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Well for the Journey
Episode 723rd July 2023 • Listening for Clues • On the Journey with Jon & Lauren
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Well for the Journey

In this episode, Greg talks about Well for the Journey, a spiritual wellness center in Lutherville, MD. The various programs offered in different formats and settings are focused on spiritual well-being, and center on the sacred conversation between the Spirit and a person's spirit, with the aim of bringing transformation and healing to the world. Changing the world, one person at a time, one heart at a time.

We are honored to have Greg Cochran as our guest on this episode. Greg Cochran is Executive Director at a spiritual wellness center, Well for the Journey, in Lutherville, Maryland. He is a program/retreat facilitator and a spiritual companion. Greg is currently a staff member of Shalem Institute’s Spiritual Guidance Program in D.C. and a mentor in Paseo’s Spiritual Guidance Program in Idaho. He recently completed his service as Associate Pastor at Woodbrook Baptist Church (1988-2022). Greg is a graduate of Clemson University and Southern Seminary. He and his wife, Carole, live in Baltimore. They have two children (26 and 24). Greg is a hiker, photographer, woodworker, and loves being with family – and is always desiring to be open and listening for the invitation of the Spirit.

Highlights:

[00:00:00] Intro 

[00:01:45] How did Well for the Journey get started? 

[00:04:59] How has the Spirit surprised you? 

[00:06:05] A Model for Listening 

[00:08:16] What is Spiritual Wellness? 

[00:10:15] Challenges  

[00:12:58] Faith and Trust 

[00:13:26] Moving Into the Surrounding Communities 

[00:16:07] Expanding the Reach and Impact 

[00:17:37] Hope for the World 

[00:19:12] How someone can participate in or support Well for the Journey 

[00:20:47] Thanks 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Listening for Clues is pleased to present our new series, "Good News!" featuring weekly conversations with people who are making a difference, large or small. We want everyone to know what they are doing, why they are doing it, and how. So, our listeners and viewers can experience the good news and go out and make a difference themselves.

Listening for Clues invites you into conversations that discover clues, rather than solutions to life’s problems. Join the journey with Jon Shematek and Lauren Welch, Episcopal deacons, as we explore whatever lies ahead. Check our website Listening for Clues.

© 2023 Listening for Clues

Transcripts

Jon:

Welcome to Good News being brought to you by Listening for Clues.

Lauren:

We are Lauren Welch and Jon Shematek Deacons in the

Lauren:

Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.

Jon:

We sure are, and today we've got some good news for

Jon:

you from Well for the Journey.

Jon:

We have a special guest, Greg Cochran, who is the executive director at Well

Jon:

for the Journey, which is a spiritual wellness center in Lutherville, Maryland.

Jon:

There Greg works as a program and retreat facilitator and spiritual companion.

Jon:

Greg is currently also a staff member of the Shalem Institute's

Jon:

Spiritual Guidance Program in the district, and a mentor in Paseos

Jon:

Spiritual Guidance program in Idaho.

Jon:

Greg recently completed his service as associate pastor at

Jon:

Woodbrook Baptist Church, and that was a long pastorate Greg.

Jon:

I mean, it was like 34 years, I think, if my math is right.

Jon:

You're a graduate of Clemson University and Southern Seminary.

Jon:

Greg and his wife Carol, live in Baltimore ... And they have two children.

Jon:

Greg is a hiker, photographer woodworker and loves being with family and is

Jon:

always desiring to be open and listening for the invitation of the Spirit.

Jon:

So, Greg, welcome.

Greg:

Well, thank you.

Greg:

Thanks for inviting me on.

Greg:

Thank you for what you all are doing.

Lauren:

Greg, we're really grateful to have you with us today.

Lauren:

Well for the Journey has been around for a while.

Lauren:

So , tell us about it.

Greg:

Sure.

Greg:

We're just a little over 20 years old now.

Greg:

It started with one person, May Beth Hudson who was in the Episcopal Church

Greg:

at Good Shepherd who had, she would call it probably a divine discontent.

Greg:

She's a lawyer by education and training but was feeling this stirring within her.

Greg:

And she went to her rector at the time Scott Slater, many people

Greg:

may know Scott, and Scott invited her to invite others to listen.

