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Thank You to Everyday Saints
Guest author: Liz Budd Ellmann, MDiv
Please join me in saying thank you! to the everyday saints behind the scenes who make the publications and educational programs possible: the volunteers and staff of Spiritual Directors International. This past fiscal year, hundreds of volunteers helped Spiritual Directors International celebrate its twentieth anniversary by sharing their gifts of hospitality and wisdom during educational events including Being Present in Dublin, Ireland; the "Parliament of the World’s Religions" in Melbourne, Australia; Gratefulness: the Heart of Spiritual Care in San Francisco, USA; and the Pilgrimage Journey to the Heart in Israel and Palestine. We thank the editorial review panel volunteers who read and edited scores of manuscripts submitted for publication in Presence journal. Thank you to writers, poets, and artists who make Listen, Connections, Membership Moments and the blog come alive by bringing beauty into the world. Thank you for your everyday saintly acts of offering contemplative practices of prayers, blessings, meditations, and financial support to the global learning community.
I want to especially lift up and celebrate the tiny yet mighty staff of Spiritual Directors International pictured above during our September staff retreat (left to right: Jennifer Williams, Molly Bauthues, Nick Wagner, Reggie Dirnberger, Pegge Bernecker, Sue Espinosa, and yours truly: Liz Ellmann). Even though almost everyone who works for Spiritual Directors International is a part-time contractor, we have formed a special bond over the years. We know how to knuckle down to hard work and lighten up to joy. For example, during the retreat, we were concerned that Nick might feel a bit lonely as the only guy, so we surprised him by showing him our mustaches! Without missing a beat, when Molly handed Nick a skirt, he promptly positioned it over his head like a veil. Toby Becker was not able to attend the staff retreat because of the arrival of triplets, pictured below (Josie Belle, Conley Tobias, Eveline Lila). We surround Toby and other extended staff family of Spiritual Directors International with love and appreciation.
As we near the end of a year celebrating Spiritual Directors International’s twentieth anniversary, we have much to be grateful for: the world is awakening to the potential for contemplative practice to foster peace and justice. The resources and networks of Spiritual Directors International are well positioned to collaborate with other organizations in an emerging global contemplative alliance. We are working with other organizations to continue listening for ways to introduce contemplative practices like prayer, meditation, mindfulness, and meeting regularly with a spiritual director, to alleviate suffering in the world. Thank you for your participation and your loving support. We feel it! We hope you feel our joyful hearts beaming back to you in gratitude.
Would you like to share a word of thanks to a Spiritual Directors International volunteer or staff person who brought you joy or made your experience in the global learning community special this year?
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One day over tea, my friend and mentor the late Paul Reps, shared the following story of his studies in the Orient. At one point Reps had traveled to Japan, with plans to visit a respected Zen master in Korea. He went to the passport office in Japan to apply for his visa and was politely informed that his request was denied due to the war that had just broken out in Korea. 
