I met Jenn Brukiewa (I believe) the very first month that I moved to Colorado Springs. Looking to connect with the spiritual formation community in this area, I managed to get myself invited to the very first meeting of the (now sadly defunct) Spiritual Formation Network of Colorado Springs. For a long time, Jenn was someone I secretly admired from around the room during our meetings. Since God both has a wonderful sense of humor and is incredibly generous, Jenn and I have become good friends—soul friends, even. I have the great grace of getting together with her every two weeks for breakfast, where we talk about our lives, God, our families and whether or not to have the same thing we always eat at the greasy spoon diner that hosts us. I’m thrilled to introduce such a beautiful soul to y’all, and show you yet another face of spiritual direction.
Introduce yourself to the Anam Cara readers. Who are you? Where do you live? What do you do other than spiritual direction?
Hello! My name is Jennifer Joy Brukiewa. . (It’s Polish.) I reside in Colorado Springs with the love of my life and husband of almost 19 years and our three girls 4, 9 and 12 years old. The majority of my time and heart is given to caring for my family and homeschooling our amazing, unique girls. We love good books and read. A lot. I have a picture book fetish and love good classic children’s literature. I believe a well told story is honey for the heart and soul. I’m also passionate about encouraging God’s beloveds through speaking, teaching, and retreat leading to sink deeper into His grace. It brings joy to my heart to create sacred space for others to slow down, attend to their hearts and listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd.
What brought you to the ministry of spiritual direction?
Though I have only just completed my two-year spiritual direction certification this last spring, spiritual direction was placed in my heart long before I had even heard of the term. My husband and I have been in church ministry together since we met 20 years ago on a leadership team for our college church group. I have always been drawn to spending one on one time with people, listening to their stories, and walking with them in the deep heart places. My passion has been for others to have deeper intimacy with the Father in their daily life, for them to be more at rest in the gospel, and hear the gentle whispers of the Spirit more clearly. It was natural for me to receive formal training in spiritual formation and direction when God brought the opportunity along over three years ago.
Why do you think spiritual direction is valuable?
Safe places for the heart can be so very rare, even in the church. My favorite descriptive words for the space provided in spiritual direction are soul sanctuary. To be able to come, share your heart honestly and know you are heard and not alone; that in itself is so valuable. Each story the Author writes with each life is unique and beautiful. We all need to hear our stories reflected back to us in order to better pick up on the themes and invitations the Good Shepherd is drawing us into. Our society is a busy, loud one. How desperately we need to slow down and listen to our spiritual heartbeats! Doing this regularly with a spiritual director/companion is one way of intentionally walking in the light. (1John 1:7) A safe soul space with other saints who are mature in their walk with Jesus is crucial for the health of our own walk with God and one another.
What’s your favorite thing about being a spiritual director?
Witnessing the True Spiritual Director at work in the lives of His loved ones! I fall more in love with Him as I witness over and over the wonder of the life of Christ alive in His saints. Every season of the soul is beautiful and full of hope because of His life given to us. Even long winters are sacred times of growth though life may seems frozen over. I consider it an honor to wait and pray with another soul for however long it takes for spring to arrive.
You were just given a yacht. What would you name it?
“Whimsy”. I like that word.
Give us your life story in 6 words.
Loneliness. Shame. Hiding. Seen. Beloved. Joy.
Okay, you can have more than 6 words. Share your full bio.
I grew up in Southern California the youngest of four girls by ten years in a relationally turbulent, Christian home. I have known Jesus for as long as I can remember, but did not go to church often. I was loved well as a child, but I always felt I was uniquely flawed somehow. I feared that God’s grace would run out and believed I deserved to be abandoned. I was homeschooled and had a pretty isolated childhood. I started a professional career in musical theater and singing at age 12. When I was 17 I found a church to attend out of a driving spiritual hunger and longing for Christian friends. There my relationship with God flourished in new ways. That is where I met my husband, David. We married on May 15th,1993 when I was just 19 years old. We moved to Orlando, Florida where he attended seminary, we worked together in youth ministry, and I worked at Disney World as a singer/actress. (Yes, one of the parts I played was Belle.) Those early years were rough as I struggled with depression and panic attacks feeling full of shame and inadequacy. The Lord tenderly lead us to a church where the gospel was preached in such a way that we were filled with new hope in Christ. The shame and guilt I had held all my life were beginning to dissolve as the people of River of Life PCA loved on us and fed us Christ. As they saw me and loved me, I experienced Christ seeing me and loving me, broken as I was. My soul came out of hiding. In 2000 having just given birth to my first daughter, my husband and I came here to Colorado Springs to start a new ministry. While living here the last 11 years, we have experienced a full cycle of seasons, both literally and spiritually. Right now we are feeling the warmth of summertime. We are deeply rooted and blessed with a peace-filled place to live with our three girls, and a beautiful community of faith.
For more information on Attending Grace Ministries, visit my new website at www.attendinggrace.com.
Feel free to call me with any questions you may have @ 719-464-6189
Or email me @ JenJoyBruk@q.com
Anything you’d like to add?
Tara, thank you for the interview. I praise the Giver of all good gifts for you, my Anam Cara.