Welcome to The Seeds Storyteller Series: Difference-Making During the Corona Crisis. I cannot wait for you to meet Bill Zuelke, a spiritual director who spends his time talking with people around the world, helping them to discern and listen to the movement of Spirit in the world and in their lives. I asked him to share a bit of his story, because I see it everywhere: Many are experiencing great pain and struggle, fear and overwhelm, unknown and uncertainty. I believe this treasured elder and friend of mine will enCOURAGE and inspire us all in our everyday lives TODAY.

In case you missed the livestream, check out the replay right here or head to your favorite social media platform: YouTube | IGTV | Facebook. While you’re there, subscribe to join the fun with us at Seeds of Exchange. Keep the convo goin’ in the comments below.

WHAT you can look forward to in this conversation:

– A MESSAGE OF HOPE that all will be well – no matter what happens.

– EXPLORE how this time of social distancing may hold an invitation to create a fundamental – and beneficial – shift in how you live life.

– TANGIBLE NUDGES for inspired ACTion for how you to might respond to today’s challenges and opportunities grounded in grace and love.

– ENCOURAGEMENT to wholeheartedly embrace your own spiritual journey and connection with the Sacred, whether you share Bill’s faith or have a different faith experience.

– GUIDED moment to BE STILL and take a “PoP” (Place of Pause) together with a specific idea or two for you to take into your everyday life.

NUDGES for inspired ACTion:

1 – SHARE the resources you have with those who have lost their resources in these days of crisis.

2 – PONDER how you might use the new time created by social distancing to create a feel-good, beneficial, and fundamental shifts in how you live life.

3 – COMMIT TO YOUR OWN PLACES OF PAUSE (PoPs). Choose 1 thing to weave into your life from our storyteller’s practice that will create plentyFULL peace within you.

4 – CONNECT WITH, follow, and friend our team:

• Bill: Email
• Sarah/Seeds of Exchange: Website | Facebook and Insta | 7 ways to join the fun so you can be inspired and ignited to make a difference locally and globally, together

MORE of Bill’s wise perspective and inspiring story:

What inspires you in the midst of these days of struggle?

The resiliency of people.

How do you quiet the noise, the worries, the stress of everyday life? How do you like to encourage others to do the same?

Appreciate beauty intentionally and specifically every day.

Favorite poem / quote:

“All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.” -Julian of Norwich

Is spirituality an essential part of your life, your work? If so, share a bit about HOW your personal faith influences and/or empowers your everyday life.

The Love of God overwhelms us. Nothing can separate us from the love of God made manifest in Christ Jesus. We can be confident in the providence of God. I spend my days on Zoom with folks throughout the world seeking to remain deeply grounded in the Love of Jesus and the Grace of the Holy Spirit. We, together, listen deeply to the movement of Spirit in our world and our lives and seek to discern how God is creating, saving, and sanctifying us right now in this time and place. My part is to watch the One I love love another and share what I see.

Given the current impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, how is your life (family, business, organization) being impacted? 

I am a highly social and community person. Isolation is a challenge for both my wife and me. Separation form my daughter, no more in-person community worship and Eucharist, zoom as the only medium for connecting is difficult. But our home is a monastery. We are in the world but separate from it. We have more space and time to appreciate beauty and be grateful for all of the gifts of God. We can cast all of our experiences of loss as spiritual practices of fasting to help us discover and appreciate more deeply the profound gifts of our lives.

ABOUT the Seeds Storyteller Series:

Difference-Making During the Corona Crisis | Stories of community, compassion, and creativity in the midst of everyday life, today. We share these stories about everyday difference-makers with you in the midst of the Corona pandemic so you can be informed, inspired, and ignited to care for yourself and others in the midst of these disrupted and challenging days. Get ready to find a bit more of your story as you listen to the stories of ARTivists (artist-activists), students, parents, elders, entrepreneurs, and activists!