Greg:

And through that listening , the group grew to, outside of the Church of the

Greg:

Good Shepherd, and actually a program formed first called Women at the Well.,

Greg:

that preceded Well for the Journey.

Greg:

The group decided it wanted to incorporate itself into a nonprofit in July of 2002.

Greg:

So at that point, the Well was birthed.

Greg:

And here we are over 20 years later continuing and now we're

Greg:

reaching nationwide through online.

Greg:

So we're excited about that.

Jon:

Yeah, that was one of the hidden blessings of the pandemic for so many

Jon:

of us that we could expand our, reach.

Jon:

I was looking at your website recently and you have just an amazing

Jon:

breadth of programs that you offer.

Jon:

Can you talk a little about that, Greg?

Greg:

Sure.

Greg:

The creators of the Well, wanted to create a safe, sacred space where

Greg:

people could come wherever they are on their spiritual journey to be

Greg:

able to ask questions, to explore, to experience community and connection.

Greg:

And so with that, knowing that each individual has their

Greg:

own unique style of learning.

Greg:

We provide a breadth of ways that they can connect with the spirit in that way.

Greg:

So we have programming that uses art.

Greg:

We have traditional small group programming.

Greg:

We do pilgrimages.

Greg:

We use journaling.

Greg:

Kind of a trademark of the Well is a is small group so where people

Greg:

can have opportunity to talk about their experiences and, to learn.

Greg:

When we first started, it was really People who felt like from their

Greg:

own congregation, they needed, wanted something a little deeper.

Greg:

So they'd go to their congregation on a Sunday but then during the week

Greg:

would take programs at the Well.

Greg:

And as we have grown and expanded, we're finding people coming who

Greg:

have had a bad experience in their childhood or other times.

Greg:

in institutional religious community people who would be considered

Greg:

spiritual but not religious.

Greg:

Mm.

Greg:

People who may not claim any kind of spiritual tradition, but know

Greg:

that there's something within themselves that want to connect

Greg:

something bigger than who they are.

Greg:

And we have started having people from other faith traditions joining us too.

Greg:

So again, for us, the idea is, To provide a safe, sacred space and get

Greg:

out of the way and let Spirit do what Spirit's going to do in that space.

Lauren:

So, Greg, has the spirit surprised you in any ways?

Greg:

Oh, good question.

Greg:

Yes.

Greg:

So one of the things that I am learning, I have learned and continue to learn,

Greg:

and I hope I continue to learn is the idea of not getting ahead of the Spirit.

Greg:

When I decided to apply for this position here I wanted to be in

Greg:

the world, but not of the world.

Greg:

And so with that, that means not getting ahead of the spirit listening.

Greg:

So listening and discerning is very key to, who we are.

Greg:

There's been many times when I have not heeded that and I've

Greg:

found myself getting into trouble.

Greg:

Like things, we try things too quickly and they may not work out.

Greg:

And so really listening and being patient and taking our time that has been a

Greg:

learning and a good surprise for me.

Greg:

Something like I knew in my head.

Greg:

But you know, they say the longest distance is between

Greg:

the head and the heart.

Jon:

And so I'm wondering how that actually translates for people that

Jon:

participate in your, program.

Jon:

The listening, the discernment process is not I'm gathering is not just

Jon:

something that the facilitators do.

Jon:

But is this, is this something you, that you're modeling and

Jon:

teaching for folks that come there?

Greg:

Yeah.

Greg:

Yeah.

Greg:

So our board meets this coming Saturday and we have intentionally

Greg:

on our board, we have a.

Greg:

Spiritual guide or director for our board.

Greg:

So if we are going to talk about this is the way we want

Greg:

to be, we need to live it too.

Greg:

And a good chunk of the board time is spent after we've had

Greg:

conversations around business or how we are invited to grow.

Greg:

Like right now , we call it B D E I, belonging, diversity,

Greg:

equity, and inclusion.

Greg:

Really trying to pay attention to that.

Greg:

So we'll give a good amount of time to that this Saturday.

Greg:

Our board spiritual director will help lead that.

Greg:

And then that kind of filters down that listening into our staff.

Greg:

Our staff meetings always start off with a, a quote or a reflection

Greg:

and then a listening piece.

Greg:

And then that kind of infuses our staff meetings where we each have our roles and

Greg:

responsibilities, but we collaborate with one another and it gets very creative.

Greg:

And there'll be times when.

