Articles on Listening

  • Meandering

    Meandering

    My spiritual journey has meandered over the years. I grew up the youngest of seven children in a loving, traditional Roman Catholic family. My early faith formation taught me valuable lessons about the importance of spiritual community, prayer, meaningful rituals, and family. I’m grateful for those lessons. As a young adult, I wandered away from…

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  • Quilting as a Path to Love and Deep Listening

    Writing about love and deepening my ability to express the centrality of love to life itself is a goal I set for myself in retirement. Influenced by grace and serendipity, I had an unexpected awakening to how creativity and deep listening advance love and healing, while attending the annual American Library Association conference in Washington…

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  • Thrown Open Like a Window

    Thrown Open Like a Window

    All my life, I felt like I didn’t fit in. Raised Catholic and then married to a Methodist, I always felt like a square peg forced into a round hole regarding religion. I believed in a Higher Power yet recognized my belief didn’t fit within the established church and would jokingly refer to myself as…

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  • Reflections on the Camino

    Reflections on the Camino

    I find it hard to believe that it has been two months since a group of seventeen pilgrims met in Oia, Spain to begin a pilgrimage along part of the Portuguese Way of the Camino de Santiago. This weeklong walk changed us all in ways that we’re still processing. I wish to share my experience…

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  • Stillness and Silence as An African American Contemplative

    Stillness and Silence as An African American Contemplative

    The 2022 lecturer for the Gerald May Seminar was the Most Reverend Michael B. Curry who leads the U.S.-based Episcopal Church as Presiding Bishop. As the 27th Presiding Bishop, he is the first person of color – and African American – to serve in this role. During the seminar, Curry said more than once, “I…

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  • Adventures in Leadership: from Sarge to Servant

    Adventures in Leadership: from Sarge to Servant

    Born on September 1, the second child but first of four girls, a Virgo, an ENFJ on the Myers-Briggs and, by adolescence, 5’ 10” tall, I found that leading was in my nature! From an early age, my siblings dubbed me “Sarge.” I ran for Student Council president in high school and was first chair…

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Mission

Our mission is to nurture contemplative living and leadership.

Vision

In 2025, Shalem will be a dynamic and inclusive community, empowered by the Spirit, where seekers engage in transformation of themselves, their communities, and the world through spiritual growth, deep connection, and courageous action.

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