Journey Center Blog

My husband, John, and I recently spent some time on Lopez Island, off the coast of Washington State. We were there celebrating our 25^th anniversary and enjoying the beauty of the San Juan Islands and, especially, the peacefulness of this particular island.

There were many things about this experience that refreshed and inspired both of us. About the third day we were there, I began to realize that part of the delight for me was that there were so many parallels to what we’ve been called to be and to do at the Journey Center. It was as if I was experiencing the gifts that we offer to so many others here on 4^th street in Santa Rosa, CA!

The first thing that struck us was how everyone we encountered was so friendly and welcoming. Lopez is known as the Friendly Island because everywhere you go, people wave at you! Whether you are driving in your car, or hiking on a trail, or walking down the road…you can count on seeing that hand go up as you pass by. (It didn’t take long for us to also be among the “wavers”!) And what did that wave mean? The message was “I see you and I welcome you. You belong here!” It didn’t matter if you were a full-timer, weekender, or visitor. All are welcome on Lopez, and all have a place in the community. How like the Journey Center vision this is! Whoever you are, and wherever you are on your journey, you are welcome here…we love to hear your story and are privileged to know you!

Another part of the adventure for us was being able to eat food that was grown or raised right there on the Island. Local, sustainable, organic. Almost everything we needed was provided by local farmers, and we took great joy in shopping at the farmer’s market, visiting farmstands, and preparing our meals with what we found there. This reminds me of the important truth that all you need for your spiritual journey is within you and around you. God is present and all is provided here and now. You don’t have to travel afar or depend on someone or something far away. At the Journey Center, it is our joy to offer resources for your journey and safe spaces for you to drink of the Living Water and feast on the Bread of Life!

During our time on Lopez Island, we were captured by the beauty that was everywhere. We had the time to notice what was around us….ocean, clouds, eagles, otters, whales, other islands in the distance, the rolling farmlands, and the sheep and cows in the pastures. At the Journey Center, we are called to offer a place where you can step out of the busyness and take the time to notice the beauty that is all around you- attending to the beautiful presence of the Divine, noticing the movement of the Spirit within, seeing that Love shine through the eyes of those you gather with.

Finally, we discovered what people mean when they talk about being “on island time.” Rather than being driven by the demands of our schedules and commitments, there is something about stepping out of the rat race for periods of time to take deep breaths, relax, and just BE. We got up when we were done sleeping. We ate when we were hungry. We stayed up until we were sleepy. And as we listened to the silence, our spirits grew quieter and a sense of peace deepened in us. We invite you to think of the Journey Center as an “oasis”, perhaps an island where it is OK to stop and breathe. Many of the resources and gatherings we offer are designed to give you the opportunity to just BE.

This trip was special because it was important for us to celebrate this milestone in our marriage. But trips like this are not usually possible…either the time or the funds are often not available. However, I believe that the invitation to all of us is to find practices and places in our daily lives that make it possible for us to experience hospitality, a connection to our inner life and the spiritual resources that are available to us, an awareness of the beauty that is near, and opportunities to stop and breathe and relax and BE.

It is our prayer that the Journey Center might be ones of those places for you…

Two years ago, on May 1^st, I walked up to the front door at 1601 Fourth Street in Santa Rosa and turned the key in the lock for the first time. I remember how it felt to open that door and walk into the beautiful, empty space that was to be the Journey Center’s home. Aware of all the miracles that happened to allow us the privilege of being there, I experienced a deep sense of peace and an eager anticipation as I stood on the threshold that day.

As we celebrate this two-year anniversary, we have been reflecting on all that has unfolded between that first day and today. We who serve at the Center and you who have come through the door to visit are all on unique spiritual journeys…AND we have had something in common. We have been the grateful recipients of what I will call “glimpses of the Holy”.

From the beginning, when the vision for the Journey Center was first given in 2003, we have known and been told that this is a pioneering work. For that reason, we didn’t really know what to expect when we opened the doors. All we knew was that God wanted to do something new and that we had been led by the Spirit to create this safe and welcoming place where all who are spiritually thirsty can find resources and support for their journey.

We wondered what would happen when people of differing spiritual traditions, political persuasions and opinions on a variety of issues would sit together in this special place, set aside for saying “yes” to the Divine invitation to drink together from the Living Water. As we look back, these first two years have been quite an adventure!

