“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
   a light has dawned.”

(Isaiah 9:2)

In the winter season there is less light and more darkness in the world around us. The days are shorter, the nights longer and we tend to stay indoors where it is warm and we can turn on a light.

Have you ever been somewhere so dark that you couldn’t even see your hand when you held it up in front of your face? Perhaps it was on a cave tour or a camping trip; the flashlight was turned off and all you could see was…nothing at all. Most of us rarely experience that kind of deep darkness. Where we live, you can turn on a light.

But imagine for a moment that there was no light, that you had to get around by walking carefully, hands out in front of you, feeling your way. What would it be like if you lived “in the land of deep darkness” described in this ancient text? And what would it be like if, after days and weeks and months of living in such darkness, the light began to dawn? Imagine the joy!

As I ponder these things, I have been struck by how the light is celebrated at this time of year in so many ways. In the Christian tradition, the birth of the Christ child is remembered in stories and Christmas carols as the miracle of the coming of God’s light into the darkness of our existence:

…in thy dark streets shineth the Everlasting Light;The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

(From the carol ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’)

During Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, candles are lit to remember the miracle of the restoration of the Temple and are a reminder of what God has done, inspiring thanks and praise…

We light these lights for the miracles and the wonders,
for the redemption and the battles that you made for our forefathers…

(From a hymn recited at the lighting of the candles)

All over the world in the time of winter candles are lit, strings of lights decorate houses and trees, people draw near to the warmth and flickering flames of the fireplace. The darkness is here, yes, and we welcome and enjoy the light that drives it away.

There are other kinds of darkness that can be with us no matter what season of the year it is, aren’t there? There are times when we find ourselves in a dark place on our journey- perhaps we feel “lost” in a particular situation and don’t know which way we should turn, or a deep grief overtakes us and weighs down our heart. It might be that circumstances beyond our control have thrown us unexpectedly into a time of struggle, or we are touched by the pain of others. Maybe we are experiencing a “dark night of the soul” and we long for days gone by when it was easier to sense the presence of the Holy.

At the Journey Center, we believe that whether you are celebrating the light…or longing for the light…there is something essential about having the companionship of others at this place on your journey. Joy is more complete and struggles are less burdensome when we come together to talk and pray, laugh and cry, listen and learn.

It is our practice to light a candle each time we gather as a reminder that we are not alone. We invite you to join us during this dark season of the year. See the happenings section of our website for opportunities to come and experience the presence of the One who is…

                                                   “…wrapped in light as with a garment.”

Psalm 104:2

Eleven years ago, when I first discovered the gift of spiritual direction, I had come to the sad realization that I was living my entire life “on the outside”- I had become a human do-ing and no longer knew how to simply “be”. When I reflected on my inner life, the image that came to me was that of a very dry desert with very little there that flourished. I knew that something was seriously wrong and I needed some kind of help to find my way back to my heart and myself.

What a joy it was to be offered the gift of spiritual direction and to experience the transformation that resulted… my image of myself changed from that of a dried-up desert to a flourishing, well-watered garden! In my monthly hour with my spiritual director I was given the space to prayerfully reflect on where I was on my journey and to listen for that Loving Voice speaking words that brought me peace and healing…and a new way of living.

Spiritual direction has its roots in the Christian tradition where it has been a resource for spiritual seekers for centuries, and now spiritual directors can be found in most of the major faith traditions. The experience of meeting with a spiritual director is both simple and powerful.

If you have a session with a spiritual director, you will find that the focus is on becoming more deeply aware of the presence of the Holy One and the movement of the Spirit in your life. As the two of you sit together, the Spirit is the true Director as you talk about your spiritual journey and notice what touches your heart, what images come to you, etc. These “glimmers of gold” are invitations, too, to explore what the Spirit is saying to you in this moment.

At the Journey Center, spiritual direction is at the core of everything we offer. In other words, we have been called to create and hold safe, sacred spaces in which all people are welcome and can encounter and experience the Holy. Whether you join us for a prayer/meditation group, a massage, a retreat, a workshop or an adventure in Creation…you will be invited to become aware of the presence of the One who knows you and loves you. And that awareness is transformative!

