“Be a Blessing”

Be a Blessing

Discovering our talents and learning how to use them takes up most of our life. Often, we discover new gifts in the second half of our lives. These gifs are often different from the skills perfected during our careers. Many of us are still trying to discover talents that went hidden while we pursued career goals and achievements. We perfected job skills and learned to juggle work and family responsibilities. A health crisis often changes everything. Old ways of being must give way to new self-discoveries.

Take for example Grandma Moses, who admitted she would have done anything to keep herself busy, lucky for us, at age 77, she turned to painting. She may not have discovered her gift but others did. Thankfully for us, debilitating arthritis caused her to turn to paining. Millions of tasks performed for family and friends are unrecorded, but her paintings continue to be a blessing for generations to come. See more of Grandma Moses

For many artists creativity emerges late in life. A longtime friend and supporter of Circle Community, Linda Shearer paints because it gives her joy. In Chinese Brush Paintings Linda captures timeless beauty. Linda Shearer's Chinese Brush Painting

Shirley Leighton, a friend and regular Circle Community participant began writing poetry many years ago, but at this stage of her life, her poems reflect a new self-discovery. She sees blessings everywhere. Her poetry is full of gratitude. Her poems testify of blessings everywhere.

Heaven
Feels like love –
Love overflowing –
Changing me
Opening locked doors
Earlier closed….
Unblocked energy
Allows for good’s flow
Into Every phase of my being
In every form
Enjoyed by humans.
The smile in my heart
Bends me in humility
Bursting over into dance –
This must be heaven…
~ Shirley Leighton ~

Rev. Frank Rose, another long time friend, a retired pastor now preaches with a camera and paintbrush. His watercolors and photographs of wild flowers are blessings to wild flowers everywhere. His paintings are a joy to behold. Count me as a member of his fan club. Frank Rose Mountain Wildflower Portraits

Discover your gifts, be a blessing!

Hibiscus Red

Chinese Brush Painting

Linda Shearer

Written by

Gabriella was born in Budapest Hungary. Some of her family still resides in Hungary. After escaping the Communist regime in the aftermath of the 1956 Revolution, Gabriella's family settled in Cleveland OH. She graduated from Cleveland Heights High School and attended college but did not earn a degree. She met her husband in Devon PA, and soon they were married and began family life in PA. Only a few years married, John and Gabriella moved to FL to be with Gabriella's aging parents. Two o their three children were born Florida. After the children began school, Gabriella volunteered in schools and libraries. Her love for swimming drew her into the world of aquatics. Part time coaching jobs evolved into career aquatic management. Her children out of the home, Gabriella worked full time as an aquatic manger, coach and swim instructor. In 2001, John and Gabriella's plans to ease into retirement in Tucson changed drastically when John suffered a heart attack in 2002. John’s amazing recovery after bypass surgery allowed Gabriella to seek a new career. It was a life changing experience for both of them. Gabriella returned to school at the University of AZ and John took over household responsibilities. A shift occurred in their lives. Gabriella felt called to become a spiritual care provider. Preparing for seminary, she chose interdisciplinary program, combining Psychology, Family and Religious Studies. She graduated with honors in 2006. Gabriella and John moved to Berkeley for her to begin seminary at the Pacific School of Religion. Gabriella was accepted on the ordination track in the Swedenborgian Church of North America. Her goal was to becoming a chaplain. John's health crisis necessitated a move from Berkeley back to Tucson in 2008. Gabriella transferred to Earlham School of Religion to complete the Master’s program. In her senior year, working in required Supervised Ministry, Gabriella created a dual ministry; Circle Community, a sharing, praying and studying support group and worked as a crisis advocate in Tucson area hospitals. Most of her family was present in Cincinnati OH when Gabriella was ordained in July 2012. In July of 2011 she was ordained in the Swedeborgian Church and accepted a call to be the pastor of the New Church of Southwest FL. Soon after her ordination Gabriella accepted a call to become the pastor to the New Church of Southwest FL in 2011. John, a VA patient needed comprehensive medical care unavailable in Fort Myers. For Gabriella ministry begins at home. Once again new a health crisis changed their life. They moved back to Tucson AZ. Back in Tucson, Gabriella found ministry opportunities with Circle Community, did workshops and conducted weekly Prayer Meditations at Rincon U.C.C. She completed a course in Spiritual Direction at the Hesychia School for Spiritual Direction. In mid October 2012, Gabriella began to work as a Chaplain for Harmony Hospice. The job all she had expected. She found great satisfaction working with patients and their families. Gabriella left the per diem position with Harmony for a full time job with Valor HospiceCare. Here too, she worked with grieving families, conducted grief support groups and lead Community Memorial services during the same time that her husband's health was spiraling downwards. Gabriella resigned her job to care for John in the last months of his life. John died in April 2014. Life became chaotic. An intense search a chaplain position in Tucson and other parts of the country was unsuccessful. Peers suggested Gabriella look into open churches with the Swedenborgian Church. She candidated in Kansas with two churches. She was called to pastor the Pretty Prairie and Pawnee Rock churches in July 2014. A new life began with the move to rural Kansas. In August 2014, Gabriella began to serve as the Pastor of the two churches.

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