The Home Altar

Learning

I am frequently encouraging people to offer to the world what they have the personal and spiritual resources to give, which of course means accurately assessing that level and then making both under and over performance a finite and well discerned intention, rather than a trauma response. Which is a long winded way of saying that I don’t remember choosing to take a break from this space, but clearly I did make an intuitive choice to do what was in front of me, both in terms of the spiritual seasons of Lent and Easter, as well as the work of caring in the shelter, in my community, and with my clients.

During this time I’ve had some spectacular opportunities for learning and integration, and I’m glad that I took time this year for such moments. I attended the 35th anniversary conference of Spiritual Director’s International, Beyond the Field. Several days of workshops, keynotes, table chatter, affinity groups, and one one one conversations with other healers and listeners not only fed my mind, but my soul. It helped that wandering about the grandeur of Niagara Falls was a part of the experience as I was accompanied by the might rush and rumble of the river that shakes the ground when I stood close.

I also undertook a course of study with the Focalizing Institute, to enhance my practice and add a new therapeutic modality to my toolbox. Learning how to employ conditions for tending to shame and conditioned thinking was a real joy. The work was intense, but I’m pleased to say that I’m now a certified practitioner and excited to offer these skills to the people I serve. Embodiment work is spectacularly non-linear and often times has a feeling of mystery to it, but the more I learn about the neuro-biology of spirituality, the more convinced I am that recovering the wisdom of the body is a big part of healing so many profound wounds.

Loving

No one has mastered the art of living fully in the present quite like a dog. So even though we knew that she would face challenges as a survivor of an animal hoarding situation and some time in the shelter, our household has welcomed Phoebe with open arms. She is a boingy, beautiful, dainty, and wild lady. Watching her embody joy, play, sleepiness, hunger, fear, bravery, and more is constantly teaching me about the shared creatureliness that we have. Her confidence gained through attachment and agency is a reminder to me of the sacred slowness and intention that goes with accompanying survivors of trauma.

Praying

I also took time to celebrate with and discern alongside my religious community, the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans. While my other travels this year meant I opted for attending over Zoom, the hybrid gathering did some great work, selecting a new servant council, welcoming a new formation coordinator, professing four new brothers, and engaging in the important but difficult work of discerning our life together in the year ahead, with all of the challenges that the social, political, environmental, and health polycrisis has brought to many of our doorsteps.

I hope to be with the community in person in the coming year.

So now I cruise into July, many tasks finished. New relationships blossoming, old relationships being nurtured, and evidence of my efforts in hand (soon to be “on wall”). I can see my own level of resource and capacity more clearly. I am ready to refresh this space more regularly.

Practice Question

What would it look like to include in my personal examen each day, an honest accounting of my level of personal resource, and then find ways to live within that allotment for the day?

Be gentle with yourself, you are worth it.

Peace and Everything Good,

The Rev. JM Longworth, OEF Spiritual Direction and Trauma Care

https://www.sdicompanions.org/sdi-profile/GreenMtFriarOEF/ To book an appointment: https://calendly.com/greenmtfriaroef