The Story of The Perch

It all started during a conversation I had with a woman in ministry. She was exhausted from constantly leading others in their spiritual journeys and dealing with church culture while feeling disconnected from God. She felt shame that after years in ministry and years in seminary, she didn't know how to do things differently. I'll never forget what she said: "I know I can't give from an empty well. I'm just not sure how to fill it again." I knew that feeling all too well.

 

I, too, had come to conclusion that my spiritual and self-care practices just weren't cutting it anymore. I needed to refill in deeper ways if I was going to minister in a way that didn't completely leave me drained and empty. Soul care practices changed everything for me. I started learning about so many ancient practices that people have used for centuries to help them connect with the Divine and step into the lives they were created to live. It was truly life-giving, and incorporating practices into my life started filling up that well again.

​

But this woman's story prompted a whisper that would hound me for the next few years: Start an organization where people can rest and discover meaningful, practical practices for themselves. Over the years I came up with a million reasons for why I couldn't or shouldn't start that: I didn't see anyone else doing it, and I couldn't picture it. I loved my job. It would be vulnerable to share my story. No one would want to go to events. What workshops or retreats would I even offer? What would I call it?

​

After an incredibly difficult day at work in September 2017, though, I got a clear vision for The Perch, the name for the organization, and even the idea for the first retreat (Empty & Fill). It's called The Perch because birds need perches while they're journeying to rest, often with other birds. It's not a place that you stay forever, but it's a necessary landing place to help you keep soaring. 

​

Our first Empty & Fill retreat was on January 6, 2018, and had 16 people. Our next event in February 2018 had more than double that many. In October 2018 I started leasing my own space to hold our growing number of workshops and retreats, a small multi-purpose space overlooking the Fox River, right in downtown Aurora. And then in August 2024, I moved The Perch to a large, street-level, fully-accessible location at 140 S River St. in downtown Aurora. This space allows us to grow and serve even more people, and it even features a store. Out our windows, I can see the Santori Library, which was home to nearly all our events in 2018, and it feels like I've come full circle.

 

I hope you'll join us sometime so you can experience The Perch for yourself! If you're looking to rest, heal, and grow, we've got workshops, classes, and retreats just right for you.