Recently, we had the great joy of graduating eleven wonderfully gifted men and women from the Journey Center’s two-year training program in spiritual direction and contemplative retreat leadership. What a blessing it has been to witness the Spirit’s calling and deep work in each of their lives, preparing them to serve their communities by offering the gift of spiritual direction! Some of the graduates are joining our team of spiritual directors, which means that we will be offering even more resources for your journey. (We are also preparing now to take another group of folks through this training experience, beginning in January of 2012. We are accepting applications through the end of October- see our website for more information).

If you would like to learn more about spiritual direction, we encourage you to sign up for our next free workshop “Spiritual Direction: An Invitation to Encounter the Holy” on Monday, October 17 (7-9 p.m.), where you will discover for yourself what this gift is and experience a demonstration of a spiritual direction session. We invite you to read about our team of directors on our website and consider making an appointment with one of them for a free initial session by calling us at 707-578-2121, http://www.journeycenter.org/hapSpiritDirection.php

Discover the gift of spiritual direction and you will find a treasure that will enrich your spiritual life!

This will be the 6^th summer that this particular group of people takes the Journey Center booth to the Santa Rosa Downtown Market and, every Wednesday evening for 17 weeks, has the privilege of being there on Fourth Street, offering drinks of water and free healing prayer.

It may seem a bit strange to think of us being in the midst of thousands of people who are there to have FUN…enjoying the music, food, vendors and summer sunshine (or fog, as the case may be!). Who is thinking about prayer in that kind of setting? You would be surprised! We certainly were when we first said “yes” to the Spirit’s invitation to come to the Market and share Love with our community in this way.

We discovered that when people hear we are offering free healing prayer for them or their loved ones, between 25-40 folks every evening choose to receive this gift! There they are, walking around in that crowd of smiling people, carrying burdens and sorrows and feeling alone…and someone reaches out to them. Every person we have prayed with has experienced an important “touch” in some way.

Since 2006, we have had the privilege of praying for over 2000 people, most of whom are not part of a faith community and thus do not have the blessing of regularly sitting with someone who listens to their story with compassion and brings them and their concerns to the Holy One in prayer. Receiving the gift of prayer, regardless of the details of their situation, opens them up to encountering the presence of the One who knows them, loves them and is with them. This is powerfully transforming and comforting! And often they return to tell us of the ways in which theirs prayers were answered.

Why do we do this? Prayer is at the core of what the Journey Center is about…each of us has been touched and supported by prayer in community and we find joy is sharing this gift. My own experience this past year, as I faced a poor prognosis with a rare bone disease in my knee, was that the prayers of the Journey Center community on my behalf lifted me up and gave me strength to face an uncertain future. And, just recently, an MRI confirmed a miracle…the osteonecrosis is gone! I will be able to walk normally and return to hiking, for which my husband and I are very, very grateful. Prayer is powerful indeed…

At the Journey Center, we move through the week in a rhythm of prayer. Like any conversation, in our experience of the presence of the Holy there are times for talking (intercessory prayer) and times for listening (contemplative prayer).

Intercessory Prayer: We love to pray and we pray year round for people here locally and all over the world!  In addition to coming to see us at the Market in the summer (or at the monthly Health Fair Sampler all year), you can drop by the Journey Center for a visit, call us on the phone or send us a prayer request via our website. We would be blessed to pray for you…

Contemplative Prayer: We have regular contemplative prayer/meditation gatherings where the focus of our prayer is on BEING and LISTENING. We step out of the busyness and noise and into the silence. There our experience of the presence of the Holy is deepened, allowing us to listen to our own hearts and the voice of the Spirit more clearly.

Wherever you find yourself on your journey today, know that you are not alone! Someone with compassion would love to listen to your story and offer you the transforming gift of prayer…

The first time I heard about the Enneagram, it wasn’t a pleasant experience. I was told by an enthusiastic friend… “You are a TWO, Joanna! You are SO a TWO!” Feeling labeled and put into a box that I didn’t understand, I decided right then and there that I really didn’t want anything to do with this strange-sounding something called the Enneagram.

A few years went by and then the Spirit came calling. An organization I belong to decided that the Enneagram was an excellent tool for our work with leaders and they sent me to Chicago for 8 days to be trained as an Enneagram workshop presenter. And- what do you know!- once I opened myself to learning about this unique system of understanding human personality, I was grateful that my original negativity didn’t keep me from discovering what the Enneagram offers to those of us seeking transformation and community. I almost missed a treasure!

