MSIA travel staff is currently in the Midwest, providing MSIA Services (Innerphasings, Polarity Balances & Aura Balances) as well as MSIA events and screenings of the movie Spiritual Warriors. Staff member, Angel Gibson, provides this update from the trip:
DAY 1 — CHICAGO
And it’s time to travel again. Our merry band of travel staff has increased by two today as Cleora Daily and Roger Wakefield join Lesley Freeman, Vincent Dupont and I (Angel Gibson) at Los Angeles International Airport to fly out to Chicago. We have a funny moment as we’re checking in. We hear some voices wondering out loud who has so many suitcases. As they come around the column our dear Denver friends, Richard and Phyllis (Firak) Mitz (who are on their way back to Colorado) see that it’s us checking in. It’s always fun to find our family in airports. Check in is easy today. With plenty of time before boarding Lesley and I go to Starbucks, Vincent to the shoe shine man, and Roger disappears before I know his destination. Soon our flight is called. We settle in for some movie watching, spiritual exercises, and just plain sleeping.
It’s only a 3 1/2 hr flight so we soon arrive in Chicago O’Hare and head towards downtown Chicago. I love looking at the lit up architecture as we approach our hotel. It’s a quiet night tonight — or what’s left of the night. Roger, Cleora and I have a quick dinner in the Grill; Lesley and Vincent settle in and soon we’re doing some email. John Morton is on his way too and will join us after midnight — intrepid Traveler that he is.
DAY 2 – CHICAGO – WINDY CITY
We meet at breakfast with John and do our version of a group huddle before heading into the day. It’s a Services day for the staff ladies. Mary Shimandle and Norine Lever greet us this morning, going over the highlights of today’s schedule. Roger and Vincent will be heading over to Transitions Bookplace this afternoon to set up the audio/video equipment for the Spiritual Warrior workshop that John Morton is facilitating. Our day flies by and before we know it les femmes (that’s Lesley, Cleora et moi) drive ahead to help with the finishing touches for the workshop.
Gary Goldman is there. He’s our master of ceremonies for the evening, and he quickly introduces me to a lovely spirited Gayle Mandel who is co-owner of Transitions Bookplace. This store is warm, people-friendly, and soon I see how this is a reflection of Gayle and the people who work there. Instantly I feel at home. Transitions Bookplace also carries an array of cards and lovely gifts; there’s a cafe that serves good espresso coffees and teas / yummy goodies to eat. Transitions hosts many well-known authors and personalities, such as Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson, for talks and booksignings. Mary Shimandle, John Mikel, the Chicago MSIA Rep, and Elaine Lampert are busy welcoming guests, handing out information about MSIA and the Spiritual Warriors movie happening tomorrow night, and other Chicago MSIA events coming up.
Zoe Golightly, who is the MSIA staff point person for the Spiritual Warriors screening is there, and friends from all across the greater Chicago area have come. The chairs seem to flow back into the store as more and more people come. All is in readiness as John Morton arrives and shortly Gary welcomes everyone, introduces Gayle who thanks us for being there, and delightfully introduces John. The Spiritual Warrior workshop is one of my favorite workshops. I am happy to re-visit the key qualities and characteristics of the Spiritual Warrior, to reflect on where I can bring more ruthlessness and impeccability into my life…and how to use the sword of truth to cut away illusions. The two hours disappear and it’s hard to believe we’re at the end of the workshop already. After packing up the equipment and visiting with some of the participants, we head to Gibson’s restaurant, a classic part of old Chicago. This place just buzzes even this late in the evening. What a day this has been and we spiritual warriors are ready to surrender to sleep for the next few hours.
DAY 3 — CHICAGO
We have the luxury today of natural rising as Services don’t start until this afternoon. This is a rare treat, and we each take advantage to rest, exercise, do email, and walk around outside in this most beautiful weather. Then it’s on to Services in the afternoon, and then we all pile into the van with John and drive over to the theatre on Clark street for the Spiritual Warriors movie screening.
