September 22
Bethany Crawley
“The Arts of Conversation”
Worship Leader: Linda Mowers
Accompanist: Gary Smart
Special Music by Kurtis Henderson, French Horn, accompanied by Dr. Gary Smart
It’s easy (mostly) to talk with the folks with whom we agree. It’s a challenge to talk with those with whom we disagree. In times of distress, our attempts to communicate with one another often turn into a kind of verbal combat. We move against one another, many times simply amplifying our suffering and distress. In teaching mindfulness practices over the last more than ten years, it’s this skill set of navigating distress and conflict with one another that we are often sorely lacking. In this talk, we’ll chat about why it’s so darn hard to disagree respectfully and maybe share some tips and mindfulness practices that can exercise our communication muscles with more heart-full and heart-felt intention.
About our Speaker:
Bethany V. Crawley, JD, BA, Certified Mindfulness Trainer, RYT, TCTSY-F
Bethany trains healthcare professionals in mindfulness. She has worked with and trained medical residents, physicians, nurses, psychologists, administrators, directors, social workers and chaplains working in hospital and clinic settings. Since 2002, Bethany has been cultivating a personal mindfulness practice. She is certified as a Mindfulness for Professionals Facilitator by esteemed teachers Mark Coleman and Martin Aylward of the Mindfulness Institute. She has been teaching yoga and meditation for over 17 years and co-founded Lotus Yoga in 2008. By education and trade, Bethany is a lawyer, who practiced as a commercial litigator for over 16 years. She’s glad to be doing much less of that these days.
About our Musician:
Kurtis Henderson served for six and a half years as a French horn instrumentalist in the US Navy Fleet Band Program with Navy Band Southwest in San Diego, CA, and Navy Band Great Lakes in North Chicago, IL. He earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in French horn performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. An enthusiastic choral baritone, Kurtis recently sang in the world premiere of Vonnegut: Requiem with the chamber choir Voces Novae (associated with UU Church of Bloomington, IN). He is happy to be back home in Florida and eager to be involved in making music for social justice.