Beyond Words®

Reflections on the Soul of Leadership

Written by Ruth Haley Barton, each reflection provides spiritual guidance and encouragement for those seeking to be in God for the world.

Cynthia

Cynthia’s Story: The impact of a Transforming Community in the life of a pastor

By Transforming Center |

My name is Cynthia and I am an ordained United Methodist pastor. Transforming Community came at the right time for me. I was looking for a spiritual director when I…

sunrise with two people silhouetted on a hill in the distance

It is the Lord!

By Transforming Center |

Happy Easter Monday, friends! Once again, Ruth invites us to celebrate the risen Jesus through five powerful post-resurrection encounters. We’ve reflected on these stories before, yet they continue to speak.…

Becoming More

The Future of Christian Spirituality: Part 4 | A More Welcoming Stance from a Rooted Depth

By Ruth Haley Barton |

“I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” —Jesus As I journeyed with my desire and with a good spiritual…

Becoming More

The Future of Christian Spirituality: Part 3 | A Spirituality that is Practice-Oriented and Practice-Based

By Ruth Haley Barton |

“We do not know God by thinking, but by encountering.” –John of the Cross As my director and I transitioned…

Becoming More

The Future of Christian Spirituality: Part 2 | The Charism and Practice of Spiritual Direction

By Ruth Haley Barton |

“A spiritual director is one who helps another recognize and follow the inspirations of grace in his life, in order…

Imagine with Me

By Tina L. Harris |

“Too frequently we think we have to do spectacular things.  Yet if we remember that the sea is actually made…

Becoming More

The Future of Christian Spirituality: Part 1 | The Role of Desire in the Spiritual Life

By Ruth Haley Barton |

“The reason we do not see God is the faintness of our desire.” –Meister Eckhart Truth be told, it was…

Becoming More

The Future of Christian Spirituality: A Protestant’s Journey Toward a More Unified Faith

By Ruth Haley Barton |

New leadership is needed for new times, but it will not come from finding more wiley ways to manipulate the…

Lee Ann Thornton Memorial Fund

By Transforming Center |

Lee Ann Waters Thornton, of Austin, Texas, died Thursday November 9, 2023 after a courageous seven-year battle with endometrial cancer.…

close up photo of painting with blue background, large black and orange brushstrokes with smaller red brush strokes.

A Prayer for the Holy Land

By Ruth Haley Barton |

The Spirit helps us in our weakness…for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very…

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Pay attention to the soul of your leadership with a FREE series written by Ruth Haley Barton

  • Reflections written for spiritual leaders delivered over 4 weeks
  • Includes guidance to listen to what your soul wants to say to God and what God wants to say to your soul
  • Every reflection includes a recording by Ruth that goes deeper into topic.
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