We have indeed had a glimpse of the Holy as we have discovered that our boxes cannot contain or limit God’s boundless love for each of us. There has been a profound experience of walls coming down, walls that we’ve built to keep God at a distance and walls that separate us from others. Instead of these walls, bridges are being built as we are nourished by Love and experience the gift of friendship and community with those we have thought so different from ourselves.

And we have come to realize even more clearly what the Journey Center is called to be in our community:

 The Journey Center is a place of love. We have encountered the living God, who is Love. We have experienced for ourselves that God is always present, working lovingly and patiently in unexpected ways to bring healing, connection, freedom and grace.

The Journey Center is a place for sharing and listening to stories. Each person who has come through the door has, in some way, been our teacher. As we listen to each other’s stories, we learn that the Spirit meets each person where they are on their journey, working creatively and uniquely to help them deepen their awareness of and openness to the Holy. We may have our differences, yes, but on a much deeper level we all share a common spiritual yearning to find our way home to our own true heart and the heart of the One who knows us and calls us by name.

The Journey Center is a place of transformation. There is something so simple and yet so powerful about being together in God’s loving presence and opening ourselves to the Spirit, the One who transforms us. The simple spiritual practices that we teach here, rooted in the Christian tradition and helpful to those from any tradition, help us with this being and opening.

In the first two years of this adventure we call the Journey Center, we have most definitely been grateful recipients of “glimpses of the Holy”. If you haven’t had a chance to visit us, in person or online, please consider doing so as we would love to be a blessing to you on your journey!

Because we work a couple of months ahead on our next newsletter, I am writing this article for the spring in the midst of a huge winter storm! The trees are bare and the temperature is cold. The thirsty California earth is soaking in the rain that drenches it. The sun hasn’t been seen for days and people run from house to car to business with umbrellas and raincoats for protection. (Some of you know that this is my favorite weather, but for the sake of all you sun-lovers, I won’t dwell on that! J )

Being in the midst of winter as I write makes spring, our next season, seem far away and hard to imagine… but one thing I know. It won’t always be winter. The sun will return and the earth will bud forth with new growth and new life. Blossoms will cover the trees and those beautiful spring flowers will appear. Just yesterday, as the rain poured down, I glimpsed tiny green spears beginning to break through the soil. Spring is coming!

It won’t always be winter. This is a lesson for life, don’t you think? If you find yourself in a difficult, stormy or just plain dreary season…take heart. When you wonder if you will always struggle or be stuck where you are, remember…spring is coming! New growth and new life are the promise we look forward to and long for.

Did you know that the word “new” appears almost 200 times in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible? It was a word that Christ himself used often as he spoke powerfully of new wine, new treasures and new life. And through the prophet Isaiah, a hopeful and encouraging message was given, one that is worth reading slowly and meditating on for a while:

 See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare;
before they spring into being I announce them to you.

 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

There is an invitation here. God is present and active… often unseen and underground (like those spring bulbs sprouting forth). And we are invited to pay attention, to be on the lookout for the new thing that is about to burst forth and the One who is creating it.

Notice that we are not asked to make the new thing happen. Whew, that’s a relief! I am so grateful that it doesn’t depend on us and that there is a power at work that is beyond us! Our part is to believe the promise even when it’s hard to imagine, to notice the signs that transformation is coming, and to learn to listen for what we are being invited to as the seasons change and new things are springing forth in our lives and our world.

Here at the Journey Center we offer an abundance of resources that support and enrich us on this journey… resources that invite us to become more attuned to the presence of the Holy, to deepen our ability to listen and to allow the Spirit of transformation to be at work in us and around us. May you come to trust that a new thing is about to spring forth as you, too, respond to the invitation to perceive the loving and powerful presence of God with you. It won’t always be winter!

(11/09)

As my thoughts turn to the upcoming holiday season and the rapidly approaching New Year, I have been reflecting on how our greetings and hopes this time of year often include the desire for peace. “May you experience the peace and joy of the season”. “May your new year be filled with peace.”

In 1955, Jill Jackson Miller wrote the song “Let There Be Peace on Earth” after having a profound experience of the love of God. Orphaned as a young girl, Jill’s life was filled with pain and despair which led her to try to take her life. Here are her own words…

“And when I attempted suicide and I didn’t succeed, I knew for the first time unconditional love- which God is. God is unconditional love. You are totally loved, totally accepted, just the way you are. In that moment I was not allowed to die and something happened to me which is very difficult to explain. I had an eternal moment of truth, in which I knew I was loved and knew I was here for a purpose.”

