We’re not “real life” friends yet, but Sharon Tedford and I have been connected, via Instagram, for a while now. Artist, painter, worship leader, singer, mom, and now also a podcast host…this is gonna be a wide-ranging episode!
Sharon was born in the south, too - southern England (Weymouth, in Dorsett), although she’s lived in Texas for the last 12 years. Her bucolic childhood included summers of selling souvenirs to “grockles” (tourists) and talking to people about Jesus at seaside church services. And then, in the dark winters, spending time enjoying family and going cycling in the dark.
Getting started
Sharon studied dance and theatre as a young girl. She auditioned at 10 years old for her first part in a school comedy and began learning to play the guitar at 13, using Beatles’ songs. That led to songwriting, and as a teenager, she and a friend started performing their own songs at school. At 14, she joined her brother’s Christian rock band, which she loved, and that birthed something special inside.
Yes, starts can be scary…but
There are so many transitions in life, so many opportunities for us to start things. I asked her, “What has kept you going through all the starts you’ve had over the years?”
“The only way we learn to be a good starter,” she replied “is to actually start things!”
It actually helps us to know, as believers, that no matter what Jesus is asking us to do, He is already there. As we do the little things, that trains us for the bigger things.
Oh, the story of how she met and eventually married her husband, Gareth, is too precious - you have to hear her tell it!
The origin of “God in The Ordinary”
Sharon’s podcast is all about how God shows up for people in their day-to-day life. One of the men on Sharon’s worship team had done a lot of professional audio work, and they became good friends. Eventually, he moved to the South of England…and started working attending the church that Sharon’s parents attended. (Totally a God-thing, right?!) Sometime later, he called her and suggested they start a podcast together, he doing the audio and she, the voice on the mic.
It’s a sweet, touching story, with a lovely connection to Isaiah 61…
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted…to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn…
Isaiah 61:1-2
Where have you seen God in the Ordinary?
RW: My question to Sharon continued: Maybe it was a long time ago, maybe it was in coming to Christ, maybe meeting your husband, maybe singing in the Christian band, maybe it was in starting 61 Things, or starting the “God in the Ordiary” podcast, or maybe in something else recently?
ST: “In short, Yes!” I’ve seen God in all those things and more. In the ordinary steps of meeting somseone, falling in love, in starting a new job…in having a class of 34 children. I saw God when we moved to the States, which was a difficult time for me at first. But I saw Him in those times and more, where I knew I wasn’t alone. So many moments.
“If we keep our eyes open, He’s always there…”
Sharon is eating… Keto - as a result of discovering I have Type 2 diabetes
Sharon is reading… “Scared to Life” by Ryan George (insert your affiliate link here)
Sharon is loving… having a bath with epsom salts (Sharon suggests buying it in bulk at Walmart)
Listen to our entire interview below.
Listen to Sharon’s podcast “God in The Ordinary” here.
Her website is 61 Things
On instagram @61things
And her album can be found on Spotify!
Feel free to reach out to me, too, on Instagram @friendsofafeatherpodcast