FACILITATORS & GUIDES
The Reverend Carroll Travis
The Rev. R Carroll Travis is a retired, but very active priest of the Episcopal Church. He has served in five parishes in four states over 50 years of ordained ministry. In addition to parish work he has offered spirituality workshops, retreats and quiet days based the reflective resources of his book Discovering the Treasure Within. Having recently settled in High Point as a member of St. Mary’s Church, Fr. Carroll feels strongly called to help establish The Friendship Table in its ministry of resident fellowship, spiritual development and outreach. He serves as chaplain, guide and spiritual mentor to the residents of the community.
Diane Popalis
“Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything.”* In a culture keyed on “progress,” self-help and the pervasive notion that wisdom comes from without, this is a staggering and radical piece of advice. Against the din of war, division, despair, hatred and ego comes the profound whisper: Solvitur sedendo. “It is solved by sitting.”
Instrumental in creating St. Mary’s Center for Prayer & Spirituality, Diane Popalis has been pilgrim, teacher and companion for others in seeking the Voice from within one’s own stillness. This is not at all a “technique,” Diane is quick to point out: “…rather, contemplative prayer is a method of radical presence and consent. Without striving for outcome, practitioners speak of a transformational healing, freeing of the true self and other ‘fruits of the Spirit.’ The film is removed, so to speak, the veil parts, and the heart sees what the mind may tend to dismiss. Be still. And know.”
Following a life path as student, teacher, mother and contemplative seeker, Diane works with The Friendship Table as companion, guide and fellow explorer, extending her gifts to all seekers – of faith, little faith, or no faith at all. Come, be, become.
*Abba Moses, 4th century mystic among the community of the desert fathers and mothers.
Ellen Walsh has come along side the Friendship table to guide conversations in understanding how God has uniquely created each of us through the nine personality styles of the Enneagram (Ennea = 9, Gram = points). She’s certified as an iEnneagram Practioner from the Motions of the Soul perspective. The friendship table will work with Enneagram wisdom to consider how we are each created in the Image of God (Imago Dei) with head, heart, and gut instincts, and thereby begin to see the impact of our true self and false self patterns in relationships.