Editor’s Note: Recently, The Leadership Institute held a Stakeholders retreat at the beautiful Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, CA, which is where the labyrinth Jan mentions is located. We hope you enjoy Jan’s reflection on her experience of richly connecting with God while at this retreat. If you would like to personally experience a labyrinth in a more virtual way and read a brief description of what a labyrinth is, you can click here to find out more. When I heard there was a labyrinth onsite, I was immediately intrigued. Where am I? What hotel has a labyrinth?! I’m obviously in […]
It Is Worth Weeping
Seven years ago I walked through one of the most difficult seasons of my life. It is unnecessary to elaborate on the details, but the season was marked by a profound loss of relationships (in multiple facets of my life), as well as the security I had found in relationships prior to that time. During […]
Normal, Everyday Life
I have a problem. Some might even call it an addiction. In college, I became hooked on adrenaline rushes. Now that I have matured some, I might say that I am addicted to new and exciting things. I love going on adventures to new places to explore, hike, climb, paddle, or learn new skills. […]
Confidence Booster
Have a seat on the couch of our virtual talk show. Today’s topic is confidence. You might turn on your TV to find Oprah, Dr. Phil or Tyra Banks giving you all kinds of advice or lists on ways to improve your self-confidence, but I’ll bet this one is not on their list… “You are […]
Filling the Emptiness
Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee. Saint Augustine There’s a concept floating around. It has something to do with all of us having this heart-shaped hole inside of us only God can fill. I believe this to be metaphorically true. I think it’s often communicated (or perceived) that this filling is a one time event. […]
Light in the Darkness
I shivered as I stepped out into the cold night air. Part of me looked forward to running in the dark, while the other part shivered at the thought. I used to run at night all the time when I was in college, for study breaks and inspiration. That was different, though, there were street […]
Joy Unspeakable
Last Sunday I was skimming through the ads that come with the Sunday newspaper (yes, I am one of those bargain hunters and budget watchers who actually reads through those ads!). The weekly Target ad caught my eye. On the front page, in big letters it said, “Joy makers.” The pictures on the page were […]