I love that the Enneagram and spirituality go together. From a spiritual perspective, the Enneagram is rooted in the divine character and helps us discover how we are made in the divine image and the ways in which we “shine” and bring unique and important gifts to the world. Where the pain and losses we experience in life have led us to adapt unhealthy and false ways of being in order to survive, the Enneagram helps us understand our brokenness and gives us practical tools for moving toward healing and wholeness in ourselves and in our relationships.

I have been facilitating Enneagram workshops and groups for almost 3 years at the Journey Center and what I have seen happen in people’s lives and relationships has been far beyond my expectations. I can honestly tell you that it’s true…this IS a powerful tool for transformation!

Barbara says “Studying the Enneagram at the Journey Center in this past year has been an incredibly enlightening experience.  Through studying the Enneagram types, I feel I have more compassion and understanding both for myself and others.  It has been equal to a year’s worth of therapy (both individual and couple’s) and far more fun!”

Shauna’s experience is similar… “At the Enneagram classes, I’ve had many ‘AHA!’ moments about myself and the relationships I’m in.  The most valuable thing for me has been to learn more compassion for myself and compassion for others.”

If love and compassion are the fruit of a healthy spirituality, then the Enneagram helps us live from that place in ourselves where love and compassion are possible.

Not only is the Enneagram a tool for transformation, but it is also a resource for building and sustaining community. We are blessed to be a center for Enneagram studies here in the North Bay and there is a growing community of folks who are participating in our workshops and groups. We all come seeking an experience of transformation and we are finding that it is in community that the wisdom of the Enneagram can be deeply understood and applied to our lives.

This year we are continuing to develop the “Enneagram Series” offering introductory workshops, 5-week Enneagram Exploration groups, monthly “Going Deeper with the Enneagram” gatherings, quarterly workshops featuring guest teachers and an annual Enneagram retreat. Please consider joining us and discovering this fascinating and wonderful resource for your journey toward wholeness! To learn more, visit the Enneagram page at our website: http://www.journeycenter.org/hapEnneagram.php.

My husband and I are experiencing this very journey right now due to a health crisis that we definitely didn’t expect. I find myself feeling like Dorothy, happily living her life in Kansas, when all of a sudden a tornado comes roaring across the farm. She and Toto and her whole house are picked up by the furious winds and plunked down in Oz, a strange and unfamiliar place. Thus her unexpected journey begins, and it has become a metaphor for mine. 

John and I have been on many journeys together, our favorites being backpacking in England. When we were there in 1997 and getting our first taste of exploring the footpaths of that lovely land, we found ourselves one day walking along fields and through woods and decided to spend some time memorizing Psalm 121 as we “rambled”. Those ancient words became our “hiker’s Psalm”.

One of the things I have been grieving on this new journey is the loss of being able to walk and hike for an unknown number of months or years. This morning I arose early and went out on the deck where we are staying for our annual fall visit to Ashland, Oregon. I was feeling a bit lost and sad this morning, and was drawn to be outside where I could watch the dawn come over the Cascades across the valley.

 As I watched this beautiful sight, I felt the presence of the Holy One and my heart was at peace (something that I haven’t experienced much in these weeks of crisis). In those moments, the words of Psalm 121 came into my mind. At first I thought that it would be painful to reflect on those familiar words because it would remind me that I’m no longer a hiker, but that is not what happened at all.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Holy One- the Maker of heaven and earth…

who will not let your foot slip.

The Holy One who watches over you…will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Holy One who watches over you is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Holy One will keep you from all harm and will watch over your life;

the Holy One will watch over your coming and going 

both now and forevermore”

As I remembered the rest of the words, I discovered that it is also a “crutcher’s Psalm”! Yes, the details of our external life have changed and that’s never easy…but the same One who was with us on the country footpaths in England is with us as we make this new inner journey here in Santa Rosa.

Wherever YOU are on your journey today, remember that the Holy One is with you in this same way. “Watching over” means so much more than simply seeing you…this phrase in Hebrew carries the imagery of a shepherd lovingly tending his flock or a gardener closely tending her garden. The One who loves you in this way is very near and filled with compassion for you. Every moment of every day, you are not alone and you never will be.

The Journey Center has come into being because God has invited us to create a safe, peaceful place in our community where all are welcome and resources are available for wherever you find yourself on your journey. You can read “Joanna’s Journey” where she blogs about her unexpected journey (http://joannaquintrell.blogspot.com).

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…

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!

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!

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.”

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.