We all long for peace in our world and for our own peace of mind and heart. In the opening lines of her now-famous song, Jill Jackson Miller wrote with profound wisdom…. “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” Let it begin with me. Let PEACE begin with ME.

Such a beautiful thought, but there is only one problem…I don’t know about you, but much of the time, I am not at peace within myself. I so easily get busy and rushed and distracted and worried. I get caught up in the hustle and bustle around me, especially at the holidays. Yes, deep inside I am longing for peace, and there are moments where it comes, but it doesn’t last very long. (Maybe I’m the only one…but I have a feeling that I am not alone!)

Many who visit the Journey Center describe us as “an oasis of peace” and we are very glad that our beautiful facility, the quiet music and the loving welcome that is extended to all are experienced this way. It helps to have peaceful surroundings when one is seeking peace.

And we believe that peace in our relationships, in our community and in the world does begin with experiencing peace within. It is for that reason that we offer such a variety of resources, gatherings and experiences that are designed to help us all learn how to let peace begin with us. We are all discovering together how to experience transformation and live from a place of peacefulness inside.

You will find within this website (see our Advent & Christmas Gatherings) that you are invited to join us during the month of December as we gather often in the presence of our loving God, where true peace is found…given as a gift to us in exchange for our worries and burdens:
• Begin the season on December 1 at our Blue Christmas Contemplative Gathering…designed for those who are dealing with loss and grief of any kind.
• Consider giving yourself a gift and join us for the Winter Solitude Retreat in the beautiful Point Reyes area (December 11-13). Note that payment plans can also be worked out….
• Take an hour on Sunday evenings to enjoy a peaceful candlelight gathering.
• Join us for a gathering on the “longest night of the year” (winter solstice; December 21) for an opportunity to encounter the Holy as we prepare together for deep winter.

And you are always welcome to join us in our regular rhythm of stepping out of the busyness of life and spending sacred moments in the presence of the One who has been called the Prince of Peace! Whether you join us for a prayer/meditation gathering, an experience in the outdoors, a workshop or a gathering for community, you will find kindred spirits who are longing for peace and desiring to “let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”

Facing Challenges in the Strength of Community

by Joanna Quintrell, Journey Center Executive Director (8/09)

I realized in January that this is the year I turn 55 and as I paid attention to my heart, I discovered that it was important to me to do something challenging rather than just settle for now qualifying for the “senior” discount at some local restaurants! So, inspired by my wonderful husband John’s love of the great outdoors, I decided that I would take my first 5-day backpacking trek and culminate the experience with hiking up through the forest, climbing the 600+ stone steps and then the steel cables and, finally, standing on top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park.

I spent these last several months getting stronger physically, working out under the guidance of my excellent trainer, Jake Peri. I also spent the last month getting ready mentally- noticing my fears and doing what I could to have a positive attitude. I invited others to join me and on August 6, nine of us met up in Tuolumne Meadows to begin our adventure. There were two themes for this experience together…the beauty of creation and facing challenges. And we saw such incredible beauty! Everywhere we went, we were filled with awe and marveled at the Creator’s handiwork.

All my solitary preparation for this strenuous challenge was so important but once on the trail, I discovered that the real strength for the journey came in the experience of community. In fact, on the final evening when we camped below Half Dome, I asked everyone to share what they had learned about facing challenges from our trek through the High Sierras, knowing that these lessons and truths would guide us as we faced the ultimate challenge of the next day.

I smiled as I recorded what was shared, because each one of these lessons holds a great truth that also applies to facing the challenges of life:

• I am stronger than I think I am; I can do more than I believe I can.
• Ask for help.
• I learned that I can help others along the way.
• Sometimes hugs are the best wilderness medicine around.
• A word of affirmation and encouragement goes a long way.
• Cherish both the alone and together times, and honor these for others.
• When tired, stuck in my “plodding” and watching my feet…if I lifted my eyes and looked above me, there was a refreshment that came from seeing beyond my dust cloud!
• Take the challenge in small bites and even when it seems impossible, you can do it.
• When I was ready to give up, I just watched someone’s feet in front of me and stepped where she stepped…and I made it!
• If your pack feels too heavy, share the load…if anyone tries to carry it all, it’s too much.

We left camp at 7:00 a.m. for this hike that is classified by the National Park Service as extremely strenuous. We made it to the base of Half Dome and looked up at the 425-foot climb above us (at about a 45-degree angle) and wondered what we had been thinking! But as a group we encouraged each other up the cables and by 10:20 a.m. we had all made it to the top where we took in the amazing mile-high view of Yosemite Valley and all the peaks and valleys around. We did it!! What an exhilarating experience…and how clear we all were that it was the strength of community that made it possible.

