GLP Grad Stories Jamie Deering

Graduate Jamie Deering of Washington State "discovered a call broadened and expanded beyond recognition during the Shalem program. The Residencies helped bring the experience of letting go and opening in from abstract concepts to known essence. 'The only thing necessary is deep openness.' And it really peeled away to this single state of being."
Full Text:
Shalem has become a spiritual home in so many ways. When I entered the common room for the first Residency, it felt like coming home to something I didn’t even know I’d been looking for. A place of spiritual nurture, grounded in unity. A place to explore and open in Loving Presence in a simple profound way. A place to offer and receive support. I experienced so much more than training. I found a community, a people, a home. And I discovered my call broadened and expanded beyond my recognition.
As a trained and experienced teacher, I greatly valued the distinction between teaching and facilitating. I really got the deep letting go and opening in love required in facilitating contrasted with the holding and navigating nature of teaching that I’d practiced for a long time. The Residencies helped bring the experience of letting go and opening in from abstract concepts to known essence. Ann Dean says, “The only thing necessary is deep openness.” And it really peeled away to this single state of being for me.
I finished the training hungry to deepen down in facilitating; hungry to share the gifts of quieting mind and heart in Holy Presence. I had to really school my leadership with intention with my first few groups as I completed the transition from teaching style to contemplative offering. It felt like the effort and resulting tiredness that comes from working new muscles. Muscles I had only recently discovered were available. So sometimes the ride was a bit bumpy. And yet, the bumpy times offered the reality of grace for everyone.
At the end of the first Residency, I remember whining a bit to Ann that there were no contemplation groups in my area for me to be a part of, no community like Shalem to go home to. She offered her magnificent smile and glorious laugh and said, “Oh, you’ll create one.” And thus was released the full blown knowing that indeed, I would. I have answered that call with joy and relish. Fully living out Shalem’s vision of a world filled with contemplative leaders, I now offer contemplation groups and retreats along a 100 mile stretch of the Puget Sound in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Shalem ignited a boundless passion for bringing the gift of contemplation to my community, my state and beyond. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to join in the Shalem community whose leaders, with integrity, vision and grace, offer freely the gift of living in and from our oneness.