Ezra Mack is at the theatre taking pictures to send to the New Day Herald, John Mikel and Elaine Lampert are helping to give out Spiritual Warrior books and tickets. It’s always a treat to me to see this movie which continues to give me the most extraordinary experiences. Much like reading a Discourse there is always, always something different that I receive when I watch this film. The theatre is filling up and then it’s showtime.
Afterwards John Morton and Zoe do a short Q&A session with quite a variety of questions that John and Zoe field easily. There are a number of questions about when other screenings in Chicago might take place for the movie. Zoe tells the group that Jsu Garcia and John-Roger are open to the film being shown all around the world, and if anyone is interested in sponsoring a screening they can contact Zoe for details. Also we can see the previews / trailers for the movie on www.spiritualwarriors.com. Then it’s time to head for dinner which affords us a little de-briefing time. Finally we’re back at the hotel. There’s packing, emails and even some sleep for us tonight. Ah, our heartfelt thanks to the warm and friendly embrace of our MSIA family here in Chicago. We look forward to seeing many of you again at our next stop-Kalamazoo.
DAY 4 — KALAMAZOO
It’s a beautiful day for a drive — Roger, Cleora and I in one van; Lesley and Vincent in the other. We are caravanning to Kalamazoo this morning. I’m in the back seat inputting the travel schedule for our South American trip. Cleora is navigating and suddenly we cross the border into Michigan and it’s time to set our watches one hour ahead. Funny how that time thing goes. It’s unusually warm here for this time of year but there are hints that fall has descended by the touches of reds, golds, and oranges that are beginning to show in the trees. We laugh as we feel “over-oxygenated” with all the fresh and humid air.
As we enter the Kalamazoo city limits we make our way over to the health food store to boost our supplies — always a Basic Self treat — I’m happy as I’ve found a special black licorice and some chocolate covered ginger (ok so it’s psychological health food). Happy campers we arrive at our hotel and discover that we have no room reservations. What could have been a small catastrophe is happily salvaged by the fact that the hotel does have unrented rooms. So, while we have lunch our rooms are made ready for us. Phew!
After lunch we have just enough time to set up the rooms because we have a few Services to do. Cay Velderman, our Kalamazoo MSIA Rep, has everything in perfect readiness for us. What a great organizer! Lorraine Andrews has made lovely flower arrangements for our rooms, and Cora is hostessing. The Services go smoothly and then we have the rest of the night to settle in and prepare for the next day’s activities.
DAY 5 — KALAMAZOO
We have a full day of Services today and set up for the weekend’s events. Les girls, Lesley, Cleora and I, are doing Services with Bruce Rosenfeld and Mary Ann Somerville sitting in. Roger and Vincent are doing set up for audio/video. We converge at lunch down the street catching each other up on the flow of the morning and then we’re off and running for the afternoon’s adventures. In the meantime John Morton and Leigh Taylor-Young are making their way to Kalamazoo. The hotel is buzzing as more and more of our Midwest MSIA family are arriving. Lots of hugs and smiles and quick chats in between Services. Cay, Bob Skyliss, Lorraine, Kay and Larry Stolsonburg, Cheryl, Dyan and Brenda and Steven Fishbaugh and other wonderful friends are assisting in creating a warm space for tonight’s event and this weekend’s Walking in the Light workshop. The products table is particularly inviting.
Then we gather in The Meadows room for an Open MSIA Seminar and Q&A with John Morton. Bob Skyliss ably MC’s the evening, introducing MSIA and PTS to the new people attending. We watch some Moment of Peace Videos, including one of my favorites taken from the Ireland trip. Then John takes the stage and begins his sharings which are mixed with humorous stories from his past and deeply stirring wisdoms of the heart on trusting God and experiencing living love. What a lovely way to start the weekend. Cleora, Mary Ann and I grab a little dessert and coffee, I check in to find out that the Cleveland Indians have won tonight’s game, and then it’s time for a few emails before surrendering into God’s arms for the night.
