Meet the Spiritual Director: Cheryl Lyon
December 17, 2019 / By Cheryl Lyon
The Way It Is
There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see….1-William Stafford
Over the last 12 years, the thread I follow has taken me on twists and turns I could never have anticipated and blessed me in ways I could never have imagined. It has also called on every bit of courage and trust I could muster, as I grew from a wife, mother, and paralegal into a life coach, worship leader, group facilitator, retreat leader, and spiritual director.
I didn’t imagine that I’d be good at any of those things. I pursued them for the simple reason that I couldn’t “not” do them. All I could do was follow the thread – the call forward. I found that what I needed most I already had: an open, quiet presence; a gentle sense of humor; a love of poetry and the arts; and an ability to help others calm their bodies and quiet their anxious minds so that they could hear the Wisdom within.
Whether I am working with an individual or group, leading a worship service or hosting a retreat, what I seek to do, with God’s grace, is to open a space in which individuals can be attentive to where the Spirit may be moving or inviting them and then boldly step forward into that leading. Walking with others as they follow their threads delights my own soul.
I am located in the Oneonta District, near the Binghamton District border. I would welcome invitations to lead half or whole day retreats or individual or group spiritual direction for laity or clergy, in person or by phone, Skype or Zoom. I would also be happy to consult with anyone who is developing a retreat or spiritually formative activities for a group. You can reach me at cheryl@wingedlifecoaching.com.
- Excerpted from Ask Me: 100 Essential Poems of William Stafford; Click here for the full poem.