I hope today finds you well and at ease in your world. This is not an easy task today considering all the stands before us. I am, however, a firm believer in hope. I believe grace is real and living with greater peace and love for all beings is possible. Not only possible, but our Divine Directive.
You may or may not know this. In 2017, I co-founded a school, The Spiritual Guidance Training Institute for the purpose of training people to become spiritual companions/directors/guides like myself and my colleague Jeanette Banashak. We were both trained to become spiritual directors through Dominican Center in Grand Rapids, MI, and we will be
forever grateful for the gift of their contemplative presence.
Our journeys in spiritual direction have morphed and changed over the years. Both of us are deeply interspiritual persons and our orientation as spiritual companions is "interfaith." Meaning, we companion people of all traditions. We also companion and guide people who might identify as "None," or unaffiliated—even disaffiliated—spiritual, but not religious. (Though we prefer the term "spiritual
independent.")
You may or may not know this. At SGTI, we also offer a short training program for people who do NOT want to become spiritual directors, but who want to open their minds and hearts to people of all traditions. And none. We call it "Interfaith and Interspiritual Wisdom Training" and it is open to EVERYONE—to anyone who desires to learn more about other religions (and spiritual expressions) so they can offer true hospitality and genuine, compassionate presence to others.
This 5-month, online program begins in January and I am the one who teaches it. If you would like to study with me through our institute from January - May, this is a unique opportunity to do so. I'd love to have you join me, especially if you are someone whose heart thrills at the thought of learning and growing in awareness, compassion and presence together!
Applications are now being accepted. We begin January 10. Please contact me if you have any questions. Some scholarship opportunities are available. Open to international students too!
p.s. This is an intimate, online learning experience via Zoom - 12 students max.
If you are interested in learning how to engage, support and offer spiritual encouragement
to people of other traditions,
this program is for you.
No matter what is happening in the world, I believe as Fred Rogers does:
"I believe that appreciation is a holy thing, that when we look for what's best in the person we happen to be with at the moment, we are doing what God does. So in loving and appreciating our neighbor, we are participating in something truly sacred." (Fred Rogers)
May Deep Understanding hold our hearts and minds so Love can prevail. May it be so. Amen.
