Friday Reflections: Embracing the Beauty of Aging

Friday Reflections: Embracing the Beauty of Aging

This week, I’ve been reflecting on the many ways our community engages with the gifts and challenges of aging.

First, I want to invite you to consider joining our Conscious Aging Writing Workshop. This gathering is designed to help us reflect on the psycho-spiritual opportunities of later life—because while our culture often idealizes youth, there is extraordinary wisdom, beauty, and resilience in the seasons that come with age.

I had the joy of visiting community members at Eskaton Village this week. I didn’t hear many personal stories, but I did see something powerful—the joy and hope that “aging in place” can bring. There was a sense of comfort in the familiarity of home, and a confidence in being surrounded by community.

I also spent time with a small group of parishioners who meet regularly in a caretaker circle. The love and care they extend to one another is a beautiful reminder that we are never meant to walk this road alone.

Aging invites us to notice what is life-giving—to find beauty in what’s right in front of us, to draw strength from all that we’ve experienced, and to receive the season we’re in with gratitude. Yes, our bodies may adjust differently now. Yes, ailments can sometimes cloud our days. But when we can find even one thing that brings joy—a conversation, a walk, a sunrise—it becomes a way to honor both the life we’ve lived and the life we are living now.

May we never take this season for granted.

Friday Reflection: The Beauty of Hearing

Our office at Bread of Life is located right next to a hearing loss clinic. Often, I witness moments that tug at the heart—caregivers gently guiding loved ones, spouses accompanying each other, friends lending a steady hand as someone enters for hearing care. These quiet scenes speak volumes.

They’ve made me think about the deep privilege it is to hear.

Not just physically—but spiritually, relationally, and emotionally.
What a grace it is to truly hear someone:
– to pause and take in their story,
– to receive their silence without filling it,
– to catch the subtle tone beneath their words.

Hearing is more than a sense; it's an act of presence.

So today, I invite you to ask yourself:
How has your hearing been a gift to someone else?
Have you listened with compassion when someone needed to be seen?
Have you heard beyond the words—into the ache, the longing, the hope?

In a world often full of noise, may we become people who listen well.
And in doing so, may we echo the Spirit who still whispers, “You are beloved.”

With gratitude,
Dominique
Executive Director, Bread of Life

From Lamentation to Hope: A Transformative Afternoon with Don Bisson

On a warm summer afternoon at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Sacramento, more than 70 people gathered both in person and online for a powerful presentation by renowned spiritual director and teacher, Don Bisson, FMS. His talk, From Lamentation to Hope, invited participants into a sacred exploration of grief, transformation, and the inner journey toward renewed life.

With pastoral wisdom and deep psychological insight, Bisson led the audience through reflections on the spiritual value of lament, not as a weakness or complaint, but as a holy practice that clears the way for authentic hope. His message resonated deeply with those navigating personal, communal, and global struggles—offering tools for healing and resilience.

The event was more than just a lecture; it was a fundraiser for Bread of Life, a spiritual formation center committed to soul care and justice-rooted spirituality. The evening raised awareness and support for Bread of Life’s ongoing work of nurturing contemplative leadership in our region.

We are grateful to Don Bisson for sharing his wisdom, to St. Mark’s UMC for hosting, and to all who participated in this evening of reflection and renewal. Together, we continue the journey from lamentation to hope.

Bread of Life Friday Message
June 27, 2025

This week after teaching Bible Study, I found myself reflecting deeply on what it really takes to break cycles—especially the ones that feel noble but are rooted in guilt. Before I could finish that thought, someone asked me to share a personal example. I spoke about a time when I was sending weekly groceries to my mother after I got my first job. Not because she needed it—but because I felt guilty for living out of town, unlike my siblings.

That season taught me a hard but freeing lesson: sometimes honoring those we love requires setting boundaries. Learning how to care without overextending myself was not easy—but it was necessary for my own growth and sustainability.

Moments like these remind me why spaces like ours—Bread of Life—are so vital. We create room to process, to grow, and to heal in real time.

Coffee Hour Gratitude

Thank you to everyone who has joined us for Coffee Hour. These conversations have been incredibly refreshing and grounding. We’re excited to announce that Coffee Hour will now be held monthly, every last Wednesday of the month.
📅 Next Coffee Hour: Wednesday, July 31, 2025
🗣️ Theme: “Caring for the Caretaker” – an open discussion about caregiving and self-care.

