Friends for the Journey
By Kathrin Gabriel-Jones , Encouragement Coach for Ministering to Ministers Foundation
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| Episode | Date |
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Reflection: Change is Hard. Here's Hoping for the Future
954
Change happens during the course of our lives. Regardless of the form in which change appears along our road, there’s a certain time of upheaval followed (we hope) by a growing sense of comforting familiarity. Change is afoot in the world of the Ministering to Ministers Foundation! A new home, a renewed commitment, a renewing sense of a purpose in the world, all of this begins to unfold for Ministering to Ministers in the halls of the Center for Lifelong Learning in Columbia Theological Seminary. And there is some change unfolding for Kathrin Gabriel-Jones, too! A new podcast, which is introduced in this episode. Thank you for being a Friend for the Journey! Some links to share: The Here’s Hoping: Conversations with Kathrin podcast is available on most podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe to learn what’s happening next! Kathrin Gabriel-Jones is proud to continue developing and hosting this Friends for the Journey podcast. To contact Kathrin, you are welcome to send her a note here. Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Mar 11, 2021 |
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Reflection: On Being A Friend for the Journey
541
If we’re lucky, we discover some friendly people along the path, some friends for our journey. Having those friends can provide a sense of calm to our waters, and we can experience the still deep waters of our lives settling into something familiar, something we begin to trust. Yet, even with our luck of having friends, we all experience upheaval in our lives, when those still, deep waters of our lives are broken by unexpected change, leaving us in the choppy waves of that wake left by change. Some links to share: Kathrin Gabriel-Jones is proud to continue developing and hosting this Friends for the Journey podcast. To contact Kathrin, you are welcome to send her a note here. Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Feb 25, 2021 |
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One Retrospective of Friends for the Journey
2237
2020 surprised the world, taking everyone completely off guard. The entire world became plunged into the wake of unexpected transition and upheaval. As 2021 dawned across the world, the upheaval of the pandemic continues. Yet the world, our world that still swims upstream against the upheaval of the pandemic and the unknown, remains united in confusion and the unknown. Throughout each of the conversations with Friends for the Journey, we’ve explored a lot of different aspects of how, after the unexpected transition, we can continue moving through our lives and into our future. So, the Friends for the Journey will begin weaving these threads of wisdom together over the next months, crafting a network of friends to hold us as we move into this new future together. Today, we take threads from Dr. Rev. Skip Irby, Dr. Roberta Damon, and Pastor AbbyLynn Haskell. Happy Weaving, friend. Some links to share: Kathrin Gabriel-Jones has been proud to develop and host this Friends for the Journey podcast. To contact Kathrin, you are welcome to send her a note here. Links to the full episodes can be found below: Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Feb 18, 2021 |
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Reflection: When the Wind Blows...Step by Step
645
When unexpected change overtakes us, it’s sometimes difficult to tell what’s up and what’s down. After all, when things are happening fast, it’s hard to keep track After the upheaval has ended, we’re left standing in the debris, still wondering how to go on. But you can. Even if you need to take a beat and take a breath before you take another step. Kathrin shares a gift of wisdom she received from a trusted mentor, which helped her take a beat and take a breath before taking another step. What is some wisdom you’ve received along your journey? Some links to share: “Too Many Pastors Are Falling on Their Own Swords”, by Jakob Topper explores the line pastors walk between caring for congregations and sacrificing themselves for congregations (last accessed 1/21/2021) HelpGuide, a nonprofit mental health and wellness website, shares the following article that includes five tips for dealing with anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as anytime anxiety and uncertainty occur in upheaval: Dealing with Uncertainty During the Coronavirus Pandemic. (last accessed 1-21-2021) Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Feb 11, 2021 |
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Roberta Damon: Gratitude, Generosity, and Hope, Oh My!
