A B O U T M E
“Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forwards.”
– Søren Kierkegaard –
Hi, I’m Jane Florence.
Teaching high school English in south Texas was a great joy. I loved the students and my subject (American Literature). The advanced courses that I took to make me a better teacher resulted in Masters degrees which ended up moving me out of the classroom and into school administration. The paths that unfolded surprised me when I found myself speaking before gatherings of several hundred. Coincidences, synchronicities, voices or visions altered my professional path in ways I would never have imagined. Yet, threads connect the dots and bring sense to it now.
I spent the first decade of my professional life in education before stepping onto a path that took me to seminary and over twenty years of church leadership. My upbringing was rooted in a Fundamentalist tradition although I changed to a centrist denomination (United Methodist Church) as an adult. My spiritual path picked up flavors of mysticism, Celtic shamanism, and gnostic teachings, before blending onto Perennial Wisdom I now follow which includes teachings from many world religions sharing a message of Love.
We do not live a straight line. Our path twists and turns and surprises us in delightful and devastating ways. I love the imagery of a labyrinth. It is a meditation path that had no dead-ends (it’s not a maze). As you walk towards the center, it appears as if you are almost there. A few steps later, the turns have taken you to an outer ring, far away from your destination. Keep on the path, and it will bring you to center. Trust and move forward.
For Fun
& Self-Care
My soul needs time in nature. I enjoy traveling in my RV, kayaking, scuba diving, and sitting by the beach as often as possible.
My soul also needs to create. I enjoy drawing, painting, pottery, quilting, and gardening.
My soul needs companionship. I enjoy time with my granddaughter and daughter and my close circle of friends.
Professional
Certifications
B.A. – Sociology, English, Trinity U, San Antonio
M.S. – Education: Instruction, Texas A&M, Corpus Christi
M.S. – Education: Administration, Texas A&M, Corpus Christi
Masters of Divinity – Perkins School of Theology, SMU, Dallas
Doctorate of Ministry – Chicago Theological Seminary
Spiritual Direction Certification – Haden Institute, Canada
Life-Coaching Training – Holmes Coaching, North Carolina
Member of:
Spiritual Directors International
International Coaching Federation