The morning of September 11, 2001, began like any other for Dr. Westina Matthews, then a managing director at a major Wall Street firm. Her office in the World Financial Center, standing in the shadow of the Twin Towers, buzzed with the usual early morning activity. But in a matter of minutes, everything changed.
“I remember running down 34 flights and over the Brooklyn Bridge in 45 minutes,” Westina recounted in a recent episode of the Pivot Podcast. “Watching the towers coming down, watching men jumping from those top floors of the tower, wondering what the heck is going on.”
This firsthand account of one of the most traumatic events in American history serves as more than just a gripping opening to a conversation. For Westina, it was a life-altering moment that set her on a path of profound spiritual transformation.
“When you’re in those life and death moments, it’s kind of a wake-up call,” she reflected. “Like, what is this all about?”
In the aftermath of 9/11, Westina found herself grappling with questions of purpose, faith, and meaning. She began attending a Presbyterian church and sought what she thought was pastoral counseling. Little did she know that this counseling, guided by a mentor whose own mentor was the theologian and mystic Howard Thurman, was actually her introduction to spiritual direction.
This unexpected encounter with contemplative practices opened up a new world for Westina. “I felt like I was home,” she said, describing her first experiences with contemplative spirituality. “I didn’t have a name for it… but I began to live into what it meant to have a contemplative life and to be a contemplative leader.”
Westina’s journey from the fast-paced, high-stakes world of Wall Street to the reflective, soul-nourishing realm of spiritual direction is a testament to the transformative power of contemplative practices. It also serves as a powerful reminder that our deepest callings often emerge from our most challenging experiences.
Now Westina is an author, public speaker, professor, and workshop leader who most recently taught contemplative spiritual direction at General Theological Seminary in the Center for Christian Spirituality for twelve years. Now she writes from her home in Georgia and shaes key ways that Christian leaders and people of faith can make contemplative practices more central to their personal and congregational lives.
Embrace a Broader Understanding of Contemplative Practices
One of the most significant insights Westina offers is the need to expand our understanding of contemplative practices. “Contemplative doesn’t mean sitting on a mat in some uncomfortable position for 20 minutes,” she explains. Instead, she encourages leaders to consider a wide array of practices that can foster spiritual growth and connection with God.
These practices might include:
- Traditional methods like meditation and centering prayer
- Creative expressions through music, art, and journaling
- Physical activities like biking, walking, or even competitive sports
- Service and social justice work
- Storytelling and relationship-building
- Rituals and ceremonies
By broadening our view of contemplative practices, church leaders can help their congregations find meaningful ways to connect with God that resonate with their individual needs and preferences.
Address Grief and Cultivate Hope
In our post-pandemic world, grief has become a collective experience that churches must address. Westina emphasizes the importance of creating space for grief processing and hope cultivation within our communities.
One suggestion involves community members anonymously submitting cards or notes expressing their grief or seeking forgiveness. These would then be collectively burned on All Saints Day, creating a powerful symbol of release and renewal.
Alongside addressing grief, Westina stresses the importance of cultivating hope. She frames hope as a form of resistance against despair, particularly potent in our often-troubled world.
Cultivating hope within a community might involve:
- Regularly sharing stories of transformation and resilience
- Creating future-oriented projects that give people a sense of purpose
- Teaching contemplative practices that help people connect with their inner strength
- Fostering intergenerational relationships to provide perspective and continuity
- Diversifying Voices in Spiritual Formation
Westina’s recent book, “Soul Food: Nourishing Essays on Contemplative Living and Leadership,” highlights the importance of including diverse voices in the spiritual formation conversation. She emphasizes the need to hear from new contemplatives who represent various ages, cultures, and life experiences.
Diversify Voices in Spiritual Formation
Westina’s recent book, “Soul Food: Nourishing Essays on Contemplative Living and Leadership,” underscores the importance of including diverse voices in spiritual formation. This approach recognizes that spirituality is not one-size-fits-all, but rather a rich tapestry of experiences and perspectives.
“We believe that there is a divine diversity in our world,” Westina explains. This diversity encompasses not just racial and cultural differences, but also variations in age, life experience, and spiritual journeys.
Westina also touches on the bravery required to share diverse experiences. She mentions a contributor to her book who wrote about being queer but could not use their name due to their position. This highlights the ongoing need for safe spaces where people can authentically share their spiritual journeys without fear of judgment or repercussion.
Church leaders might consider creating platforms for sharing diverse spiritual narratives within their communities. This could involve storytelling events, small group discussions focused on personal spiritual journeys, or even a community blog where members can share their experiences and insights.
Integrate Contemplative Practices into Daily Life
Perhaps the most actionable insight Westina offers is her approach to integrating contemplative practices into daily life. She suggests two simple yet powerful exercises:
a) The Gratitude Pause: Stop, take a deep breath, and spend 60 seconds looking around and expressing gratitude for the present moment.
b) The Body Prayer: A simple physical prayer involving raising your hands to offer gratitude and concerns to God, receiving blessings, and sharing them with the world.
These practices demonstrate that contemplative living doesn’t require extensive training or time commitments. Instead, it’s about cultivating awareness and connection with God throughout our daily activities.
As church leaders navigate the challenges of ministry in a rapidly changing world, Dr. Westina Matthews’ insights offer a refreshing perspective on spiritual growth and leadership. By embracing a more expansive view of contemplative practices, addressing collective grief, amplifying diverse voices, and integrating simple spiritual exercises into daily life, leaders can foster deeper discipleship and create more resilient, hope-filled communities.
In Westina’s words, “The contemplative brings me back to who I am and whose I am.” As we pivot towards a more contemplative approach to faith and leadership, we open ourselves and our communities to experience the transformative power of God’s presence in every aspect of life.