3097
Promises made, promises kept: the foundations for friendship and heartfelt conversations. As promised, Roberta Damon and Kathrin sit down for a meandering dialogue through the forests of thought, feelings, and belief. Stories are shared, discoveries are made, and they encounter gratitude, generosity, and hope….oh my! Some links to share: |
Feb 04, 2021 |
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Reflection: Mind the Gap
579
You’ve probably heard the phrase, Mind the Gap, at some point in your life. It’s most often associated with the London Underground trains to warn passengers about the space between the station platform and the train entrance. It’s a warning to ensure people don’t slip and fall into the space between the place where they were and the place where they are going to be. The events of the past year have been rolling around in my mind not because last year’s upheaval has ended, but because we’re in a middle place, in between where we – as a world - had been and where we – as a world - might end up. Some links to share: This YouTube video shows the space between the train & platform. It’s worth watching to see how big some of those gaps can be! Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Jan 28, 2021 |
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Nancy Lubin: Weaving Language & Meaning
3094
A professional aromatherapist, certified lifecoach, and professional weaver for over 50 years with five floor looms in active use, Nancy Lubin understands the nuanced connection between the many threads in the human experience. With insight and humor as her companions, Nancy explores a tapestry of conversation about the meaning inherent to the language we use, the imagery formed from our words, and the connections developed and nourished within those moments we share. Some links to share: Nancy Lubin can be found on her website. Definitions of Resilience on Free Dictionary Here are a few videos about floor looms: Weaving on a Floor Loom, found on Life of a Homemaker. Michelle Driver’s video about the floor loom she uses for Threefold Designs. And finally, Kelly Casanova’s video shows a different perspective of the weaving process. Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Jan 21, 2021 |
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Reflection: When the Future Becomes the Present
714
In the first days of a new year, each of us is faced with a familiar yet unusual quandary: the future that we’ve dreamed into has suddenly become the present. It may not be what we expected it to be, it may even feel strange, even different from what we thought it might be. And yet, the future is now the present. Ultimately, it’s the most human of all experiences, when the future becomes the present, and discovering what feels unfamiliar, what is now new, and what we each need to rediscover. Some links to share: New Years Quotes in a New Year: Quotes About the Present: Have a thought about those moments when your future has suddenly become your present? Let me know! Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Jan 14, 2021 |
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Beverley Buston, PhD. - Peaks & Valleys on the Mountain of Faith
2501
Kathrin sits down with Dr. Beverley Buston, missionary, psychologist, nurse, helper, and mountain woman. The conversation ranges across the landscape of thought and faith, yet Beverly keeps us grounded with pragmatism, care, and faith. Welcome, friend. It’s great to have you with us for the journey. Some links to share: The full biography and profile of Beverley Buston, PhD., 2013 recipient of the Campbell-Wallace Achievement for Distinguished Service Award, can be viewed on the Ministering to Ministers website here. Beverley speaks of the West Virginia mountains with much love and emotion. Looking at the mountains themselves explains why. You can explore the beautiful mountains throughout the West Virginia landscape here, on the West Virginia Explorer website. During our conversation, the phrase “moving from either/or to both/and: The Theology of Work explores this phrase in this lovely article, Moving from Either/Or to Both/And (last accessed on 1/2/21) Bagavad Gita and The Mabinogion can both be explored on GoodReads. Dr. Beverley mentioned the mission work she’s done through her church. You can see the various ministries and missions of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia on their website. NPR’s moving obituary of Congressman John Lewis details his remarkable life, achievements, and his continued encouragement for others to get into good trouble. Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Jan 07, 2021 |
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Reflection: The End of the Beginning
586
2020 has been A Year. Some links to share: And, of course, Ministering to Ministers: We Are Here for You Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Dec 31, 2020 |
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Laurie Curtis: Swimming in the Deep End of the Pool
3598
Once upon a time, Laurie Curtis is happy to wear a collection of hats in her work with her clients and in her life. In our conversation, we dive deep into the topics of hope and resilience, trauma, and the confluence of them all in the journey in our lives. Early in our conversation, I tell Laurie that I just wanted to “dive into the deep end.” With grace and insight, Laurie and Kathrin swim easily into the depths of heartfelt conversation, and rise back up to the surface together, ready to welcome you along the way. Some links to share: CurtisEase Coaching Laurie’s equation for resilience: Resilience = Hope + Action Barbara Frederickson Traumatic Incident Reduction Association of America Family Systems Theory Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Dec 24, 2020 |
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Reflection: One Expression of Prayer
644
There are many different expressions of and words for prayer. And, I think, everyone has an idea of what prayer means in their own life. Regardless of what it means for you, I offer a prayer for anyone who’s listening. I offer it in love and hope for the space between us to be blessed with peace and health. Some links to share: Ministering to Ministers Foundation Prayer Ministry: Have a Prayer? Let us know. We will pray for you. And, of course, Ministering to Ministers: We Are Here for You Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Dec 17, 2020 |
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Roberta Damon: Forgiveness, Clothing, and Roses
2920
As promised, Kathrin and Roberta sit down for another fantastic conversation, this time diving into the intersection of hope and cynicism, what forgiveness means, and why each person deserves the chance to make their own choice about forgiving someone who has caused harm. While both Roberta and Kathrin share stories during their conversation, each one humorous and poignant in turn, Roberta reflects on the story she’d shared as a clinical facilitator at Wellness Retreats provided by the Ministering to Ministers foundation. As the friendship between Roberta and Kathrin grows during this episode, they invite you to join them. Welcome, friend. It’s great to have you with us for the journey. Some links to share: Memorizing Poetry: The origins of cynicism: TedEx video: https://youtu.be/Utzym1I_BiY Sources about the Jerzy Bielcki & Cyla Cybulska story: Roberta’s Website: RobertaDamon.me Also: Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: |
Dec 10, 2020 |
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Reflection: Tradition Reinvented, Tradition Reclaimed
568
Traditions are a part of the human experience. Some traditions are passed down from generation to generation. Others appear in our lives as a result of a deeply meaningful experience, either shared with others or in one’s own life. Ultimately, traditions provide a stable place by which we trace the passing of seasons and the course of our lives and relationships. And occasionally, something forces a fundamental change in the tradition on which we’ve come to rely because of an illness, death of a loved one, a move to a different country or city, maybe even a global pandemic. This change could impact one single traditional event, or it could completely upend our personal understanding of what this tradition has meant and could mean to us in the future. Sometimes we need to reinvent a tradition. Other times we need to reclaim it. In order for either of these things to happen, we need to be willing to ask “what does tradition mean to me?” Some links to share: S. Bear Bergman, an award-winning writer, storyteller, and educator, wrote Make Socially Distanced Holidays Fun and Special. https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dpm9d/make-socially-distanced-holidays-fun-and-special The Importance of Keeping Up Holiday Traditions During Covid-19 published on EVOLVE Teen Treatment Center’s website (https://evolvetreatment.com/blog/holiday-traditions-covid/ ) Adapting Holiday Traditions During Coronavirus accessed from PBS, https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/adapting-holiday-traditions-during-coronavirus Almost every healthcare agency, both private and public, has at least one article about navigating traditions in changing times. It might be worth it to see what’s being published in your area. Here is an article by the national healthcare coordinator, Solv: 16 COVID -Takes on Holiday Traditions https://www.solvhealth.com/blog/covid-takes-on-holiday-traditions And traditions can become even more meaningful sometimes. FeedingAmerica has these suggestions in their article, Start These 5 Covid-Friendly Holiday Traditions That Give Back https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-blog/start-these-5-covid-friendly-holiday-traditions-give-back And, of course, Ministering to Ministers: We Are Here for You Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Dec 03, 2020 |
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Gregory Reinauer: There's Something Here We Haven't Seen Yet...
