Journeying Together

“Jen, if you’re ever going to make money doing Spiritual Direction, you’re going to have to market to middle-upper class women.”

Something rose up within me when my dearly-loved-albeit-blunt-and-practical friend said this. It was a stubborn and persistent feeling of resistance welling up within. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE middle-upper class women! But here’s where the push back part of me showed up in full force – I REFUSE to limit soul care to “well off” women.

Of course, my friend had the best of intentions when she offered this advice. I was just finishing up my two year Spiritual Direction program (which is really just a fancy term for soul care) and was trying to discern what was next. She wanted me to think practically about what it might take to move forward in a financially sustainable way.

So here I am, a little over a year later, and as I think about the wonderful ladies that I have the privilege of coming alongside right now, NONE of them fit the aforementioned demographic! Also, NOTHING has played out the way I thought it might:

The job I thought I was going to take fell through.

My husband and I are one year into starting Nourish Family Farm, a company I never anticipated taking off and embedding us into the community the way it has. I have high hopes that it will become profitable enough in 2024 that we could make a go of it. We are well on our way!

My own inner work continues and I find the natural outgrowth of that pulling me toward a place of greater freedom and creativity. Here are some of the projects that have come out of this season. Feel free to use anything that serves you/your community.

I am taking part in Sustainable Faith’s School of Ecclesial Life cohort. SEL exists to encourage and resource individuals and teams who are investing in their respective neighborhoods and making efforts to love their neighbors as Jesus would.

I love collaborating with Bob Pearson, who heads up the Spiritual Direction community at St. Francis Springs.

I am deeply grateful for our faith community at Gate City Vineyard and the opportunities to give and receive there.

I marvel at the beautiful people we get to call “friends” in our little neighborhood as well as the folks from different parts of the country (and world!) that we get to host in our Airbnb suite. (Side note: we LOVE sharing this space with our friends and family, so know that the door is always open!)

I’m still not entirely sure where this “Journeying Together” gig is going, but I sense an invitation from the Spirit to

• Love where I live
• Connect with folks who feel like holy misfits
• Come alongside women from all walks of life and look for the fingerprints of God, who is always at work (I have an opportunity to go into the local women’s prison in our area and I am excited to see where this might lead).
• Help bring the streams of our faith together as the mighty river of God, flowing into a dry and weary land

This is a snapshot of 2023:

Stepping into 2024, we find ourselves at a crossroads as we wait, watch and wonder…

What does it look like for me to continue offering Spiritual Direction regardless of one’s ability to pay and balance this with my other responsibilities? Much of SD happens over the phone/Zoom, which opens up a lot of opportunities unlimited by physical location…

What does it look like to cultivate a community that recognizes, as Thomas Keating suggests, “when the practices that used to sustain us in our spiritual journey fall short, it’s really an invitation to go deeper”?

What does it look like to provide faith communities with a “glimpse” into the rich tapestry of contemplative Christianity, ranging from mystics to modern thinkers and some of my own original work?

What does it look like for us, in our unique context to wait, watch, wonder and take part in what the Spirit gives shape to as we seek a more simple and sustainable form of church life aligned with 21st century realities?

I suppose time will tell. As we pursue these “holy nudges” I sure would be grateful if you would consider the following:

1. Check out my Patreon page and let me know what you think. Like, really… I’m wide open to constructive criticism. Do you think a model like this is feasible?

2. Keep Journeying Together in the back of your mind and feel free to share my info with anyone whom you think might be interested in Spiritual Direction!

3. Be mindful of and prayerful with us as we seek to discern next steps for our family (we are at a crossroads on several fronts)…exciting but also a little scary!

Also, I’m working to put together a curriculum of sorts (the outgrowth of my experiences in the School of Ecclesiel Life) and I would be so thrilled to hear your stories of what it looks like for YOU, in your unique context, to be the church in the 21st century. I’d love to pilot this with a few faith communities, so let me know if this strikes a chord with any of you!

And so, my friends, if you have made it this far, THANKS! I know email and blog posts are a thing of the past. It means a lot that you took the time to read this.

With a glance in the rear view mirror, my feet planted firmly in the present moment and eyes on the horizon, I wish you a beautiful close to 2023, strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.

Much Love,

Jen