“I have moved from a time of grief and difficulty into a new era of joy and self-definition.”
Against the backdrop of pandemic and general world upheaval, the past few years have been personally transformational ones for Jen. Leaving a two-decade marriage, coming out as lesbian, partnering with the love of her life, journeying with her former husband through terminal cancer, shepherding a multi-generational household, and starting on the path to a new career are just some of the external changes. Internally, she believes this period of mid-life transformation has made her more grounded, compassionate and willing to speak up for herself – and those on the margins.
With decades of training and practice as a parish minister under her belt, Jen is now a spiritual director, writer and fundraiser. Jen is a clumsy yoga enthusiast, a creative who loves experimenting with new media in art or writing, and a believer that most eating experiences can be improved with the addition of bananas. She looks for God every day, and finds it miraculous to sometimes catch glimpses of Mt St Helens or a bald eagle out of the window of her house on a hill in Oregon City. She and her partner, Rev. Tara Wilkins, find solace and refreshment by taking their little camper to the woods or the desert or the ocean, or on road trips to visit family. “There’s no medium on our dial, that’s for sure!”
“The future is uncertain because love changes everything.“
You can find out more about her at her website 4pines.org.