Greg:

We have great ideas, but it's not time for those ideas yet.

Greg:

And there's times when spirit moves among us and , yes, yes, it's time for that.

Greg:

And then that even filters down into you're correct, our facilitators

Greg:

where we meet and we intentionally have small group guidelines that

Greg:

help form that safe, sacred space.

Greg:

So that people feel comfortable to share when they're willing to share, which

Greg:

then translates to hearing their own story and hearing other people's story

Greg:

. It invites us to change or decide what

Greg:

Mm-hmm.

Greg:

Mm-hmm.

Lauren:

So, Greg, as, as you were talking, one of the things that you

Lauren:

said in your bio is that Well, for the Journey was a wellness center.

Lauren:

How do, you describe spiritual wellness?

Greg:

Yeah.

Greg:

So I, I'm one and I think we here believe that we're all connected.

Greg:

We're whole people.

Greg:

So that includes the the emotional, mental, social, physical.

Greg:

And what makes each of us unique is that we have our, spirit who we are.

Greg:

So, and for me, I believe that is the thread that intertwines among all the

Greg:

others and helps bring it all together.

Greg:

So in our programming, we try to pay attention to that.

Greg:

We have a class on intuitive eating coming up and and one

Greg:

on intuitive cooking coming up.

Greg:

So the idea of how we eat feed ourselves, our physical self plays a part in

Greg:

our spiritual self and vice versa.

Greg:

We have yoga classes, and again, we, we have classes where we're outside and

Greg:

we have some woods in the back here.

Greg:

We're located on the campus of the Church of the Holy Comforter.

Greg:

There's some woods in the back where we will take walks in the woods through tree

Greg:

space, our, a program called Tree Space.

Greg:

So with time and space and silence and practice, we hope that that can

Greg:

move down to the heart where it's kind of naturally lived out in the world.

Greg:

And that is part of our, our mission and our vision and our hope

Greg:

is that people who come here is, it just, just doesn't stay here.

Greg:

But it's a change in transformation so that like you all are doing, It goes

Greg:

out into the world and hopefully to transform the world and heal the world.

Greg:

So that's for me the, the, how the spiritual part plays into the wellness

Greg:

of all of who we are and hopefully the world too, our community and world.

Jon:

Yeah, it sounds, it sounds like the Spirit sure has been

Jon:

active in, in the work that you've done all these over these years.

Jon:

I'm, wondering too if Well, for the Journey or you, yourself personally,

Jon:

have encountered any obstacles along the way and what those might

Jon:

be and how, you overcame them.

Greg:

Yeah.

Greg:

Yeah.

Greg:

Another good question.

Greg:

Well, both personally and, for the Well.

Greg:

I think what moved me toward my contemplative way of being and helped

Greg:

me discover that that's kind of who I am at, heart was an experience

Greg:

when I was a teenager working with my uncle who was killed in a construction

Greg:

accident that was right beside me.

Greg:

I grew up in a very evangelical conservative tradition in South Carolina

Greg:

where the thinking was dualistic, you know, black or white, right or wrong.

Greg:

And that experience didn't fit in with that.

Greg:

So that began my questioning and invitation into a deeper conversation and

Greg:

relationship with, who I would call God.

Greg:

And that has changed me for sure and invited me into exploration.

Greg:

And compassion for others who may be in that same space who may be questioning

Greg:

or I think the kind of code or fad word right now is deconstruction of

Greg:

your faith and then a reconstruction.

Greg:

So been through that for sure.

Greg:

And the Well there's been some lean years for sure as we have grown.

Greg:

And we, talk about ourselves as an organism instead of an organization,

Greg:

something living and growing and breathing and, and that's what it's felt like.

Greg:

There's been times when.

Greg:

It is felt like we've been on the brink of like, oh, I'm not sure how financially

Greg:

we're gonna be able to make it.

Greg:

But it's again, for me, leaning back into what I learned personally and

Greg:

what we're learning collectively here at the well is leaning into

Greg:

and listening to, and not getting ahead of the Spirit in our movement.

Greg:

I am not a pie in the sky kind of faith person, like, you know but that's, I guess

Greg:

Lauren, you're asking, being surprised.

Greg:

That's where I've been surprised too.

Greg:

That being patient and waiting, and that's hard to do at times

Greg:

or that waiting things have.

