When we carry out our "religious duties" we are like people digging channels in a waterless land, in order that when at last water comes, it may find them ready. C.S. Lewis What C.S. Lewis called “religious duties” 107 years ago when he wrote the book Reflections on the Psalms, we now call spiritual practices.
Pathways Retreat offers many practices to connect with the Holy and tend our spirituality. Silence and Solitude Individual retreats in the cottage and retreat house offer guests the opportunity to set aside distractions, such as technology, and become aware of what is happening within and around. A recent guest shared, I love Pathways! This continues to be sacred ground and think space! Thank you! Companionship and Community Prayer and Spiritual Direction are core to Pathways’ formation and mission. Community forms through the seasonal and weekly rhythm of prayer and other programs. Spiritual companionship is experienced in one-to-one relationships and Inner Soul groups which include the practice of group spiritual direction. The retreat house is available for groups to reserve and the land is open dawn-dusk. Attentiveness in Creation Two miles of trails, labyrinths, and places to sit on Pathways’ 17-acres of land provide space to experience the Holy as revealed in creation. Caring for the land by restoring her out-of-balance ecosystem, is also a spiritual practice for which the land provides opportunity. Pathways seeks to be a place where guests find refreshing water. Linda Lehman Thomas
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Why did you begin meeting with a spiritual director/companion? I invite you to respond by leaving a comment below. My short answer is that I needed healing and a pastor.
When I was 30, my uncle Gerald died from cancer. My aunt, Geri, and he had served in Bolivia for many years through what is now Mennonite Mission Network and when they returned to the States, Gerald worked there. His memorial service was meaningful as the officiant knew Gerald well and, during further sharing, I realized that many people could have officiated his service. Gerald was well-known and loved by many clergy-type folks. I recognized that if I died the next day, no one could officiate a meaningful service for me – which I wanted. As a pastor’s spouse, it wouldn’t be appropriate for Steve to officiate. I also knew that if life brought hardship, as it does, and I needed a pastor, I didn’t have one. Secondly, as a survivor of childhood trauma and loss, I needed healing. A therapist I was working with at the time, noticed that my deepest wound was spiritual. It was related to the age-old question of why bad things happen to good people. She recommended that I meet with a spiritual director. So, I sought out Mary Herr who was co-founder and co-director of The Hermitage in Three Rivers, MI. This began the monthly rhythm of spending a day of silence and solitude during which, at some point, I met with Mary. This practice changed my life and was instrumental in the healing of my childhood trauma. Eventually, it led to further schooling, becoming certified as a spiritual director and gestalt spiritual counselor. Often people think that spiritual direction and companionship is for pastors or professional ministry types. The reality is that it is for anyone. As a director, I’ve met with many more non-clergy folks than with clergy. Now, more spiritual directors/companions are available for individual sessions and to provide facilitation for group spiritual direction at Pathways Retreat. Here is an updated list. Opening Pathways to additional spiritual directors/companions beyond the former co-directors (Julie, Evan, myself) is part of Pathways plan for succession. Please consider whether the practice of spiritual direction might be helpful in your life now and contact one of these companions. Or, perhaps, it might be helpful for someone you know. Tell them about us. Spread the word! Linda Lehman Thomas This is the third month I’ve sat down to write this Ponderings reflection piece and, again, I’m writing about change…something new at Pathways. This month the new something is what we’re calling the Pathways Transformational Network (PTN).
Its official description: Pathways Transformational Network (PTN) is a community of people who practice various transformational modalities aligned with Pathway Retreat’s Mission, Vision, and Values and rooted in contemplative spiritual practices from the Christian tradition. This genesis of this network was a series of conversations in which spiritual directors and colleagues trained in other healing arts expressed desire for support in a variety of forms. These forms primarily included technological, administrative, and collegial support. Through these conversations, I became aware that I have this support at Pathways and, internally, I wondered if that could be extended to others. That started the ball rolling. It picked up speed when Pathways Board of Directors created a Financial Sustainability Task Force to address the anticipated financial gap between income and expenses in the 2024-25 budget. As Evan Miller and I worked together, in consultation with others, a plan was created that included this new Network. Through the Network, Pathways extends its resources of a website, administration, facilities, and colleagues to members. In return, Pathways receives a new and necessary stream of income. Beyond all these nitty-gritty details, Pathways Retreat’s mission, vision, and values are extended. That’s the truly exciting part. As this Network ball is pitched, will it be a home-run or a strike? A fly ball or grounder? I don’t know. What I know is that, as we listened deeply, it emerged as a next step - or the next pitch. As we’ve done since the beginning of Pathways, we release the ball, trusting this is God’s thing. Please go to the PTN page and learn about its new members. People are in the process of joining, so continue coming back. With the ground breaking for the pavilion happening this month, I find myself reflecting on the development of Pathways’ physical spaces, namely the retreat house, cottage, and now the pavilion.
The old part of the retreat house was built in 1920 as an addition to the main house. Perhaps it was a guest house or caretaker residence originally. In 2008 Julie, Bodie, and their son Nathan completely rehabbed the space, previously used as an apartment. This happened during the summer when my family was away on sabbatical. The Stegelmann’s put a lot of their own finances and sweat equity into transforming the space and the result was a small, yet welcoming retreat house where prayers, spiritual direction sessions, and group events were held. The cottage was built a year later thanks to an anonymous donor. Rohr Bomberger designed the cottage, named Solace, and our neighbor, Jon Byler, built it. A prayer walk and dedication was held on October 14, 2009. For 15 years, the cottage has provided sacred space for many people. The largest capital campaign project to date was the expansion of the retreat house in 2015-16. Many people and businesses contributed financially to the project and countless volunteer hours were given by board members, spiritual director associates, and other supporters. For both the cottage and retreat house, the Elkhart County Community Foundation provided grant monies for furnishings. The retreat house addition has expanded Pathways’ ministry exponentially. Now, this month, excavation will happen for a pavilion and walkway, with construction beginning in September. The pavilion is part of a larger project that includes a:
Over 96 generous donors have contributed to make this project possible. With its completion in the Spring, all 17-acres that Pathways stewards will be space intentionally created to fulfill Pathways’ mission as a place of spiritual retreat for rest, reflection, and renewal. -Linda Lehman Thomas, Director I offer one of Benjamin Franklin's many clever quotes for this July 4 holiday weekend: “When you are finished changing, you are finished.” As I reflect on Pathways Retreat, the word that comes to mind is change. Pathways is definitely not finished! This month we announce numerous programs that will begin and happen this Fall. Some provide ongoing group experiences and others a one-time practice. All of these amazing programs provide opportunity to rest, reflect and be renewed. August will see the ground clearing and breaking for a new pavilion. September we’ll share about a new network of providers that is in the works. There are so many changes happening at Pathways, that this seems like the right time to begin a regular “Ponderings” blog. Someone from Pathways’ staff or board will write a reflection on something related to Pathways at least once a month. I hope this regular communication helps give our prayer community, guests, and supporters a broader, deeper perspective of what’s happening at Pathways in the midst of much change. A corollary to Franklin’s observation might be “When you are open to changing, you are open.” This reminds me of a favorite prayer from J Philip Newell’s Sounds of the Eternal. In the gift of this new day, in the gift of the present moment, in the gift of time and eternity intertwined let me be thankful let me be attentive let me be open to what has never happened before, in the gift of this new day, in the gift of the present moment, in the gift of time and eternity intertwined. May we at Pathways be thankful, attentive, and open.
Linda Lehman Thomas, Director |
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November 2024
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