Gather and Reflect: Words from Rabbi Amy Eilberg

In the current issue of Connections, SDI members share about their experience at the Cultivating Compassion Educational Events in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Their words capture what they saw and learned as participants, but how was the view from the podium?

In the reflection below, Rabbi Amy Eilberg shares about her role as conference spiritual director. May these words encourage and enrich your ministry as spiritual companions:

It was a deep joy. During the few days before the conference, I noticed a little nervous

energy moving in me, despite the fact that I knew that there was no way I could really prepare for this—what was called for was nothing more nor less than showing up and being as present as I could.

Then I got there and was reminded—this is a large room full of spiritual directors! There was so much love and prayerfulness in the room! All I needed to "do" was to gather and reflect the community's prayerful intentions.

That was my most powerful experience of the weekend—the incredible power of so much chesed in one place. It was a balm to be in such a place, and the thought-prayer that ran through my mind and heart throughout the weekend was, "What if the whole world were like this?"

Rabbi Amy Eilberg with SDI member Diane Millis, PhD, at Cultivating Compassion Educational Events. To view a slideshow of the educational events visit: http://bit.ly/SDIBostonSlideshow.