https://abidingjourney.org/blog daily 0.75 2026-01-13 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/turning-toward-the-light monthly 0.5 2025-12-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/007a60fb-c311-4134-94e3-9f09bdcf7a17/IMG_9584.JPG Reflections - Turning Toward the Light - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://abidingjourney.org/blog/the-most-beautiful-people monthly 0.5 2025-03-21 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/franciscan-benediction monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/lenten-prayer monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/he6kdfnuqgf95kyuqdexgamf97yyuf monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1731078208397-ER4QNLQ2ET4DTT93D2LV/465224333_10234939631821608_8544142185363113844_n.jpg Reflections - “Come to Me” - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://abidingjourney.org/blog/christmas-invitation monthly 0.5 2023-12-25 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/shepherd-poem monthly 0.5 2023-12-22 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/advent-prayer-by-henri-nouwen monthly 0.5 2023-12-14 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/iv9te7s9xp6clccjzdusk0pcqrgn9h monthly 0.5 2023-12-04 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/giving-thanks monthly 0.5 2023-11-17 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/for-those-who-grieve monthly 0.5 2023-11-16 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/uniquely-you monthly 0.5 2023-09-27 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/q2pvhyv8upqqi2l1vbayw8ze7rsfa9 monthly 0.5 2023-05-27 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/creating-my-phone-lockscreen monthly 0.5 2022-11-08 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/slowing-down-to-reflect-too-intimidating monthly 0.5 2022-10-03 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/images-of-god-journaling-exercise monthly 0.5 2022-08-01 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/gofginwzh80gnk7lkbx9jswgvmr5jl monthly 0.5 2022-08-01 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/e9t66l07y8hntygnxt67blrln49my9 monthly 0.5 2022-05-26 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/xztdpov84nkg6ocrf83cih73l170fe monthly 0.5 2022-04-24 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/love-winshe-is-alive monthly 0.5 2022-04-24 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/77gjtdc49apwda195dr4bm1lbceps8 monthly 0.5 2022-04-11 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/blessing-for-lent-by-jan-richardson monthly 0.5 2022-04-08 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/weeping monthly 0.5 2022-03-23 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/psalm-3-amp-personal-lament monthly 0.5 2022-03-21 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/leaning-into-lament monthly 0.5 2022-03-21 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/planting-seeds monthly 0.5 2022-02-25 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/nothing-in-the-tank monthly 0.5 2022-02-16 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/compassion monthly 0.5 2022-02-16 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/simply-move monthly 0.5 2022-02-02 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/simply-rest monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/close-to-gods-heart monthly 0.5 2022-01-22 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/when-life-feels-overwhelming monthly 0.5 2022-04-08 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/walking-in-a-winter-wonderland monthly 0.5 2022-01-15 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/a-word-for-the-year monthly 0.5 2022-01-10 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/370wvu91tc8gavwe04weegao1cj22i monthly 0.5 2021-10-07 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/the-calling monthly 0.5 2021-10-07 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/gods-mercies-are-new-every-morning monthly 0.5 2021-05-04 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/life-itself-is-a-prayer monthly 0.5 2021-05-04 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/what-will-you-remember-most monthly 0.5 2021-03-17 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/prayer-of-relinquishment monthly 0.5 2021-03-09 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/vx55i06mn6hs2djgnoagwrpxrcm91q monthly 0.5 2021-03-09 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/climbing-upward monthly 0.5 2021-02-02 