Greg:

Come about and have happened, not in ways that we have thought, but they've

Greg:

happened to help keep the Well sustained both financially and as a community

Greg:

too, so with energy and synergy.

Jon:

So there's faith and trust there as well as keeping a practical eye on things.

Greg:

Oh, for sure.

Greg:

And I think that's the bigger part of it all is the faith and the trust that

Greg:

goes into waiting and listening and moving through the world in that way.

Greg:

And that's a way of, for me, of being different in the world,

Greg:

which you all, I'm sure you, you practice as well and know well too

Greg:

as deacons of the Episcopal diocese.

Lauren:

Is there anything else that you want to tell us about

Lauren:

the the Well for the Journey?

Greg:

We have a mobile well that we take out to other communities.

Greg:

For example we recently started doing some programming out at

Greg:

Mercy Ridge retirement community.

Greg:

There's a Lutheran retirement community in Catonsville that

Greg:

we're starting to work with.

Greg:

We work with Villa Assumpta.

Greg:

The School Sisters of Notre Dame mother house there we worked with

Greg:

congregations and actually even some businesses to provide some programming.

Greg:

But we also through grant grants that we've been able to obtain work with

Greg:

places like Marion House in the city.

Greg:

Marion House is a.

Greg:

Organization that provides residential housing for women coming

Greg:

off of addiction, incarceration and trying to learn skills to

Greg:

get back out into the world

Greg:

. We've connected with

Greg:

We're having a free program for caregivers taking care of our

Greg:

caregivers to help people out and, and minister to people in that way.

Greg:

We have a clergy program that is a, as a clergy person,

Greg:

myself, knowing the need for.

Greg:

Self-care.

Greg:

We wanted to provide just a space where clergy could come and

Greg:

they don't have to do anything.

Greg:

And be a part of someone facilitating a program for them.

Greg:

So there's a lot of things like that.

Greg:

August 6th, we're going to have a Well in the Woods, since we have some

Greg:

woods here, just a community event where people can come and we'll have

Greg:

some music and sit and, and their lawn chairs bring something to eat.

Greg:

And just enjoy some time together . So we just want to provide things like

Greg:

that for our community as well.

Greg:

Again, all driven by that desire to help change the world through people coming

Greg:

to be more aware of themselves and the, their connection with their spirit.

Greg:

And I call it The, deep conversation with the Spirit Capital S and our little

Greg:

spirit, that's always, I believe, always going on within us, and the goal is to

Greg:

help me, help myself, and to help others become more aware of that conversation

Greg:

and live out of that conversation.

Lauren:

And it's so wonderful that you're taking it out to a

Lauren:

broad range of the community.

Lauren:

It really is developing relationships all around.

Greg:

Yeah, and, and Jon, you mentioned earlier about the pandemic and online,

Greg:

and that was one of the challenges for sure is when the pandemic first hit,

Greg:

because we were not online at all.

Greg:

And we have such a great staff here, they help pivot pretty

Greg:

quickly and get us online.

Greg:

And now, we have online programs and in person programs and we are not surprised

Greg:

when we have registrants from Washington.

Greg:

British Columbia, Puerto Rico the northeast southwest

Greg:

southeast, all from all over.

Greg:

So that's been a, a gift for us and, and something we do not take lightly,

Greg:

and a responsibility that we, have.

Jon:

So anyone anywhere in the world, English speaking person, I assume

Jon:

can participate in programming from the Well, that's fantastic.

Jon:

Yeah.

Greg:

Yeah.

Greg:

We had actually one time we did a online pilgrimage with a person

Greg:

that portrays Harriet Tubman.

Greg:

And with that we had someone from Liberia join us online that was deaf.

Greg:

And so there was an interpreter on screen that was interpreting

Greg:

for her while she was joining us.

Greg:

And that was another surprising thing.

Greg:

It was like, again, a gift to us.

Greg:

I mean, it's not that we're just helping people live into transformation, but

Greg:

that's the way it's supposed to be.

Greg:

Right?

Greg:

We're being transformed too.

Greg:

I know.

Greg:

It's a, it's a mutual thing.

Greg:

So,

Lauren:

so everyone is growing in the spirit.

Lauren:

Well for the Journey, the community and worldwide, the, relationships

Lauren:

that are being forged are bringing the world together.