2487
Kathrin sits down with colleague and friend Gregory Reinauer, who introduces beautiful perspectives about music, conversation, and actively engaging hope in our lives. A bass musician trained at Berklee College of Music, Gregory shares how good ears support an understanding of the foundation that unites all the different strains of music within our lives. Together, Gregory and Kathrin explore new possibilities of creativity, music, faith, and – as Gregory says - that there’s something here that we have not yet seen that is here to emerge for all of us and to be interested in that. (A tip o’the hat to Gregory!) How do we face the challenges and trials of the world? Gregory stands at the edge of that question and does not flinch during a heart-warming, thought-provoking dialogue about the faith that we are part of a universe that we cannot fall out of. Join us for a conversation rich with laughter and inspiration. You are in the right place, friend. Welcome. *PostScript: I realized after our conversation that I’d mistakenly attributed “All shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well” to Teresa of Avila rather than Julian of Norwich. There I go being human again! Gregory Reinauer Creative Action Coaching And Please note, Kathrin misquoted the phrase “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” This, along with many other fantastic quotes, is attributed to Julian of Norwich, not Teresa of Avila. (Heavens to mergetroid!) Original links to the Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) source for Rabbi Tarfon’s quote, “It is not your duty to finish the work of perfecting the world), but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.” George Kao (link to the Friends for the Journey episode) https://www.buzzsprout.com/1363012/5525260 Dag Hammarskjöld (Link in Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/946904.Dag_Hammarskj_ld) “For all that has been, thank you. For all that is to come, yes.” https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/35474-for-all-that-has-been-thank-you-for-all-that Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: |
Nov 26, 2020 |
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Reflection: The Mythical Beauty of Silence
561
How much silence do you notice in your day? In your mind? One of the most common complaints about the modern world is the lack of silence, and it’s easy to project a longing onto the past and think: oh, the past had space for silence, and there’s no silence in the modern world. But there’s one constant throughout all of history: people. And there’s nothing silent about people. In today’s reflection, Kathrin poses the question: how do you notice silence? Some links to share: The natural world provides much calming support. Of course, we’re not always able to get back to nature when we’d like to, so here’s a little bit of the natural world for you: Monterey Bay Aquarium: Moon Jelly LiveCam Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Nov 19, 2020 |
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Michael Chittum: The Surprise & Challenge Along the Journey
2838
Kathrin gets to share some wonderful conversation and laughter with her friend, Michael Chittum, who has walked alongside Ministering to Ministers in their service to others and been a Friend for the Journey to many over the past twenty-five years. Michael’s years as a pastor and leader have culminated in this work as the Executive Director of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, which is most often abbreviated to simply “N.A.”. During their dialogue, Michael shares how he’s been guided throughout his journey, what matters most to him, and how these inform his life. Welcome, Friend. It’s great to have you with us. Some links to share: The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC) The origins of the Triquetra symbol are unclear, but it has remained a constant throughout the ages. If you’re not sure what a Triquetra looks like, here are two examples here. Henri Nouwen Parker Palmer Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Nov 12, 2020 |
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Reflection: After an Altering Event
549
At the time of this recording, voting has just ended for the Presidential Election, a pandemic is currently sweeping across the planet, extreme weather events continue to cause record flooding, drought, and wildfires, and hundreds of species of animals of every size face extinction every day. There’s a lot happening in the world. And that’s just in the world. What about what’s happening in your own life? When an event – any event – alters our lives, we have to keep going on. And that’s hard. But sometimes when our lives become upended because of the actions and decisions of other people, as in a forced termination or a medical separation from your career, or the thoughtless words of another person, or the discrimination and prejudice because of how you look or who you love, that altering event becomes even more complicated and painful. And that’s worth looking at. Because you matter, that’s right, I’ll say it again, You Matter. You’re not alone. Below are resources to use and share: Veterans Crisis Line The natural world provides much calming support. Of course, we’re not always able to get back to nature when we’d like to, so here’s a little bit of the natural world for you: Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Nov 05, 2020 |
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DJ Kinney: Rhyming Our Way Through History
2489
Kathrin gets to sit down with Dr. DJ Kinney, a historian who looks into dangerous chapters in history without flinching, to talk about hope and cynicism in a changing world. DJ Kinney researches, produces and hosts The Cold War Vault podcast, which looks at this secretive period of history and peels back the curtain to reveal the humanity within. Here are some links to what we discussed in our conversation: About The Cold War Vault Clay Lamps through history at the Milwaukee Public Museum: Pliny the Elder & Pompeii: “A Voyage into Catastrophe: Pompeii and the Roman Navy” by Will Mather, Western Australia Museum “The Great Man Theory”, Villanova University History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes,” Fall 2018 Ohio Wesleyan University Feature by Richard North Patterson Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation. Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Oct 29, 2020 |
