Learning to Walk in the Dark Finding Our Footing When the Ground Shifts Sometimes the trail we trusted begins to feel less certain beneath our feet. The shifting ground can be personal: a health crisis, a relational rupture, or employment challenges. Or the shifting ground can be the collective political crisis we’re all navigating. Circumstances like these can make the way forward seem dark. In this reflective gathering, LeeAnn draws on her years as a chaplain — one who knows the deepest dark there is — to offer eleven quiet practices for finding our footing when we can’t see the whole path. How do we get oriented? How do we stay safe, and decide how we want to be seen? How do we keep walking, with purpose and in good company, when dawn feels far off? This is not a talk about turning the lights back on. It’s about learning to see by a different light — and discovering that the dark has gifts to give us that the daylight never could. Lee Ann Franklin is a transition guide, spiritual companion, hospice chaplain & grief counselor, and founder of Second Act Soul Coaching. Her work supports individuals and communities navigating seasons of change, whether prompted by loss, uncertainty, career shifts, spiritual questioning, or the quiet sense that something new is emerging. Drawing on a background that bridges creativity, healthcare leadership, and spiritual care, Lee Ann brings a grounded, compassionate presence to the work of transformation. She previously served as a Creative Director and Innovation Leader at Hallmark Cards and later as Executive Director of Spiritual Care & Ethics at the county hospital system in Fort Worth, Texas. There, she accompanied patients, families, and staff through profound transitions, particularly during and after the pandemic. Lee Ann holds a Master of Divinity and an MBA and is board-certified in chaplaincy, with additional training in grief, ethics, and mindfulness. Her approach integrates wisdom, self-compassion, and gentle action, helping people meet life as it is, honor what has been, and move forward with clarity, courage, and grace.