Lauren:

Together in the spirit so that we, really can have hope in our world.

Lauren:

I mean, what I'm hearing from you and what the well offers is just a

Lauren:

lot of hope, so I'm really grateful.

Greg:

And it, thanks Lauren.

Greg:

And, and that's funny that you mentioned that.

Greg:

Well, maybe not funny, but if we talk about spirit moving that just,

Greg:

we have another series that we do.

Greg:

It's called Well Said, it's, actually our fundraiser, a speaker

Greg:

series, and this past April we had Maria Broom, who's in the city.

Greg:

So I see you shaking your head.

Greg:

She was our guest speaker and it was on the Dance of Hope.

Greg:

And you're exactly right.

Greg:

It was trying to help bring hope into the world.

Greg:

And so she did a wonderful job with, and then great questions

Greg:

from those who were there.

Greg:

To help us think more deeply about what hope means and when things seem hopeless

Greg:

sometimes, or when we bump up against what seems like something that may not be

Greg:

able to change like in our system, but, but hope is what helps us move toward

Greg:

that and make that change to keep going.

Greg:

So, yes, yes, hope.

Greg:

Yep.

Jon:

You, this is changing the world.

Jon:

One person at a time, one heart at a time.

Jon:

I mean, that's how I think that is how it's supposed to be.

Jon:

So

Greg:

yeah.

Greg:

Jon, thank you.

Greg:

Yes.

Greg:

Yeah.

Jon:

And so, Greg, I did notice your speakers in the past.

Jon:

You have that on your website and it, looks like an amazing collection.

Jon:

I'm just wondering, I know some of our listeners and viewers are

Jon:

probably thinking, gosh, I'd like to learn more about the, Well, or,

Jon:

I'd like to participate in some way, maybe volunteer or donate or attend

Jon:

a program or suggest a program?

Jon:

How, what's the best way for people to learn and to give?

Greg:

Sure, sure.

Greg:

We have a website, Well for the Journey.org.

Greg:

So that's the best way to first start with us.

Greg:

On that you're able to sign up.

Greg:

We have a weekly e-newsletter comes out Wednesday evenings around seven o'clock.

Greg:

That gives a list of what's coming up on the Well's docket what

Greg:

programming we have coming up.

Greg:

And also we have a weekday daily faith reflection that comes out at

Greg:

6:00 AM . So when you get up, you're welcome to read that, and you can

Greg:

sign up for the e-newsletter and for the daily faith reflection.

Greg:

For free.

Greg:

And it is just a quote that comes out in the morning, so

Greg:

you can do that there as well.

Greg:

And we have a Wellbeing Wednesday.

Greg:

It's a weekly reflection through a call in.

Greg:

It's just all you do is dial a number and you're on mute, and

Greg:

all you have to do is listen.

Greg:

It's at 8:00 AM on Wednesday mornings for 15 minutes.

Greg:

And just hopefully to start your day that way.

Greg:

And right now our theme is compassion and self-compassion.

Greg:

And you can find out that information as well on the website.

Jon:

Great.

Jon:

Yeah.

Jon:

So one place to go, Well for the Journey, and we'll put the link in the show

Jon:

notes so people can find you easily.

Jon:

And Greg, I've gotta tell you, this has just been, this has been great.

Jon:

I feel I feel better.

Jon:

I'm getting well.

Greg:

Thank you all.

Greg:

Truly, truly.

Greg:

Thank you all for what you do as well, because again, Right.

Greg:

It takes a village and when people like you work with others and get out

Greg:

the word about others, like the Well and others places too that helps.

Greg:

Right.

Greg:

That one, one person at a time.

Greg:

Well, thank you for what you both do.

Jon:

Thanks so much for being here, Greg.

Greg:

Oh, thank you.

Lauren:

Jon and I also want to thank all who are watching and listening.

Lauren:

We cannot spread good news without your participation.

Lauren:

Please take a moment, comment like, and share on all your social

Lauren:

media that will help us spread the good news to even more people.

Lauren:

And again, thank you for the gift of your time with us today.

Lauren:

Until next time, peace and blessings.

Jon:

Good news is being brought to you by Listening for Clues.

Jon:

You can find us on our website, listening for clues.com, our YouTube channel,

Jon:

our Vimeo channel, and just about every podcast platform that there is.

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