Whatever challenges you are facing today, remember not to go it alone. Here at the Journey Center we offer resources for your journey…some are for you as an individual, of course, but many are offered in the context of community. You are warmly and lovingly invited to join us and discover that facing challenges in the strength of community makes the load lighter and the impossible possible.

Spiritual Transformation in a Dry Land

by Joanna Quintrell, Journey Center Executive Director (5/09)

In 2000, I found myself in a spiritual crisis; the image I had was that of being “as dry as a desert”. Though engaged in much “doing for God” in my outward life, I had slowly and imperceptibly drifted from that life-giving place of “being with God” that I had once known.

I was thirsty… I was just beginning to get in touch with this longing for a deep and nourishing connection with the One who loves me and is present and active in my life (whether I am paying attention or not)!

I found some beautiful words that capture what I longed for then and continue to long for now… “The Holy One will guide you always, satisfying your needs in a sun-scorched land and strengthening your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58:11)

My own journey of learning to drink deeply of the Living Water has included a number of spiritual practices, some of which might surprise you! In addition to spiritual direction, contemplative prayer and journaling, I have discovered the joys of being in the beauty of Creation, working out at the gym, taking naps (!) and being in community with others who recognize their thirst. I am also learning that true contemplation leads to action that is motivated by love, rather than some neurotic need for approval or success. All these practices, when I choose them, keep me connected to my own heart and the heart of the One whose presence, love and Spirit water the desert within.

Here in California, we find ourselves in yet another year of serious drought, with talk of water rationing making the headlines. I have been noticing the ways I choose to live my life as if I am practicing “spiritual water rationing”…perhaps you can relate to how busyness, too much work, neglecting your inner life, and a lack of play and rest can contribute to spiritual dryness. How easily I find myself there!

At the Journey Center, we offer a safe place where all are welcome to discover and explore what connects you to Living Water for your spiritual journey. It is our joy to offer a whole variety of gatherings, groups, workshops, retreats, outdoor adventures and health-related resources that are designed to help you drink deeply and flourish!

As you look through our website, I invite you to do so with this question in mind… “Is my inner life more like a desert or a well-watered garden?” If you find that you are thirsty, please notice what you are drawn to and consider joining us. You will be warmly welcomed, listened to and loved as you come to check out the growing community that is developing here at the Journey Center. And may your garden blossom as you are nourished by Love!

Helping Each Other in Troubled Financial Times

Article by Joanna Quintrell, Journey Center Executive Director, 2/09

You will notice that many of the resources offered at the Journey Center are free of charge; we are deeply committed to providing support and encouragement to you in as many ways as we can. Especially in these challenging financial times, we want to do our part to make things easier, while at the same time keeping our own doors open and the lights on!

We know that, like you, we have a choice regarding how we will face the challenges that life brings. And here is what we have decided:

·  We will live from faith rather than anxiety. At the core of all we do here at the Center is the focus that spiritual direction invites us to… living in a growing awareness of the presence, love and grace of God. We trust in what the Spirit can do, rather than our own limited resources and abilities. We know that the Journey Center was birthed because of what is in God’s heart, and so we are trusting that what is needed will be provided. And we want to encourage you towards trust and faith in your own life!

·  We will practice generosity rather than becoming focused on what WE need. It is so easy when things are tough to get self-focused…”Oh no! How will we make ends meet?” This kind of anxiety leads to a shutting down of our hearts and a shutting out of other people.  We believe there is a better way and so we continue to practice generosity; from the beginning, the Journey Center has been about being a reflection of the character of the loving, generous, giving God we know.

· We will draw strength from community rather than withdrawing into isolation. As we continue to implement the vision for the Journey Center, we recognize that one of the gifts we offer is the gift of community. There is always someone here to listen and pray, and you will see in this newsletter that we have a growing number of gatherings for learning, prayer/meditation, health and fun…in community! You are invited to choose the gift of community as well…join us as we say “yes” to the invitation to “get through this together!”

In that spirit, we want you to know that we are ALWAYS able to set up payment plans for any fee-based workshop, class, group or retreat that you would like to attend…all you need to do is ask! Many people are taking this option and it works just fine for us…

Working together, we will continue to be here and you will continue to have all the opportunities you need to encounter the Living God and grow in your spiritual journey. 

(The Journey Center is a new 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and all donations are tax-deductible)