Meet

Bettina

Since 1989

About

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Hello and welcome!

I am very much like you, a spiritual seeker on the journey into the heart of God and a joyful life!

A certified spiritual director, certified life coach, teacher and author of This is Living! Practicing the Presence of God, my passion and purpose in life is accompanying spiritual seekers on their spiritual journey. Originally from Germany, I moved to the United States at the age of 30, got married and raised two beautiful daughters. I lived in several different states in the US and now live in beautiful St. Petersburg, Florida.

My expertise and passion lies in

~ guiding seekers to find their purpose according to God’s yearning/will.

~ guiding seekers to be more peaceful through contemplative prayer.

~ guiding seekers how to practice God’s presence in everyday life.

~ helping seekers find God in their life story.

Please click here for more information on spiritual direction 

Education

Along with a masters degree in education, I am also a certified spiritual director and a certified teacher of Centering Prayer. I was recently certified as a strategic life coach and now integrate my gift of spiritual direction, my knowledge as a life coach and my intuitive gift in my work. I am grateful to have studied with spiritual teachers like Archbishop Tutu (Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge,Massachusetts), Father Thomas Keating (Contemplative Outreach, Atlanta), Father Basil Pennington (Harvard University) and Thich Nhat Hanh (Harvard University). While at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, I was blessed to be in a weekly healing prayer circle with Bishop Steven Charleston.

As a recent graduate of the Center of Creative Leadership at Eckerd College, I have developed leadership skills that add to my work as a spiritual retreat leader. As a priest wife, I have counseled many parishioners in their life journey and led classes and Bible studies on numerous topics.

My spiritual journey

Let me share five pivotal moments in my spiritual journey since I too have been through many challenges before I transformed my life into the joyful life I am living now. I have an amazing and loving relationship with my daughters, a beautiful and peaceful home, a wonderful calling and last but not least, a wonderful man in my life who asked me to marry him! I am so grateful for my journey, including the painful experiences, since all together brought me closer to God. It helped me grow emotionally, mentally and spiritually. And the journey continues, always together with other spiritual seekers!

Sitting with my grandmother’s pain

I was about five years old and sat with my grandmother in the courtyard of my childhood home in Hameln, Germany. I loved listening to her wonderful stories about life in the early 1900’s but inadvertently the memory of having lost two of her children would consume her and she fell into silent pain. I sat still, breathing deeply and praying to God to heal her pain. My grandmother and I sat often in the courtyard of our house and I learned early how to listen deeply and invite God into transforming the pain. It also taught me to pray contemplatively and live in the presence of God. My gift of deep listening came out of this painful experience and I have transformed it into my life purpose.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29:11

Writing my own eulogy

During a Good Friday’s sermon, our minister suggested to write our own eulogy. I went home and immediately wrote down what I wanted to be remembered for: to have been a good mother and to have brought meditation into the Christian church! I did not know what the second segment was all about at that time but I knew it came from a deep knowing and I trusted.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29:11

God wants you where your deep joy meets the need of the world.

I heard this quote by Frederick Buechner during a friend’s ordination to the Priesthood and it brought me life! I had struggled with my vocation for a long time, felt guilty that I was not helping in soup kitchens and homeless shelters, and now I gave myself permission to do what brought me joy: helping spiritual seekers on their way into the heart of God, sharing my love for the contemplative tradition of Christianity!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29:11

Going through a divorce

As many of you know, going through a divorce is a painful experience. I suffered a few anxiety attacks and I knew I had to stay in the Presence of God to survive this traumatic time. I started practicing the Presence of God minute by painful minute, often setting a timer during the day to come back to God. I practiced the presence of God while washing the dishes, making my bed, opening a door, breathing deep breaths… and I wrote my book This is Living! Practicing the Presence of God. A Prayer and Meditation Guide for Daily Life. 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29:11

Covid 19

When Covid 19 happened, I knew that I wanted to contribute and offer comfort to my friends on Facebook. I wrote a meditative prayer every day with a scripture passage and posted a beautiful sunrise photo along with it. My friends loved it and waited for the prayer every morning. I knew I had something to share with the world and could bring meditative practices into the Christian community. My calling to bring meditation into the Christian church, is now developing in beautiful ways.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29:11                            

The three major gifts that evolved during my spiritual life journey and that I am sharing with spiritual seekers, are

~my gift to listen deeply.

~my gift of teaching contemplative prayer and contemplative living.

~my intuitive gift of emotional healing.

Guiding spiritual seekers from pain to passion to purpose to peace brings me deep joy and uses my gifts of listening, teaching and healing. Let’s connect and talk. I look forward to meeting you and hearing about your walk with God.

The place God calls you to is the place where your deep joy meets the deep hunger of the world. —Frederick Buechner