Push for the Don Bisson Fundraiser

Please continue to support and share our Don Bisson Fundraiser. Your contributions help us keep vital programming alive.
👉 Donate now: https://www.breadoflife.org/don-bisson

Parent Support Group

Our next Parent Support Group meets on Monday, July 7, 2025. If you’re navigating parenting or caregiving, this space is for you.
👉 Register here: https://www.breadoflife.org/parent-support

Student Interns & Paid Position Open

We’re looking for Student Interns (volunteer positions) and a paid Executive/Office/Communications Assistant to help further our mission.

Stay connected. Stay encouraged. And never underestimate the small steps you take toward wholeness.

With gratitude,
Dominique C. Beaumonte
Executive Director, Bread of Life

Friday Reflection: What Is Hope in 2025?


An Invitation to Move from Lamentation to Prophecy

In a world that often feels uncertain, heavy, or stretched thin—where headlines blur together and hearts grow tired—it might seem naïve to speak of hope. And yet, that’s precisely when we need it most.

Hope in 2025 is not wishful thinking or blind optimism. It is not a denial of despair. Hope, today, is a courageous act. It is prophetic. (I've been repeating this to myself over and over!!)

To hope is to see what is—and still believe in what can be. It is to sit in the ashes of what is broken and whisper, “This is not the end.” Hope does not erase lamentation; it grows from it. In fact, hope begins when we allow ourselves to name our grief, to feel the weight of injustice, isolation, or loss—and to imagine transformation anyway.

That’s why we’re so honored to welcome Don Bisson to Bread of Life on Saturday, July 26, 2025, for a special fundraising workshop titled:
“Lamentations to Prophecy: From Despair to Hope.”

Don brings deep wisdom to the spiritual journey—from the depths of sorrow to the stirrings of prophetic imagination. He’ll invite us not just to survive hard times, but to hear the Spirit calling us forward, together.

This gathering is more than an event; it is an act of communal hope. And your presence matters.

Join us.

Let us grieve, reflect, and hope—together.

Best, Dominique, Executive Director

Staffing Changes at Bread of Life

Each turn of the calendar brings to attention “threshold crossings” that arrive with the twin opportunities to “let go and let come.”  The current happenings at Bread of Life certainly bear witness to that.

 Before the end of 2021, Ben Eastvold informed the board that he would be leaving his position as Center Director.  Ben has been very forthright with us over the past months as he has faithfully been doing the work of discernment.  We are happy for him as he steps wholeheartedly into his call to work directly with underserved communities. 

 We are immensely grateful to him for the time he spent here.  Ben navigated the challenges of the pandemic while streamlining our operations and making our work more accessible through our website. He has negotiated new contracts for us and kept a steady hand on our financial well-being.  He is truly leaving the center in a better place than when he arrived.  He has helped position the Center for that ever-elusive time when we can open our doors more widely.

 We anticipate hosting a “Bless and Release” celebration at Bread of Life once the current Omicron surge subsides to honor what has emerged under his leadership and to bless him on his way. 

Several months ago, Ben hired Jen Goto as Office Manager and had already been preparing her to expand her work in anticipation of his departure.  Because Jen Goto brings an extensive background of spiritual formation work that had not yet been tapped here, we reached out to see if she would be interested in interviewing for the Center Director position. The Board met with her and we are enthusiastic about announcing that Jen will serve as our Interim Center Director as we mutually discern our next steps. 

 Jen is an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church and has been on leave as she discerns her next call.  Currently, she is in the internship to be a spiritual director through Mercy Center Burlingame.  Jen’s experience includes being a youth minister, a pastor, and a retreat leader with Upper Room Ministry where she worked with faculty on a variety of spiritual formation topics.  We are confident that you will enjoy working with Jen and we look forward to the months ahead with her as Center Director.

A Warm Welcome to Jen Goto!

“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the Bread of Life community and to have worked alongside Ben for these past three months. Throughout my ministry, spiritual formation has been a primary focus, so I come with my own experiences and ready to learn from yours.

My great hope is that as people are transformed by our work together, the ripple effects will make the world a little bit brighter, filled with more justice and love. I look forward to meeting you!”   Jen Goto