Pastor, psychotherapist, spiritual companion, pilgrim
A retired UCC clergyperson and psychotherapist, I live in Concord, NH in a 260 year old house with my wife, Fran, and a 17-year old terrier named Harry. I am also a weaver, beekeeper and have been known to make bumbling attempts at jazz piano. In retirement I have also done some work as spiritual director and retreat leader.
For the last four years Fran and I have been involved as volunteers with a fair trade organization in Guatemala called Mayan Hands and, in yearly trips, have traveled extensively in the Central and Western highlands to meet with indigenous weavers. Although I have been a peace activist for a number of years, I tended to think of nonviolence as a strategy or technique — something used in demonstrations. Only in attending an Engage Intensive weekend in November 2006 did I come to see it as a way of life.
In that way, the weekend was not merely eye-opening, it was transforming. As a participant in the Pace e Bene Training Development Program I hope to deepen my understanding/experience of nonviolence as a way of life/spiritual journey, to prepare for the work of passing on the message of nonviolence by working with others in Pace e Bene programs, and to become part of the wider Pace e Bene community. What a gift it is that I journey not alone but in the company of the amazing colleagues and facilitators of this training program community.