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/something-to-hold-onto-to-remind-you-who-is-holding-you monthly 0.5 2021-02-05 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/visual-reminder-that-god-is-with-us monthly 0.5 2021-01-15 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/loved-by-god-love-others monthly 0.5 2021-01-14 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/hopeadvent monthly 0.5 2021-01-14 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/thepath monthly 0.5 2020-12-01 https://abidingjourney.org/blog/myperspective monthly 0.5 2020-12-01 https://abidingjourney.org/retreats daily 0.75 2021-01-04 https://abidingjourney.org/individual-spiritual-direction daily 0.75 2020-12-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1605887462301-RH9AT13G9OYSBUSFNQIJ/pexels-lana-neiman-96469+%281%29.jpg Individual Spiritual Direction - Individual Spiritual Direction “God is present and active in every moment of our day. However, we don’t always have the eyes to see it. “ ~Thomas Hart, Spiritual Director & Writer Individual spiritual direction is an intentional time in which we reflect upon your journey. We look for how God is working and inviting you to new ways of being with Christ in the midst of your circumstances. It is building into your intimate relationship with God over a lifetime, through all the problems, crises, joys and blessings. We meet not to problem-solve, or fix but to abide with God and grow in knowing God and yourself. It’s an open format, where you bring what is on your heart to the time. God is the true Guide and Director. I am a fellow companion there to listen deeply, ask thoughtful questions, and offer insights or spiritual practices at times, always seeking God. Specifically, I usually open the time with a prayer and silence, sometimes a scripture passage. Then when you are ready, you share. Though it may sound daunting that the time is open and yours to direct, take heart that many others (including myself) have wondered about the open format. I can truthfully say that I consistently see God’s Spirit faithfully directing. Typically, a meeting is an hour once a month. The conversations are confidential. Pricing is mutually agreed upon at the first meeting. Meetings occur in person or via Zoom. https://abidingjourney.org/new-page daily 0.75 2020-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1607543141102-WX9UX451AFA21ATBKUUU/E07848C4-9743-419C-BA23-81D244802646_1_201_a.jpeg quote page - “Spiritual direction is the art of intentionally journeying with another (directee) in a Spirit-led, free flowing way that fosters trust, safety, vulnerability and honesty with God and self so that the directee can become aware of the movements and promptings of God in their life, more fully embrace the love and grace God has for them and in turn manifest that love to others.” - Larry Warner "If you don't come apart for awhile, you will come apart after awhile." – Dallas Willard "Finding God in all things in order that we might love and serve God in all." – St. Ignatius of Loyola "Without solitude it is virtually impossible to have a spiritual life." – Henri Nouwen "Mission cannot be discerned without formation, nor can mission be sustained without an ongoing commitment to transformation in Christ's presence." – Ruth Haley Barton "Something in our nature necessitates external support for our development. God designed us on purpose to be dependent on others for our spiritual growth" -St. Teresa of Avila “A spiritual director is one who helps another to recognize and to follow the inspirations of grace in his/her life, in order to arrive at the end to which God is leading him/her.” —Thomas Merton “I look at God, I look at you, I keep on looking at God.” -Julian of Norvich https://abidingjourney.org/visio-divina daily 0.75 2026-01-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1769113988387-0M2H2Y0GK1MXTD4ROAHI/unsplash-image-UdDjFekHQuk.jpg Creative Practice - Visio Divina - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1647885395473-7TLIFFRSHMZRWKJGXF3I/6720E0D6-E5B4-4B54-A003-3E6DF65788BD_1_201_a.jpeg Creative Practice - Visio Divina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1615308427601-VFZY3K9F0HNCJ3J98B92/180701_1034.JPG Creative Practice - Visio Divina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/61ad93d1-dbed-4aa6-ab07-75929cf761f8/0A5A0C88-16B9-4636-AFA4-78F275FF32C0.jpeg Creative Practice - Visio Divina - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1769113909556-WSL6YA8EVCARLDHBOCEZ/unsplash-image-Ck-t8Z8C3KQ.jpg Creative Practice - Visio Divina - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/3091be3b-7af5-4d61-aa9f-574ed7e77fdc/IMG_5274.JPEG