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Reflection: There We Go Being Human Again
471
It’s that familiar feeling that never feels good: that realization of making a mistake, overlooking something important, missing a deadline, speaking when listening might be the better option… There we go, being human again. I first heard this phrase from a wise woman I met who, upon hearing me berate myself for an oversight, said There you go, being human again...did you think you were immune? That Oh no! feeling:
That moment...it’s universal for all of us...there we go, being human. Some links to share: Call them what you will, everybody experiences them now and again: meltdowns. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-art-of-the-meltdown-11602015018 From the Iona Community, this short, prayerful meditative prayer soothes and comforts: https://youtu.be/iMU1k845KuE The natural world provides much calming support. Of course, we’re not always able to get back to nature when we’d like to, so here’s a little bit of the natural world for you: Monterey Bay Aquarium: Moon Jelly LiveCam Monterey Bay Aquarium: Monterey Bay LiveCam Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats Ministering to Ministers Resources: Forced Termination Ministering to Ministers: The Problem Ministering to Ministers Resources: Books Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Oct 22, 2020 |
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Roberta Damon: Warming Ourselves at the Hearth of Hope
2693
Every once in awhile, we’re fortunate to meet a kindred soul along the road. That’s how it feels when Roberta Damon sits down with Kathrin to share some insight, wit, laughter, as well as a little Shakespeare. As a marriage & family therapist, Roberta brought clinical experience, faithful study, and academic insight into her work on Ministering to Ministers. As a woman of faith, Roberta infuses her writing with a compassionate reflection of the human experience. In this episode, weaving together their respective wit, experience, and compassion, Roberta and Kathrin share their discovered treasures with one another and you in their dialogue. Welcome, Friend. We’re glad you’re here with us today. Here are links to the resources mentioned in our conversation: Roberta’s Website: RobertaDamon.me Roberta M. Damon, PhD, recipient of the Ministering to Ministers’ Campbell-Wallace Award Also: Here are some interesting resources about Mindfulness: And Kathrin hasn’t been able to find the source of the metaphor (or legend) of lifting the silk scarf off of the thorn bush anywhere. If you are familiar with this image or know the source of this metaphor, please let Kathrin know by sending her a message. Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produces and supports this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Oct 15, 2020 |
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Reflections in the Moments Before We Share Our Story
619
There is, within each of us, a story that we have not yet shared. In fact, there might be several stories we have not shared. We might want to, but don’t know how. These stories remain with us, told or untold, rolling around in our memories, occasionally bumping against the edges of our hearts. And in those moments when we bump against those stories, the world might seem larger and emptier than we thought it could be. But what if, within the very stories we carry, there might be a glimpse of the everlasting festival of paradise? What if, in those moments of feeling lonely, we might recall that solitude and loneliness unites all of Creation in a deep yearning for one another? These stories, left untold, hold the promise of unity, for we are, truly, not alone. We, each one of us, have the potential to be the ambassador of peace for one another. There, in those moments before we share our story. I look forward to hearing yours. Links: Kathrin Gabriel-Jones is an Encouragement Coach in private practice and works with Ministering to Ministers as a Friend for the Journey. HelpGuide, a nonprofit mental health and wellness website, provides evidence-based information for a broad spectrum of issues, concerns, and circumstances: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/dealing-with-uncertainty.htm Interpersonal Communication and Resilience during COVID-19 Chaos, published March 26, 2020 by Maria Ventis, Associate Professor at Purdue (last accessed 09/23/2020) https://cla.purdue.edu/academic/communication/blog/interpersonal-communication-and-resilience-during-covid-19-chaos/ Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produces and supports this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers
Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request
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Oct 08, 2020 |
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Scott Cooper Tilton: The Deep Echo of Simple Sounds
3024
Kathrin shares some time with her friend, Scott Cooper Tilton, to talk about the literal landscapes he’s journeyed through: from Alna, Maine to Rockland, Maine, then to Bengaluru, India (also known as Bangalore), to Malawi, Africa, where he served the village of Kamwazeka, Malawi through his work with the Peace Corp. After a medical separation, Scott’s journey took him back to Rockland, Maine. Scott’s explorations of life have introduced him to multifaceted aspects of life, faith, and culture. And with a generous grace, Scott shares insights about sound, friendship, space, faith, and the unexpected ways that hope sometimes appears along the road. Links:
Malawi:
Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produces and supports this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Oct 01, 2020 |
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Reflection: Expectations & the Counterweight of Possibility
504
