation, but that doesn’t mean it’s exclusive to her. Faith can grow in anyone, no matter where they come from.”

Jack: “Yeah, but isn’t there something about growing up in that kind of environment that makes it easier? If your parents are living with that kind of faith, showing you every day what it looks like to trust, to believe—it’s hard to replicate that later on.”

Jeeny: “I won’t deny that. It’s a privilege. But it’s also a choice. Faith is something that can be built, brick by brick. Maybe it’s harder for some, but it’s never impossible. You don’t have to be born into it to understand it. Sometimes, it’s about going through the darkness and finding the light yourself.”

Jack: “So you think faith is something that can be learned? Even by someone like me, who didn’t grow up in a house like that?”

Jeeny: “I do. Faith is the kind of thing that can change you. It’s not about perfection, Jack—it’s about the belief that there’s a reason behind the struggle, a purpose in the pain. It’s about trusting that no matter how lost you feel, you’re not alone. And the more you practice it, the more it becomes a part of who you are.”

Jack: “I see that. But I still don’t know… It’s hard to believe in something when you don’t always see the answers, right? When things don’t always make sense.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. That’s the challenge. But that’s also where faith really comes in. It’s in the times when everything seems broken, when you can’t find a reason for the struggle—that’s when faith has to be the strongest. It’s not about understanding it all right away. It’s about knowing that something will come out of it, and trusting that you’re on the right path.”

Host: The sound of the café faded into the background as Jack and Jeeny sat in silence, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air like a distant, yet resonating hum. Jeeny’s words lingered, a soft light shining on the spaces between their thoughts, inviting reflection.

Jack: “I never really thought about it like that. I guess faith isn’t just something you’re given. It’s something you choose every day.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. And whether it comes from your parents or you find it on your own, faith is what keeps you going when everything else seems uncertain. It’s the thing that ties you to a greater purpose.”

Host: As the conversation slowed, the evening light outside the window dimmed. The city buzzed on, but in that quiet space, there was a sense of understanding, a sense that faith—whether in family, in God, or in something greater—was never a one-size-fits-all journey. It was personal, it was deep, and it was always within reach, waiting to be found.