Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to learn and grow from…
Brother David Steindl-Rast, OSB;
Brian Swimme, PhD;
Mary Ann Scofield, RSM;
Alexander Shaia, PhD;
Rev. Jane Vennard;
Janet Ruffing, RSM;
Rev. Donald Schell; and
Lucy Abbott-TuckerWorkshop presenters: Canon Peter Ball; William A. Barry, SJ; Betsey Beckman; Anne Benvenuti; Elizabeth Davenport; Don Bisson, FMS; Rose Mary Dougherty, SSND; Suzanne Dunbar; Karen L. Erlichman; Mary C. Earle; Carole A. Fournier; Bob Gardenhire, III; Will Hernandez; Marianne Hieb, RSM; Alexandra Kovats, CSJP; Megan McKenna; Christine Valters Paintner; John Pollard; Susan Rakoczy, IHM; Janet Ruffin, RSM; Donald Schell; Rabbi Jacob J. Staub; Pam Wood; and Rabbi Shawn Israel Zevit.
Want to connect with old friends, new colleagues, or training program classmates?Gratefulness the Heart of Spiritual Care is the place to do it! Spiritual Directors International is offering an extraordinary series of educational events, April 8-12, 2010. Join
Keynote speakers Sister Mary Ann Scofield, RSM, Dr. Alexander J. Shaia, Brother David Steindl-Rast, OSB, Dr. Brian Swimme, Rev. Jane E. Vennard and an outstanding
international faculty in the heart of San Francisco, California. There are plenty of opportunities and onsite support to set up networking meetings and alumni gatherings.
Register Now!Are you looking for a place to promote your project?Exhibiting at Spiritual Directors International conference is an affordable way to reach hundreds of people involved in spiritual care.
Reserve your space today! Many other
promotion and sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Register now for the best choice of workshops.
It’s Wait List Only for the Contemplative Retreat!The post-conference Contemplative Retreat, April 13-15, 2010, with Sister Mary Ann Scofield, RSM and Catherin Regan, PhD is CLOSED.
If you would like a place on the Wait List, please send an e-mail to the office.--------------------------
2. Are you an author or musician who wants to share your gifts with the world? Are you an author or musician who will attend
“Gratefulness: The Heart of Spiritual Care” in San Francisco, California, USA? YES? Then please participate in the public book signing celebration on Thursday, April 8, 2010 to celebrate you and share your books and music with our contemplative learning community and local seekers. You need to RSVP no later than February 15, 2010 to have your books and CD’s included in the bookstore.
HOW? After you have registered, please contact Pegge Bernecker, reviews(at)sdiworld.org for more information about how to participate in the evening events.
Or simply RSVP using this online link. You will be asked to provide your book title, publisher contact, and ISBN number, or CD, or DVD information. All presenters and attendees need to
RSVP no later than February 15, 2010.Everyone is invited to meet the talented and creative authors and musicians attending the 2010 educational events, and greet other conference participants. The bookstore will be open for book signings and browsing, and the Thursday evening, April 8 program is FREE for friends, family, and the general public! Plan on bringing your friends, family, and colleagues to meet authors and musicians who have registered for the conference.
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3. Check out the newest book in SDI’s imprint series! 
Spiritual Directors International publishes excellent new book in our imprint series!New in 2010:
Awakening the Creative Spirit: Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Direction by Spiritual Directors International members Betsey Beckman and Christine Valters Paintner. Available February1, 2010, or preorder today!
SDI has been cultivating excellent spiritual direction resources through the
Spiritual Directors International Imprint series since 2003.
Do you know a good book for spiritual directors? To learn where to send your book or other media for potential review in a Spiritual Directors International publication, please e-mail Pegge Bernecker, Media Review Editor. reviews [at] sdiworld.org. All review materials from members or publicists should be mailed directly to her in Alaska, USA.
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4. New Videos in the “Spiritual Directors International Learns From…” series!With the addition of THREE new educational videos you now have FREE access to more than
fifteen short videos that will help you tell the story of spiritual direction, which is also known as spiritual companionship, spiritual guidance, and spiritual accompaniment.
Please share these YouTube videos when you teach, via your workshops and online resource links, and with seekers. We welcome these three new additions:
Spiritual Directors International learns from Peter Ball and Carol LudwigSpiritual Directors International learns from Wil Hernandez, PhDSpiritual Directors International learns from Alexandra Kovats, CSJP--------------------------
5. Twentieth Anniversary Presence Reader Survey 
During this twentieth anniversary year, we’d like to hear from all the members of Spiritual Directors International about what you love about
Presence.
Please follow this link to share your thoughts. Password is: anniversary
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6. The Best of the Spiritual Directors International BLOG!
Engage. Learn. Reflect. Respond … visit the
Spiritual Directors International BLOG! Find it from the homepage,
www.sdiworld.org and add your comments throughout the month. Read others’ comments. Perhaps one of these recent posts might intrigue you!
"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too heavy a burden to bear."Watch "Clerics Seek Peace through Humor, Dialogue" with Pastor Don Mackenzie, Rabbi Ted Falcon, and Imam Jamal RahmanAs spiritual companions, we listen deeply. We offer presence to individuals and in world situations.--------------------------
7. Become a fan of Spiritual Directors International on Facebook 
Will you become a Spiritual Directors International
Fan on Facebook? Join the conversation and contemplative learning community online at
“Spiritual Directors International for spiritual care”--------------------------
8. Don’t miss a single issueHave you moved recently? Let the office know! If you move, Spiritual Directors International publications will not be forwarded. The publication will be delivered to the current resident. To receive upcoming publications, a member benefit, the office needs to know about your change of address.
Don’t miss a single issue. Give us a call, 425-455-1565, e-mail Jennifer Williams, office (at) sdiworld.org or fill out the
change of address form on the Web site.Some people – probably not you – forget to renew their memberships until it is too late to deliver Spiritual Directors International publications on schedule. Just in case that describes you,
here’s a link to renew your membership. Right now. Just in the nick of time to receive the next publication.
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9. February reflection by poet Kimberly L. BeckerThis poem won an honorable mention in the 2009-2010 Presence poetry contest.
An Askesis against Acedia, or: Walking the Dog with Intention
As a discipline
against depression
I fall back on naming
ten good things:
My dog’s breath as I walk her. Mine.
Tornado-less sky.
Earth without sinkhole or quake.
(Does that make four or five?)
Ragged oak leaves the color of tobacco.
Mockingbird flying down to say hello.
Blood quickening towards snow.
Pewter clouds (even plain old gray).
Pink ascending contrail.
Mind that can still process.
(Is that ten or a bonus?)
Bonus is good.
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10. February blessing from the Executive DirectorLook for love in unusual places this February, even in the pain of tragic loss. Cultivate compassion and gratefulness “as a discipline against depression.” As a bonus, invite the people you spiritually accompany to do likewise, so that love, compassion, and gratefulness may flourish in your hearts and communities.
Peace be with you,
Liz Budd Ellmann, MDiv