The world feels populated with billions of expectations, shimmering in the very air around us. The weight of these invisible expectations congeals before us and leave our passage muted with barely a ripple in our wake. Whether unspoken or shouted aloud, expectations gather around us like meerkats on an anthill, poking heads up and around to see what’s happening, who’s involved, and how we measure up. However, there remains a counterweight to the pressure of those crowding expectations. Sometimes, it takes a moment or two for it to come into focus. But it does. And when the counterweight of possibility takes shape in our lives, it remains with us like the warm sunshine on a cold day, warming us with gentle, steadfast presence. Links: HelpGuide, a nonprofit mental health and wellness website, provides evidence-based information for a broad spectrum of issues, concerns, and circumstances: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/dealing-with-uncertainty.htm Interpersonal Communication and Resilience during COVID-19 Chaos, published March 26, 2020 by Maria Ventis, Associate Professor at Purdue (last accessed 09/23/2020) https://cla.purdue.edu/academic/communication/blog/interpersonal-communication-and-resilience-during-covid-19-chaos/ Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Resources: Forced Termination Ministering to Ministers: The Problem Ministering to Ministers Resources: Books Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Sep 24, 2020 |
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Clarice Dibble - A View From the Other Side
2938
Description: Kathrin sits down with her friend Clarice Dibble to share a conversation about learning, mindfulness, grief, creativity, heartbreak, silence, and resilience. Both Kathrin and Clarice share a special bond: each of their respective spouses have suffered during their vocational work of ministry. It’s a special kind of weight to carry the sorrow and pain that our loved one experiences: we wish to defend them, we want to stand guard before them, we want to call out the injustice our loved one has experienced. And yet at times, we must remain silent and swallow the anger, the hurt, and our own pain. Regardless of the field in which our loved one’s work, we long to support and encourage them in the work they feel called to do. And when that work suddenly ends, it affects spouses as well. Whether our loved one experienced a "forced termination", "constructive discharge", "constructive dismissal", "wrongful termination", "medical separation", been fired, pensioned off, or dismissed, (oh, there are so many euphemisms!), the pain remains bright and heavy in our midst. Sometimes the terms used to define and describe this experience might become a heavy curtain behind which pain and suffering occur in lonely silence. With grace and humor, Clarice helps us peel back the curtain to allow us to see one another – and especially our self - with grace, love, and compassion. Links: “Forced Termination Leaves Deep Scars on Ministers Spouses”, published December 7, 2017 by Charles Chandler, DMin. https://ministeringtoministers.org/2017/12/forced-termination-leaves-deep-scars-on-ministers-spouses/ “10 Things Only Teacher Spouses Understand” by Michael Peyton; published on WeAreTeachers.Com (https://www.weareteachers.com/teacher-spouses/ ) (last accessed 09/08/2020) Military One Source: Support for Spouses: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/family-relationships/spouse Operation We Are Here: Get Connected with Military Spouses, Significant Others (and Veteran Spouses, too!): https://www.operationwearehere.com/GetConnected.html “Supporting Your Spouse’s Career”, published September 8, 2020, by Janet Kidd Stewart. Accessed on Physicians Practice: https://www.physicianspractice.com/view/supporting-your-spouses-career (last accessed 09/08/2020) “When Your Spouse Is on the Front Lines” by Molly Olmstead. Published April 8, 2020 in Slate Magazine. https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/04/coronavirus-emergency-room-doctors-nurses-spouses-conversation.html “Covid-19 Psychological Wellness Guide: Partners of Frontline Healthcare Workers” Version 2, published 04/20/20 through Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta Georgia. https://med.emory.edu/departments/psychiatry/_documents/tips.partnershcw.pdf (last accessed 09/08/2020) |
Sep 17, 2020 |
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Reflection - Are You Okay
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Kathrin’s dog makes an appearance today, expressing canine concern in the midst of a world filled with confusion and stress. But, let’s get real, sometimes companion animals provide the most honest way of asking, “are you okay?” Sometimes it’s hard to know how to answer that question. We may not realize the standard we hold for our own self. There may be even expectations we unknowingly place on our own self, our own identity, our own experience. Are We Okay? Are You Okay? Getting to the core of “are you okay?” takes work. But my dog understands that hard work of being there, being with, and being loved. Links: Covid-19: Resilient Educator Toolkit https://resilienteducator.com/covid19/ dedicated to the support of teachers and educators, students, parents, and families. “Too Many Pastors Are Falling on Their Own Swords”, by Jakob Topper https://baptistnews.com/article/too-many-pastors-are-falling-on-their-own-swords/ (last accessed 09/08/2020) “Healthcare Worker Burnout & Self-Care” by Dr. Alisa Burpee, a Seattle-based clinical psychologist. https://www.providence.org/news/uf/625195886 (last accessed 09/08/2020) HelpGuide, a nonprofit mental health and wellness website, provides evidence-based information for a broad spectrum of issues, concerns, and circumstances: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/dealing-with-uncertainty.htm National Association of Social Workers provides some good resources & strategies for self-care during the Coronavirus Pandemic: https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/Infectious-Diseases/Coronavirus/Self-Care-During-the-Coronavirus-Pandemic
Kathrin Gabriel-Jones’ August 13, 2020 presentation at Rockland Public Library, Rockland Maine: “What Does It Mean To Be Okay?” Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produces and supports this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Resources: Forced Termination Ministering to Ministers: The Problem Ministering to Ministers Resources: Books Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats
Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Sep 10, 2020 |
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Pastor AbbyLynn Haskell - Hope Changes
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Kathrin shares a truly delightful conversation about the many patterns and shapes that make up the mosaic of AbbyLynn Haskell: sacred storyteller, pastor, boat captain, and retreat coordinator, a person of faith, explorer of the oceans in the world and within the imagination. With good humor, the gift of story, and a wealth of hard-won wisdom, Abby reminds us that, even as we each grow and change, hope changes as well.
