About us

At the heart of The Spiritual Care Fund is a deeply personal narrative. I have had an interest spiritual questions for most of my life. I completed my bachelor’s in religion and literature, I went on to take another 275 graduate level credits in religion. It wasn’t just an academic interest either. I audited four different 3-year ministerial training programs (each in a different Christian traditions) and earned nine professional certifications because I wanted to apply all the things I learned to help others in my work as an interfaith chaplain. And I did. Unfortunately, I was  much better at helping others than I was at helping myself.

By the time I was 40, I was clinging to a marriage that had been deeply unhappy, emotionally turbulent, and reactive through its entire sixteen year span. I had worked two, three, and sometimes four jobs throughout the marriage, so I could provide for our family of six while (ex)wife cared for the home and homeschooled our four children. We were both miserable in every way. I was shrinking emotionally and spiritually every day while also ballooning to over 500 lbs.

Despite all my theological education and ministry service, nothing about my faith was healthy.

My life’s work was grounded in an earnest desire to jelp others navigate the questions that had plagued me. I wanted to provide solace and guidance to those navigating life’s profound existential and spiritual questions, especially in times of crisis. But the demands of my work and the tumult of my marriage did not leave much emotional space for me to process my own ongoing trauma. 

When the house of cards finally came tumbling down, I struggled to grapple with the reality that everything I had built to construct this identity was…gone. I had “followed my heart” for people rather than listening to what the rest of me was saying. I gave and gave and gave til that heart gave out. I learned all about God and tried my best to apply all the principles, but I hadn’t learned to deal with my own inner nature.  

It was ultimately an incredible gift that led me to nurture the mind-body-spirit connection within myself. It wasn’t a straight line to healing. There were a lot of circles and scribbles. There still are. But through this process, I was able to shed harmful spiritual beliefs and practices as well as over 300 lbs. 

It was in the crucible of personal hardship and recovery that the concept of The Spiritual Care Fund was conceived. 

A large part of my healing journey was, quite frankly, running away – just getting space from all the competing voices who were telling me who I should be. I couldn’t get away from my own voice. It had been trained to speak to me a certain way. We had to have many conversations.

Along the way, I learned to become a “travel hacker,” traveling the world cheaply.  I spent a lot of time in nature, by myself or with friends. As an interfaith chaplain, I had been trained to listen. Now I simply listened without having to plan a clinical intervention or create a plan of care. I just listened with wonder and appreciate for their willingness to share their stories authentically and vulnerably. I found joy and energy spending time with spiritual practitioners and religious communities that were different from my own, and I experienced a deeper appreciation for the unity found throughout the diversity of spiritual expression. In that place of appreciation, rather than that place of learning-for-the-purpose-of-knowledge-or-application, I heard my voice in their mouths.

I earned another doctorate in multifaith studies. I took graduate courses at a Buddhist graduate school and a Hindu seminary – learning directly from their spiritual masters, going on their retreats, and being a part of their communities. I didn’t want to simply learn about their beliefs; I wanted to walk in their shoes (well, most of them didn’t wear shoes).  I was invited to join indigenous communities in the desert and shamans in the jungle. I learned dervishes with Sufi sheikhs and pilgrimaged to energy portals with Lightworkers. I didn’t always feel the “power of moldavite” in my hands, but every time the diamond turned, I saw a new divine glimmer. As a life-long educator, innovator, and creator, I was refreshed and renewed by new scenery, new perspectives, and the divine breath that animates, not only people of my faith tradition, but all of creation.

The Spiritual Care Fund is the culmination of my personal journey and professional work, combining my love for diverse spiritual practices, my fervor for spiritual wellness and counseling education, and a belief that rest is a holy act of rebellion in an achievement-driven world. 

This initiative stands as a testament to the realization that helping others on their journey of spiritual wellness requires a foundation of personal well-being. The education and respite programs funded and facilitated by The Spiritual Care Fund are not just an abstract concept for me; they are born out of the crucible of my own struggles and the profound understanding that caregivers need care too.

Through this initiative, we aim to break the cycle of emotional and spiritual burnout, offering spiritual care professionals a sanctuary where they can reclaim their peace, reconnect with their spiritual roots, and rekindle their passion for compassionate caregiving. The weight of others’ existential struggles need not become a burden that hinders our own well-being.

I invite you to join us in this transformative journey—a journey toward creating a culture of self-care within the spiritual care community. Your support and engagement with The Spiritual Care Fund contribute to a vision where caregivers find the respite they deserve, and in turn, provide more authentic and compassionate care to those they serve. Together, we can cultivate a community where the well-being of spiritual care professionals is valued, nurtured, and prioritized.