My guest today is Deb Arndt. Deb’s background is in education, spending 18 years in the high school classroom. She has served as a Pastor of Spiritual Formation, offered many workshops and retreats, and continues to companion others in spiritual direction. She lives on an acreage outside of Saskatoon, SK with her husband Lavern. They have two adult sons, a lovely daughter-in-law, and a precious granddaughter. Deb enjoys nature, hiking, deep connections with others, belly laughs, reading, good food and drink, and their Bernese Mountain dog Ralph.

Many of my guests for this series on contemplation have been partners with Soulstream. Deb is SoulStream’s Executive Director. Prior to becoming Executive Director Deb served on SoulStream’s Leadership Team from 2011-2017 and has co-facilitated Living from the Heart (a course that we have mentioned many times in this series because of its impact on our guests) for more than 10 years.

Sue guides us in a reflection on Mary Oliver's poem "The Geese." She also recites the prayer/poem "Silent God" by Edwina Daily. During this reflection, Sue invites you to pay attention to what attracts your heart in the poem. Is there an invitation? How might this poem nurture your life?

Our guest today is Sue Vander Woude

Sue is married to Tony and has three adult children and six grandchildren. She received an M. Div. from Tyndale Seminary, Toronto, ON, and is a graduate of Tyndale’s first Spiritual Direction Practicum. She received continuing education through workshops in the practice of spiritual direction from Loyola House, Guelph, ON, and supervisor’s training through “Together in Mystery.” She is a co-founder and partner of SoulStream, a contemplative community where ongoing support for living the contemplative life happens. She is nourished by the ever-changing beauty of nature, walking her dog Oliver, poetry, continuing to learn, and companioning others, and her family.

For more see https://www.hintsofgladness.com/podcast2

A meditation by Justin McRoberts. Justin encourages us to pay attention to the names and faces that come to mind as he reads the following...

May I offer kindness and safety

in ways that they weren't offered to me.

There is no justice in denying others

things I was denied.

As the day progresses,

ask Spirit, why that person came to mind?

See more at https://www.hintsofgladness.com/podcast2

My guest today on the Hints of Gladness Podcast is Justin McRoberts.

Justin is an author, has written five books, and has another one in the works as we'll learn about in our conversation today.

Justin's most recent book is entitled, "It is What You Make of It: Creating Something Great from What You've Been Given."

Justin is also a coach and a speaker.

His bio says that he provides on his website says, "I create to provide language for the process of faith and life. What I create is to help you live generously as well as help you to faithfully produce good work in the world. For that reason, I really like teaching, storytelling, and songwriting, which I’ve done for nearly twenty years. I’ve written books, recorded albums and also curate and host The @Sea Podcast.

Whether I’m teaching, sharing songs and stories, leading a workshop on the creative process or inviting folks to engage in the fight against global poverty, I value every opportunity to encourage, challenge and inspire."

One of the things that led me to talk to Justin is that two of his books are. Prayer related. And one specifically is entitled "Prayer" that he wrote with his friend Scott Erickson.

For more see https://www.hintsofgladness.com/podcast2

"'The Prayer of Examin with Shauna Gill"

During this series, we have asked each guest to share a mediation. Shauna invites us to ask, what's bringing you life? and what are you struggling with? We can look back and examine the last hour, day, month, or year with these questions. Shauna mentions that she regularly did this prayer with a group of women for several years and she says deep, authentic connections were made as a result. This practice also helps Shauna with her intention to live gratefully and prepares her for the next day.

See more at https://www.hintsofgladness.com/podcast2

Our guest today is Shauna Gill.

Shauna is a Retired Nurse Educator within a critical care context. She has a Master’s Degree in Nursing and studied Hope in the Critically Ill and their Families. Shauna was able to blend her nursing and spirituality as a Parish Nurse in a church, blending Nursing and Pastoral Care.

Shauna was widowed @ 43 years old in 2006 and raised her three kids.

Shauna took Living from the Heart and Spiritual Direction with SoulStream in 2009. Now retired she offers Spiritual Direction and contemplative practices whenever they come across her path.

She lives contemplatively on some property with my second husband, where she gardens and continues to learn how to live gently on this earth, with a heart of gratitude.

Shauna is also an author of a children’s book and is finishing up a memoir. She says a second children's book is in her head. 😀

She also enjoys gardening, fishing, hiking, cycling, reading, writing, and photography.

For more see https://www.hintsofgladness.com/podcast2

During this series, we have asked each guest to share a mediation. Deb reads a poem by Denise Levertov called "To Live in the Mercy of God" She reads it twice. In the first reading, she invites us to just listen. In the second reading, she invites us to notice what catches our attention, what feeling remains in our body, and how the poem has spoken to us today.

You can follow along and read a copyright version of 'To Live in the Mercy of God" here https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48710/to-live-in-the-mercy-of-god

Learn more at Hints of Gladness- https://www.hintsofgladness.com/contemplation-with-deb-steinkamp

In our current series of podcasts, we are exploring the topic of contemplation. What does contemplation mean and how does it impact the way we show up in the world? I’m hoping that these conversations will be a contemplative experience, so I invite you to join us, engage and be open as we discuss our guest’s spiritual journey and contemplative experiences.

Our guest today is... Deb Steinkamp. Deb says, “I have been active in the contemplative, Christian community ever since I first experienced a sense of God’s constantly abiding presence with me. Dick Steinkamp and I have been married for 54 years. We love spending time with our 3 kids and 6 grandkids. We also enjoy travel, hiking, and kayaking. In all of that, and in my work as a Spiritual Director, I discover God’s loving presence."

Deb is a good friend and it is such a delight to talk with her to learn more about her journey and her views and experience with contemplation.

Learn more https://www.hintsofgladness.com/

Our guest today is Laura Giusti. Laura has many years of experience in the Corporate world as a Project Manager and as a person responsible for business, people development, and sales training with world-class Italian luxury brands like Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini.

During this interview, Laura talks about how she is taking a big risk to pursue her love for sailing and incorporating coaching and her experience leading teams for some of the most well-known brands in the world.

Laura's website - https://www.margotsolutions.com/