Creative Practice - Visio Divina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1696958342966-JKI9G70SJOT39GJFF512/IMG_0042.JPG Creative Practice - Visio Divina - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1727707031149-BZ30GJSG6LOA9TITMJK0/unsplash-image-Tz-stNLUwyU.jpg Creative Practice - Visio Divina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1615232081019-YIW939GZLKDI9AMUS0WS/koder_orig.jpg Creative Practice - Visio Divina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1742412449570-V9CDA4J3QHWU6MQ1V0PB/IMG_6385.jpeg Creative Practice - Visio Divina https://abidingjourney.org/read-me daily 0.75 2020-12-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1605898548552-SI3LQXZM1UZB65YTBNAJ/771798DD-85FE-42F0-9472-FC9B96A6946C_1_105_c.jpeg What is Spiritual Direction? "The whole purpose of spiritual direction is to penetrate beneath the surface of a [person’s] life, to get behind the façade of conventional gestures and attitudes which one presents to the world, and to bring out inner spiritual freedom, one’s inmost truth, which is what we call the likeness of Christ in one’s soul." -Thomas Merton https://abidingjourney.org/payments daily 0.75 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1601673148685-0QLKX2DH131AHWIU95MV/E4BC1355-8F62-4FE9-9EA7-BAA9FC8BDC37_1_201_a.jpeg Payments - Pay Here For donations/payment for services, please use the PayPal link below or email me if you wish to pay by check or Venmo payment. https://abidingjourney.org/general daily 1.0 2025-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3b3ed8084b6f00015405ba/1565894754450-WS80DFXY4IPD2YN9LCI8/landing-full-topleft-01.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1601675717108-I38O4OF7JRW3TP2HI2ZQ/pexels-torsten-dettlaff-59321.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1601578426823-FAWKIU2T3SDKWMT5MIL9/6463B1A3-C437-4636-A455-FCED3EA58C11_1_201_a.jpeg Home https://abidingjourney.org/about-michelle-olson daily 0.75 2026-01-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/ef52101c-792a-45c4-92a9-3d089f0adc0f/Olsen2025-006.jpg About Michelle Olson - Meet Michelle I am a compassionate, intuitive spiritual director and pastor whose passion is to walk beside people on their spiritual journeys and to hold space for each person to connect more deeply to God. Most of all, I am a beloved child of God. My vibrant Christian faith grounds me with a strong sense of God faithfully walking beside me. Through the more challenging seasons in my life (dad’s death at age 20, depression, infertility, and Mono then chronic illness in my 40’s), my faith deepened each time as I profoundly experienced Jesus holding me close – not while doing ministry but simply resting and being loved by Him. Resting in the truth that I am deeply loved is the foundation of my ministry today. I value continuing education and the rhythms of my own spiritual practices. This grounding and accountability with a spiritual direction supervision group ensures I am available to be the best spiritual director to you. I live in Western Michigan with my husband and two older children (college and high school age). In my free time, I enjoy walking in nature, reading, photography, and playing board games with family and friends. Credentials: Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Christian Formation & Direction Ministries (CFDM) Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary Ordained Minister in Presbyterian Church(USA) https://abidingjourney.org/group-spiritual-direction daily 0.75 2020-12-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1606771722193-1JVFSXLSLZUQJ9SBMH3M/pexels-torsten-dettlaff-59321.jpg Group Spiritual Direction - Group Spiritual Direction This group of 4-6 people prayerfully listen to each other’s story. The intention is to create a confidential, trusted space in which each person is listened to deeply and in turn attentively listens to the others as each shares about their life and journey with God. This practice is different than a bible study in that the focus is upon relationship with God vs. information. It is different than a small group in it’s intentionality of being slow to speak and trusting God to be the inner teacher rather than giving advice to help/fix the person. Through time and intentionality, the group becomes a spiritual community sharing God’s love with one another and they are transformed by God. The group typically meets monthly for about 2 hours and commits to a set length of time. (ie. 6-9 months) Each gathering includes the following structure: