“When we pay attention through our difficulties, distress, sadness, and not knowing, as much as our clear vision and our competence, we almost always find that what troubles us at the surface has underneath it, a deep well of nourishment.”
David Whyte, September 2022 Series: Crossing the Unknown Sea, Life and Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity, Session 2
My goal as interfaith minister, for people of all ages, is to meet them where they are, fostering healthy boundaries and independence, while keeping our time together simple, positive, real, and fun. In that spirit I officiate weddings, paying special attention to what matters most to the people involved, so that we create ceremonies that capture and celebrate the moment at hand. I also bring what I’ve learned as a tutor to support youth in navigating life’s ups and downs.
While many people have a process within their family belief systems to explore religion and spirituality, some do not. As spiritual companion, I offer space to learn about different spiritual and religious paths, to consider what it means to be moral (with and) without believing in God (see Diamant and Sciupac, “10 Key findings about the religious lives of U.S. teens and their parents”), and to develop intentional practices that promote connection. While I don’t promote a particular religious/spiritual approach, I do provide a process, a time, and a place to explore.
In all these these endeavors, I hope to help others discover and drink from their own deep well of nourishment—fostering balance, resilience and peace of mind.