Pivot

#98: Reimagining Contemplative Practices for Modern Life: From Wall Street to Renewal with Westina Matthews

Discover the transformative power of contemplative practices with Westina Matthews, a former Wall Street executive turned spiritual director.

Download the Contemplative Practices for Busy Church Leaders worksheet for this episode!

Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

In this enlightening episode of the Pivot Podcast, Westina Matthews, a spiritual director with a background in Wall Street, challenges our understanding of contemplative practices. Hosts Dwight Shiley and Alicia Granholm explore Westina’s unique journey and her innovative approach to integrating contemplative living into our fast-paced world.

Westina offers a fresh perspective on contemplative practices, expanding beyond traditional methods to include diverse activities that foster spiritual connection. She provides practical advice for incorporating these practices into daily life, addressing collective grief, and nurturing hope in challenging times. This episode is essential listening for anyone seeking to deepen their spiritual journey and create more resilient, faith-filled communities through the power of contemplative practices.

Show Notes

Shift Ministry Models
Faithful InnovationSpiritual Practices

Featuring

Westina Matthews headshot

Westina Matthews

Dr. Westina Matthews, PhD is an author, public speaker, spiritual director, professor, and workshop/retreat leader whose practice reflects contemplative living through "holy listening." For the past twelve years, Westina taught contemplative spiritual direction at General Theological Seminary in the Center for Christian Spirituality. Through her thoughtful, poignant, humorous, and authentic writings, she has found a way to connect with audiences around the world. Her most recent books are "Soul Food: Nourishing Essays on Contemplative Living and Leadership" (2023), "This Band of Sisterhood: Black Women Bishops on Race, Faith, and the Church" (2021), and "Dancing from the Inside Out: Grace-Filled Reflections on Growing Older" (2019). After living and writing in New York City for more than 30 years, she is now writing along the banks of the Wilmington River in Savannah, Georgia.

Meet Your Hosts

  • Dr. Dwight Zscheile

    Dr. Dwight Zscheile is vice president of innovation and professor of congregational mission and leadership at Luther Seminary. His latest book is Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God into a Hopeful Future (with Michael Binder and Tessa Pinkstaff, Fortress Press, 2023).

  • Dr. Alicia Granholm

    Alicia Granholm is senior director of Faith+Lead and a leadership and church consultant based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. She helps pastors and leaders engage culture to make a lasting impact. For nearly two decades, she has trained, equipped, and empowered followers of Jesus to engage their local communities by contextualizing the Gospel and its application. Alicia compassionately crosses cultural boundaries having lived, studied, traveled, and served in 25 countries on six continents. Alicia has a Doctor of Strategic Leadership, Global Consulting (Regent University), MDiv (Bethel Seminary), and MA in Teaching (University of St. Thomas).