While it might be tempting to say that Abby wears a lot of hats, it might be more fitting to say that Abby allows the light of insight and inspiration to shine through the many windows of her faith and creativity. It was an absolutely delightful conversation to share, filled with laughter. I hope you join us. Links: AbbyLynn Haskell:
Additional links related to AbbyLynn Haskell’s conversation:
Some supportive resources related to learning disabilities and neurodiversity, including Auditory Processing Disorder, which Abby mentions in this episode:
Here’s a great book about Dyslexia that Abby recommends: The Gift of Dyslexia: Why Some of the Smartest People Can’t Read...and How They Can Learn, by Ronald D. Davis and Eldon M. Braun. As Abby describes it, “this book lifts up the benefits of being blessed with a learning challenge.”
Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who |
Sep 03, 2020 |
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Reflection - When We Feel Broken
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Sometimes events occur in our lives that sweep through, rippling through the foundations of our life like tectonic ruptures, leaving us feeling off-kilter, a little broken. Illness, uncertainty, transition, betrayal, job loss…
It makes sense that we feel unbalanced when change rolls over us like a storm. We might feel minimized by the events that overwhelm us.
So...how do we move forward when we feel broken?
Sometimes we can move forward by standing still. The moon remains implacable in the sky above us as it moves over us during both night and day. And even as, little by little the moon becomes minimized as it traces its path through the sky, so too the moon begins to rebuild a little bit more of itself day by day. Until the moon once again reclaims its magnificent beautiful self.
And so, too, will you. Links: Covid-19: Resilient Educator Toolkit https://resilienteducator.com/covid19/ dedicated to the support of teachers and educators, students, parents, and families.
“Too Many Pastors Are Falling on Their Own Swords”, by Jakob Topper https://baptistnews.com/article/too-many-pastors-are-falling-on-their-own-swords/
“Healthcare Worker Burnout & Self-Care” by Dr. Alisa Burpee, a Seattle-based clinical psychologist. https://www.providence.org/news/uf/625195886 (last accessed
HelpGuide, a nonprofit mental health and wellness website, provides evidence-based information for a broad spectrum of issues, concerns, and circumstances: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/dealing-with-uncertainty.htm
National Association of Social Workers provides some good resources & strategies for self-care during the Coronavirus Pandemic: https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/Infectious-Diseases/Coronavirus/Self-Care-During-the-Coronavirus-Pandemic
Many thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produces and supports this podcast. Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation: Ministering to Ministers Resources: Forced Termination Ministering to Ministers: The Problem Ministering to Ministers Resources: Books Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats
Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Aug 27, 2020 |
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Pastor Skip Irby: Terribly Normal: Grief, the Pandemic, and Fatigue
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Kathrin sits down with Pastor Skip to explore the suddenly changed landscape in which we find ourselves during the Covid-19 pandemic days. In this unprecedented time that feels unmoored, unfamiliar, and sometimes unending, we discuss aspects of the world that have become “terribly normal” and how lamentations might support us in these times, the difference between hope and optimism, and Skip reminds us of the ways in which we are all connected. As always, Pastor Skip recalls the importance of giving voice to our own personal story, giving three important ingredients that can help us in these times of tremendous upheaval and uncertain change. Including Yogi Berra, Carl Dudley, D. Elton Trueblood, the Psalmist, the Chicago Mass Choir, and even the Rolling Stones, Kathrin and Skip’s conversation ranges throughout the wide landscape of this life in this pandemic. There are some wonderful, supportive resources online. Here are a few: Psalms of Lament by Amy Weems and Walter Bruggeman. If you’re interested in this book, please consider purchasing this book from a minority owned book seller. Here are a few lists to help you in your search:
July 27, 2009 performance of “You Can’t Hurry God” by Chicago Mass Choir Erin Gravley and her sister, Grace, created a website called i dream of covid, which is dedicated to the collection and sharing of the wide variety of dreams people experience during this unprecedented time. Here’s the NPR interview with the creators. The Shiyr Poets: How Long (Psalm 13) and On This Troubled Day (Psalm 10) “A public [person in service], though they necessarily available at many times, must learn to hide. If they are always available, they’re not worth enough when they are available.” D. Elton Trueblood Here’s a treasure trove of unique wisdom from Yogi Berra. Check out these two other Pastor Skip Irby conversations on the Friends for the Journey:
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Aug 20, 2020 |
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Reflection: In This Waiting Place, How Are You?
