Last summer, my husband and I retired and moved to a new city to be closer to family. More precisely, my husband retired. I am now returning to coaching parish and diocesan leaders and writing, less full-time than in the past. It is a time to start over, to reflect on our lives up to now and to make the most of this new phase of life.
Of course, moving leads to sorting, sifting through possessions and asking the questions, over and over, “Have I used this in the past year? Will I ever need it again? Could someone use it more than me?” This was more than an exercise in determining how much stuff we wanted to move. It was a process of ensuring that our possessions don’t possess us and a renewed commitment to contribute positively to others whenever, however we can.
I have decided to apply the same principle to the ministry that I offer through Catholic Life and Faith. I hope to listen to the real challenges you face as a pastoral leader at this time. I plan to let go of what isn’t serving well in order to create space for something new and hope we’ll grow together as a result.
For those who joined the CLF Community site, I hope you’ll connect here. You will find many complimentary resources on the site and can subscribe to Impact, find conference materials, and link to books on the site. I plan to post occasionally, hoping that we will make this a place where we can share, explore, and learn with one another. Contact me here with resource requests or to schedule coaching time.
Comments are always open and appreciated on the posts here. Share your thoughts - when has starting over been challenging for you? When has it brought unexpected grace or peace? What pastoral leadership challenge are you facing this year?