Opening & Scripture Time of Individual Sharing Sharing—Silence-Response—Silence (This pattern is repeated, for each of those interested in sharing) Closing Prayer https://abidingjourney.org/centering-prayer daily 0.75 2023-11-28 https://abidingjourney.org/visio-lent daily 0.75 2026-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1649439839993-83KNQD842AVTK11SF3XB/unsplash-image-H9Q5V_WPSdM.jpg Visio Divina For Holy Week Joining the crowds to honor Jesus https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1615234027679-KI3GSBKPYDVPGT7CQPG2/cameroon+Jesus+cleansing+temple.jpg Visio Divina For Holy Week Jesus Cleansing the Temple https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1649685128535-XHCIMJGC8819WE35MGUM/unsplash-image-NdtipyYQzfs.jpg Visio Divina For Holy Week Weeping over Jerusalem https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1615247864360-7CYUZSDB00BTP09ICUNK/Mary+wash+Jesus+feet.jpeg Visio Divina For Holy Week https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1649441690751-UV8I99IXEAFGDY1RMX85/unsplash-image-jpqyfK7GB4w.jpg Visio Divina For Holy Week Jesus’ betrayal for 30 pieces of silver https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1615232081019-YIW939GZLKDI9AMUS0WS/koder_orig.jpg Visio Divina For Holy Week https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1615246917450-NLBJB3RICDFUXIK55YH5/Jesus+Gethsamene.jpg Visio Divina For Holy Week https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/64cb7db7-819a-4ac3-be80-5ba058d0e5f2/C35288AA-E9A3-4256-80AB-9FC2D8E04754.jpeg Visio Divina For Holy Week https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1615476824357-R621OSD3TTO70XVZAAQT/64E535D4-4F01-436A-A764-593F1004DA01_1_201_a.jpeg Visio Divina For Holy Week https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/20205d75-2a5b-4d01-898a-fc4c7bd6aa87/D8EB15AB-4183-4C34-8350-96DAFF564A86.jpeg Visio Divina For Holy Week https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/b15c109a-a633-4b06-8b0f-4285251d2f6b/F77B7A01-1865-4712-A7F9-F29C0AE4E2B9.jpeg Visio Divina For Holy Week https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1649442760708-BQ06G1YN0O1BOLQRQWFH/unsplash-image-ci1F55HaVWQ.jpg Visio Divina For Holy Week https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1615231564976-5TGW14N06SGJCH2OSIYR/unsplash-image--ysyCHixMHU.jpg Visio Divina For Holy Week https://abidingjourney.org/lamentforlent daily 0.75 2026-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/3091be3b-7af5-4d61-aa9f-574ed7e77fdc/IMG_5274.JPEG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1742408309286-FOI77H3GNIAVNFSFGT4R/unsplash-image-8eFbe3jQZ7Y.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1742408855547-0IORGQPG5AHWY0SZ3BAA/unsplash-image-TzVN0xQhWaQ.jpg https://abidingjourney.org/contact-1 daily 0.75 2025-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1745947281825-4JDM4OTKRCMKCS9WQTK5/unsplash-image-4qHWTuP_RLw.jpg https://abidingjourney.org/projects-1-1 daily 0.75 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1605903075485-JS0J7YUCDWAK7WE1VJL1/image-asset.jpeg Creative Practice - Visio Divina (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1727706975610-YCN2X4L7D6TW7JSU6BJL/unsplash-image-8eFbe3jQZ7Y.jpg Creative Practice - Visio Divina (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1745944234022-1BKMJ5XAGEA9UA71A2MD/unsplash-image-1yqA4OyC6gQ.jpg Creative Practice - Visio Divina (Copy) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1745944263421-7DI2O8GC1BO70HVBKGJ4/unsplash-image-TzVN0xQhWaQ.jpg Creative Practice - Visio Divina (Copy) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1605897730849-RN0AS5AAP35R83ERW1XA/pexels-dhivakaran-s-783200.jpg Creative Practice - Visio Divina (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1607013288767-E0VKQ2KOHSQNYBMJBSWV/image-asset.jpeg Creative Practice - Visio Divina (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1745948150363-YZ2ZPPHF0IQR8O7RO6KU/unsplash-image-20HpvEDFqi0.jpg Creative Practice - Visio Divina (Copy) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1727707389787-NENFF2I1VEAYQWTEXWJE/unsplash-image-Rq2XVvWZvDc.jpg Creative Practice - Visio Divina (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1745947427636-6KD08ROEG6XTNWFYTAAX/unsplash-image-xCU7nCMNfI8.jpg Creative Practice - Visio Divina (Copy) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f761414be8ea53b96095eb5/1727707031149-BZ30GJSG6LOA9TITMJK0/unsplash-image-Tz-stNLUwyU.jpg Creative Practice - Visio Divina (Copy) https://abidingjourney.org/store daily 0.75 57529-03-04