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:To learn more about the Center for Lifelong Learning at Columbia Theological Seminary, please click here. 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              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

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            Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats           Ministering to Ministers Resources: Forced Termination            Ministering to Ministers: The Problem            Ministering to Ministers Resources: BooksMusic for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request

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:Pastor Skip Irby: Grief, Fatigue, and PandemicRoberta Damon: Warming Ourselves at the Hearth of HopeAbbyLynn Haskell: Hope ChangesMany thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast.  Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation:Ministering to MinistersMinistering to Ministers Wellness RetreatsMinistering to Ministers Resources: Forced TerminationMinistering to Ministers: The ProblemMinistering to Ministers Resources: Books Music for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request 

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 trackAfter 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:Covid-19: Resilient Educator Toolkit is dedicated to the support of teachers and educators, students, parents, and families. (last accessed 01/21/2021)“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 MinistersMinistering to Ministers Wellness RetreatsMinistering to Ministers Resources: Forced TerminationMinistering to Ministers: The ProblemMinistering to Ministers Resources: BooksMusic for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request

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:Here’s a link to the movie, Pay It Forward  Roberta’s Four Thoughts about Gratitude (and Generosity & Hope, but mainly Gratitude):1.      Gratitude can help us not be defined by the injustices in our lives.  Don’t let the injustices define us and who we are.2.      By being Grateful, we become more Generous…. Likewise, by being more Generous, we become more Grateful.3.    What kind of Person do You want to be?               Look around you,             Observe how others treat people, and             Decide the Person you wish to be in the world.4.      Gratitude (and Generosity and Hope) can make you more compassionate and selfless.Roberta’s quote about people…The nicest people in the world are in church.Aaaaaand…..The meanest people in the world are in church.Kathrin used the phrase, Lord, protect me from your followers. Did you know there’s a movie called, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers? Well, there are bumper stickers that say Lord, save me from your followers. Here’s an article titled, “Please Lord, Save Me From Your Followers” written by Lorelei Nettles, which asks a great question. Kathrin found it challenging to find a biography about Alice L. Humphrey, author, so if you have any information about Alice L Humphrey, please let Kathrin know!  Here is the list of books Roberta mentioned:Angels in PinaforesHeaven in My HandThe Lady in Red (a story in the book, Heaven in My Hand)And both Angels in Pinafores & Heaven in My Hand are available at Amazon!Edgar Allen PoeThe Cask of Amontillado (acknowledgment to AmericanEnglish.Englich.Gov)Edgar Allan Poe House in RichmondHappy Birthday to Pastor Peter James Flamming, Pastor Emeritus of First Baptist Church!Pastor Jim SommervilleLove Lives On is an online resource center dedicated to educating families in end-of-life issues, including Writing Your Own Epitaph                Roberta’s epitaph: “Y’know, She Left It Better Than She Found It.”        &n

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        Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats        Ministering to Ministers Resources: Forced Termination        Ministering to Ministers: The Problem       Ministering to Ministers Resources: BooksMusic for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request

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.                        About Nancy                        Nancy’s Designs                        Essential Oils & Aromatherapy 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            Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats            Ministering to Ministers Resources: Forced Termination            Ministering to Ministers: The Problem            Ministering to Ministers Resources: BooksMusic for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request

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:            65 New Year's Quotes to Inspire (from Good Housekeeping, accessed 1/4/21)            10 Ways to have a Spiritually Refreshing New Year's (HuffPost, accessed 1/4/21)Quotes About the Present:              GoodReadsHave 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              Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats              Ministering to Ministers Resources: Forced Termination              Ministering to Ministers: The Problem              Ministering to Ministers Resources: BooksMusic for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon  request

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              Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreats              Ministering to Ministers Resources: Forced Termination              Ministering to Ministers: The Problem              Ministering to Ministers Resources: BooksMusic for this episode has been legally purchased from AudioJungle. License available upon request

2020 has been A Year. It’s as if a decade’s worth of events has all been crammed into 365 days.So, on this last day of 2020, as we stand on the cusp of a new year, here are some thoughts. 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 YouMany thanks to Ministering to Ministers, who produce and support this podcast.  Please check out the resources available through this fantastic foundation:            Ministering to Ministers            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