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How are you? Those three words seem so simple, so short, combined in the right order to make a really simple question that should be easy to answer. When the world turns upside down, whatever the inflection we use when we ask this question, the longing we feel for one another remains. In unfamiliar times, when the world turns upside down, we find ourselves in a Waiting Place, a place after what we had known to be but before we feel confident in our life once again. That Waiting Place is a time of not knowing, the place of not yet. It is a place that has been with humanity since the beginning. Links & Resources: There are some wonderful, supportive resources online. Here are a few: Vox.com: Rabbi David Wolpe explains how to make sense of suffering: https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/7/8/21223748/judaism-religion-god-suffering-david-wolpe-future-perfect HelpGuide, a nonprofit mental health, and wellness website, provides evidence-based information for a broad spectrum of issues, concerns, and circumstances: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/dealing-with-uncertainty.htm National Association of Social Workers provides some good resources & strategies for self-care during the Coronavirus Pandemic: https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/Infectious-Diseases/Coronavirus/Self-Care-During-the-Coronavirus-Pandemic These might be familiar, but worth repeating: Resources to watch: Monterey Bay Aquarium Live Jelly Cam: https://youtu.be/28cnxCbix0k Moon Jelly Cam: https://youtu.be/4s1iaXflVcg Morning MeditOcean: https://youtu.be/4RtVT7Cfgp4 Here are some other resources: Ministering to Ministers Resources (Library) Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Aug 13, 2020 |
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Bingz Huang - Rediscovering the Natural Resilience of Our Gentle Hearts
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Kathrin gets to share some time with Bingz Huang, founder of Bingz Healing Light to talk about love, transitions, and the unexpected way that gratitude sometimes appears in our lives. Founded in the practice of and belief in Gentleness, Bingz works with “fellow sensitive souls who instinctively know that they just need someone to hold space for them to be gentler on themselves.” We talk about discovering the strong foundation of one’s own self, the value of being one’s own best friend, and the powerful strength of the gentle, sensitive heart. Because, whether we’re connecting across a room or across the world, when we engage work that we believe in, we put our hearts on the line. With Bingz’s gentle guidance, our conversation explores the facets of tending our own selves, our own energy, our own love as we continue our soulful work. Links: Bingz Huang: Website: https://www.bingzhuanghealer.com/ About Bingz: https://www.bingzhuanghealer.com/about Book: Empower Your Life with Gentleness (Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/bingzhuang) Medium Blog: https://medium.com/@bingzhuang Medium article, Learning from My Harshness as a Gentle Empath Mom: https://medium.com/@bingzhuang/learning-from-my-harshness-as-a-gentle-empath-mom-b294d60c4c27 Other Resources: Ministering to Ministers Resources (Library) Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Aug 06, 2020 |
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Reflection - Meditation - Prayer - Just Breathe
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Life can get busy. Period. It just does. It gets hectic, even. And all of us have heard that refrain about the benefits of having a quiet moment for mindfulness. Call it meditation or call it prayer, it can sometimes be difficult to find those moments of quiet. When we’re lucky (or blessed, depending on your perspective), we can find those quiet moments and gain some quiet space in our minds and hearts. But, just outside the door to that quiet space, the concerns of the day, the week, the world, our lives can sometimes loom in our thoughts, filling our quiet time with static. I have to think I’m not alone in this experience. So, what if we try something a little different. Rather than naming it “meditation” or “prayer”, what if we Just Breathe… What could happen then? Links & Resources: There are some wonderful, supportive resources online. Here are a few: Some Articles: Jonah Lynch’s article, What’s the Deal with Prayer? https://medium.com/be-unique/whats-the-deal-with-prayer-e2d33eeb22b2 Sasha Bronner’s article, 12 Myths About Meditation We Have To Stop Believing: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meditation-myths_n_6804780?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAM8zo44TUgIqJJZn5SOS6nUGMDg3wj4yuk_AqPgzArilGz4Qe-4I5_3qPPSH6f2o_SFqiGbgxQmj1kbAkBIyKRmj4JpIepAihBGOKjHPpk6JKuecZ5Won1dnrK26coyvV-k1oJcE-TwKgCJR9PsueDytip-0ywuSVvimDWAs0kIi Megan Boley’s article, Why You Should Pray Even If You Don’t Believe in God: https://medium.com/@megbo/why-you-should-pray-even-if-you-dont-believe-in-god-2c1e345579dd Resources to Watch: Monterey Bay Aquarium Live Jelly Cam: https://youtu.be/28cnxCbix0k Moon Jelly Cam: https://youtu.be/4s1iaXflVcg Morning MeditOcean: https://youtu.be/4RtVT7Cfgp4 Here are some other resources: Ministering to Ministers Resources (Library) Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats
Timothy Isaiah Cho’s article, Breaking the Cycle of Spiritual Abuse: https://medium.com/@timothyisaiahcho/breaking-the-cycle-of-spiritual-abuse-daf32425b5b2 Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Jul 30, 2020 |
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Pastor Skip Irby - The Power of Listening in Times of Upheaval
