Many of the leaders we work with share a quiet, common experience: they are giving a great deal — to their teams, their organizations, their communities — while receiving very little that actually restores them.

I’m always aware that the community around my work is beautifully diverse. Some of you are here because of my executive coaching and organizational development work. Others are drawn to my interfaith ministry. And many of you are curious about how these worlds intersect.

This recent sermon lives right at that intersection.

We’ve been taught to respond to stress, overwhelm, and change with a familiar prescription: self-care.

Take a break. Get more rest. Set better boundaries.

And while these matter, they often don’t go far enough.

Over the past two weeks, I led a day retreat of A Fuller Cup™ and co-led a virtual weekend of Seasons of Need™. In both spaces, something meaningful happened: people slowed down enough to reconnect with their true nature.

They had the opportunity to be seen, heard, and reflect on how to get their needs more fully met — while also exploring how we build more sustainable communities of care.

These are outcomes that matter deeply in today’s demanding and uncertain world.

We live in a time of constant demand.

Deadlines. Decisions. Divisiveness.
Caregiving. Change. Complexity.

Many of the leaders and caregivers I work with are deeply committed people. They show up. They serve. They hold space. They carry responsibility — often quietly.

And yet, when it comes to themselves, self-care can feel indulgent. Optional. Even selfish.

But here’s the truth:

Self-care is not a withdrawal from responsibility.
It is what makes responsible leadership sustainable.

Many leaders are exhausted—not because they lack commitment or competence, but because they’ve been carrying more than ever, for too long.

Burnout, in this context, isn’t a failure.
It’s information.

It tells us something about both the self and the systems we’re operating within.

The Sacred Pause

A Free Weekly Gathering in Silence

In a world of constant noise, urgency, and uncertainty, The Sacred Pause offers a simple invitation: to stop, be still, and rest in silence—together.

This is not a class, workshop, or discussion. It is a quiet, shared experience designed to create space for calm, clarity, and inner grounding.

No meditation, prayer, or mindfulness experience is required. You don’t need to prepare or participate in any particular way. Simply arrive as you are.

“Grounded Gratitude” means you are identifying ways in which you are thankful for ALL of what you are navigating, not just the high points. It’s a mindful practice about also finding the positive or blessing in the low points or what is not wanted. THIS is the REAL work of gratitude.