Entering Into What God is Already Doing

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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.

My guest today is...

Donna Dinsmore

Donna was raised in a small farming community in northern Maine, taught choral music in the South Carolina public schools for 17 years, and moved to Vancouver, BC in 1996 to read and write at Regent College for a couple of years. She spent nine years at Regent (!) studying, working and teaching as a sessional lecturer. Twenty-six years later she is an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada and will "play in any sandbox that will have her." 

Donna has consulted for and with communities in New Zealand, Newfoundland, Washington, British Columbia and Alberta, mostly in the areas of worship, music and group discernment. Preparing and facilitating retreats that are organic to the group is one of her greatest joys. 

Donna is passionate about delving into the spirituality of change for congregations and groups of any kind. She is a partner in the SoulStream Community, currently a Transitional Minister at Brighouse United Church in Richmond, a voracious reader, and a lover of her canine companion, Tucker.

During this conversation, we discuss...

• Donna’s early spiritual influences 
• Why Donna started praying the Psalms at a young age.
• Donna’s definition of contemplation
• The goodness of God and the need and difficulty of focusing on it.
• Donna’s life-changing interactions with Eugene Peterson
• Donna’s story of what happened at Chapel at Regent College on 9/11 and the months that followed 
• Thoughts on contemplative community. Paying attention to what God is doing in community.
• Circle conversations with a talking stick so we can listen to each other and understand each other.
• Donna's Imaginative Exercise to help in times of conflict or uncertainty

_ _ _ _ _

Donna Dinsmore: An imaginative exercise for someone who is in the middle of a conflict. 

Here is the Transcript from Donna's exercise. You can listen below. 

This contemplative practice is especially beneficial for someone who is in the midst of a conflict. or an uncertainty. And I think it's especially clarifying for a leader who actually has to do something about this conflict or uncertainty.

So the practice begins by gathering yourself and allowing yourself to be present. Where you are sitting comfortably.

Imagine that you are facing the people who are part of this situation, and you're facing them in a room of your choosing. It's all your imagination. Who is there? Where they're sitting, their body language, their facial expressions, they are sitting in this room. You have called them there, and then you stand up in front of them and you pour out your heart.

You tell them why you are here with them, what you desired to bring, what you desired to do, who you desired to be amongst them, the the dreams and the passions you had for them, what you've been up to with them. Just pour out your heart.

And then stop talking.

Just be quiet.

And then what happens as you look around the room?

You notice their body language again, their facial expressions again. Has anyone left the room? Is anyone saying anything? What happens in the silence?

And then imagine that Jesus appears at the door

If the door is closed, you have to imagine did he knock? Did he open it up just a little bit and peek in? Did he open it up and really walk in boldly? But Jesus appears at the door. , what happens next?

What does Jesus do?

Does he walk in the room and walk around? Does he go and stand in one particular place? What's his body language?

What does he do and then how do you and others respond to what Jesus does?

Just let it unfold as it will...

This practice has helped me set boundaries. It's helped me leave a painful situation. And you know, I always kind of thought that Jesus, when he walked in the door, anytime I've done this, like he's gonna come stand next to me, right? He's gonna be on my side. That's never happened. It's beautiful. Jesus doesn't come over and be on my side in every case.

He paid full attention to every person in the room. It's like he read the situation and then he leaves the room. So then I have the choice of am I gonna stay there? Am I gonna go with him? And then what does he, if I do go with him out the door, where is he going to take me?

And it's just quite powerful. and beautiful.

So I hope, I hope you can remember the stages of that. Those of you that are listening, because there may come a time when, when you really need to have Jesus's strong guidance in helping you with the situation.

And in my case, he's never opened his mouth once. He's always guided me in silence.

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