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Kathrin gets to sit down with Pastor Skip and talk about the power of listening during a time of upheaval. Pastor Skip talks about the value of listening as we engage difficult conversations about the history of racial inequity and prejudice, and how, through listening, we can discover the value of our second response. Pastor Skip Irby has been a volunteer facilitator at Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats for eight years and has chaired the Board of Ministering to Ministers since 2019. Drawing on his 35 years’ study of family systems, life in ministry, and willingness to look in the rear-view mirror, Skip invites us to reflect on what matters to each of us, embracing our strengths, and discovering resilience in the face of adversity. LINKS & RESOURCES: BOOKS: White Fragility, by Robin DiAngelo You can find ways to purchase this book, as well as obtain a FREE Reader’s Guide on Robin DiAngelo’s Official Website: https://robindiangelo.com/ How to be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi Official Website: https://www.ibramxkendi.com/how-to-be-an-antiracist-1 Ibram X. Kendi Antiracism Center: https://www.ibramxkendi.com/antiracism-center-2 Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, by Edwin Friedman Find it HERE WATCH: Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man with Emmanuel Acho: Website: https://uncomfortableconvos.com/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/h8jUA7JBkF4 OTHER RESOURCES: Washington Post’s The Lily, The New Normal: Antiracism: You May Be Doing It Wrong. Here’s Why. and Ministering to Ministers Resources (Library) as well as Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Jul 23, 2020 |
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Reflection - Sometimes, When Its Hard to Focus...
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As we make our way along this journey, we sometimes get a chance to reflect on what's happened in our lives. Every other week, we hope to give you a short reflection along the way.
Sometimes, when it’s hard to focus, we might get a chance to connect in ways we hadn’t expected. Sometimes, when it’s hard to focus, we might be surprised by a connection, a gift, a moment when we get to be who we are, mess and all.
It's a hectic, uncertain, and frenzied time we're living in right now. But we want to be your Friends for the Journey.
https://ministeringtoministers.org/what-we-do/
Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Jul 16, 2020 |
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George Kao: Hope Faith and Relationship
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Kathrin is really excited to share some time with George Kao to talk about hope, faith, and relationships. The co-founder of Markao Business Academy, George provides inspirational support and advice to people across the world through coursework, videos, personal coaching, and individual and group mentoring. Links: George Kao:
Fort Funston, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy: https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/fort-funston About Ministering to Ministers Foundation: https://ministeringtoministers.org/about-mtm/ Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Jul 09, 2020 |
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Reflection - The Sound of That Thank You
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As we make our way along this journey, we sometimes get a chance to reflect on what's happened in our lives. Every other week, we hope to give you a short reflection along the way. This week, Kathrin shares an experience of deep connection across the many miles that separate us. It's a hectic, uncertain, and frenzied time we're living in right now. But we want to be your Friends for the Journey. Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request. |
Jul 02, 2020 |
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Skip Irby - Working On the Dance of Ministry
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Kathrin sits down with Skip to explore the landscape of change and talk about how, sometimes looking in the rearview mirror can help us each discern the central cores of what we believe, what keeps us strong, and how we can grow deeper in love and relationship through our lives. Pastor Skip Irby has been a volunteer facilitator at Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats for eight years and has chaired the Board of Ministering to Ministers since 2019. Drawing on his 35 years’ study of family systems, life in ministry, and willingness to look in the rearview mirror, Skip invites us to reflect on what matters to each of us, embracing our strengths, and discovering resilience in the face of adversity. Links: Ministering to Ministers Resources (Library) Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats Edwin Friedman books: and Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix and The Edwin Friedman Model of Family Systems Thinking, Academic Leadership, The Online Journal and TEDx How The Story Transforms the Storyteller, by Donald Davis Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request |
Jun 25, 2020 |
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Melissa Fallen, Lost & Found
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Today, Kathrin sits down with Dr. Melissa Fallen to talk about the space between hope and hopelessness in the aftermath of loss. Melissa is the pastor of Glen Allen Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia, and author of Lost and Found: From Losing Your Pulpit to Finding Your Passion. We invite you to grab a cup and join us. We are your Friends for the Journey. Towel and Basin Memoir: Personal Reflections on Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond is available through Amazon, Good Reads, or your local book seller.(https://www.ebookpbook.com/portfolio/towel-and-basin-memoir/) Glen Allen Baptist Church is located about 20 minutes north of Richmond, Virginia. https://glenallenbaptist.org/ |
Jun 18, 2020 |
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Friends Along the Journey Promo!
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There are many different paths along the journey of life, and some parts of the paths can feel very lonely. So it's good to know that there are Friends Along the Journey. And that's exactly what this podcast is all about. And here's the first little peek! |
Jun 03, 2020 |
