In all of his working for God, Elijah forgot to take care of the basic needs of his body, as if ignoring his humanity would somehow earn him more points with God.
Far too often our human striving leads us into a season similar to Elijah. It was from such a season this ministry was launched.
Dr. Kelly Wright founded Juniper Tree as a place for Spiritual Direction and Consultation in 2013. Leaving behind a well-established career in professional counseling, Kelly felt God calling her to create safe spaces for people to experience God’s presence, healing and replenishment. She envisioned these experiences occurring, symbolically, under Eljah’s Juniper Tree.
When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life to Beersheba, far in the south of Judah….He came to a lone Juniper Tree and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be done with it all…. Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.
I Kings 19:3-4; 11-12
Kelly Wright had been committed, dedicated and exhaustively striving to “do more” for God and others for such a long time she found herself tired—dangerously tired. In her process of forging a stronger connection between her soul and her leadership, through spiritual formation experiences and her own spiritual direction, God revealed to her in a fresh and powerful way how much more he is concerned about our living as human beings and not humans doing. Under Elijah’s Juniper Tree, Kelly was struck by the powerful love of God caring for Elijah physically, emotionally, and spiritually so Elijah could continue on and finish his journey well. With clarity, God called her to finish her own journey well by offering this same space for all of us. We are human, just as Elijah, and we are likely to resonate with Elijah’s story or experience a similar correlation in a trying season of life.
Whether we are crashing against our limits, melting down after a mountaintop experience, neglecting our own needs, paralyzed by fear, overwhelmed by the feeling of success or failure, believing we are indispensable, or realizing we are dangerously tired, Juniper Tree is where we can learn how to find rest and care for our soul. There are a variety of pathways for connecting with ourselves as human beings –and you can discover them through the information available on the pages of this website. Collapse and rest, and let us know what it is we can do for you.
So you’ll go out in joy, you’ll be led into a whole and complete life. The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause. No more thistles, but giant junipers, no more thornbushes, but stately pines—Monuments to me, to God, living and lasting evidence of God.
Isaiah 55:13 (MSG)