Shining in the Shadows
Leading with Hope in a Time of Despair
A day-long retreat with Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Occurred on Thursday, April 7, 2022
This is a hard time to be hopeful. Climate change, Trumpism, White Supremacy, Covid and world politics wear on us. There's a sense we're nearing collapse. The whole society — including the church and its leaders — is weary and a little depressed. In such times, how do we function as spiritual leaders? How do we lead with hope, and help others find hope, when it looks hopeless, and we ourselves are faltering?
Hope isn't optimism. It's trust in the unseen. A whole universe of life-giving energy flows beneath us, around us and through us — but most of the time we're closed off to it. In this retreat, we explored practices to renew our hope. In both gathered activities and in solitude, in online sessions and times apart, we engaged in some contemplative practices, creative exercises, re-imagining some biblical texts, and small group conversations. We explored practices of lament, "divine mindfulness," gratitude, reframing, and reconnecting, to discover trust and courage. Even when times are hard, the future looks bleak, and the air is murky, we can find joy — yes, joy, even! — and shine with light in the shadows, and lead with hope, helping others recover their hope and bear light.
Meet Steve
Steve Garnaas-Holmes is a pastor, poet, musician, retreat leader, and the author and curator of the popular blog Unfolding Light, where he records almost-daily reflections rooted in a contemplative, Creation-centered spirituality, often inspired by a practice of walking in the woods. For four decades, Steve served United Methodist churches in Montana and New England. From 1975 until 2013, he was a writer and performer with the Montana Logging and Ballet Company, a comedy and political satire group that performed around the United States, recorded several albums, and regularly appeared on NPR's Sunday Weekend Edition. Now living in Maine and enjoying retirement from local church ministry, Steve continues to write and lead retreats on prayer, poetry, contemplative practice, and renewing our language about God. Steve and his wife Beth have three grown sons and three grandchildren, whom they love dearly.
