I consider that I am a very blessed woman, married to Jim for 48 years, and mother to 6 adult children who have collectively given birth to 8 beautiful grandchildren. Aside from my busy life hosting family meals, doing child minding and taking part in family celebrations, I am busy helping run Stillpoint Spiritual Direction Formation courses in Brisbane and journeying with pilgrims in spiritual direction. To draw strength and deep quiet I spend time in our home garden and in prayer, enjoying the variety of birdlife, with their drinking and cavorting around the bird bath and delighting in their joyful song.
Apart from formal study in Psychology, and counselling and working in pastoral care in a hospital setting I have been involved in music ministry with Jim for 50 years in each Catholic parish in which we have been living.
It is from the richness of contemplative prayer, marriage and family life and pastoral work in caring and serving that I feel that I have been equipped and privileged to listen, to serve and to love pilgrims into new life through spiritual direction.
Favourite Scripture: John 17: 20-21
Favourite Book: The Letters and Diaries of Etty Hillesum 1941-1943
Favourite Movie: The Mission
Memorable Moment: My memorable moment involved talking to a young stranger in Brisbane as he came out of his garden gate, about the ferns that grew in his front garden. David shared that he knew nothing about ferns, that he was renting and that his landlord was a kind man. And from there he told me the story of his past life, his current illness and his concerns about a decision that he had to make that he feared. He said that he had always sought the counsel of a wise nun who ran a halfway house in Sydney, but sadly she had died. Having a sense of the wisdom still available to him I encouraged him to share his thoughts with her, and assured him that he would know what to decide. As I was leaving he exclaimed in wonder that he had told me the story of his life. I knew that the Spirit had been weaving our life together for our mutual blessing.