“This Is Us” Stories: Patti Peeples

We are celebrating The Well’s 15th birthday by inviting people to share stories of how they have been shaped by their time with our community. First up is Patti Peeples. She and her partner, Dana, have been part of our community for the past 7 years:

I found my way to The Well at Springfield after more than 50 years of not setting foot in a church. I came as a self-described non-believer—and I still am. But something unexpected has happened here. I’ve been met with such acceptance, love, wonder, questioning, and genuine human connection that it has shifted the way I think about religion and spirituality altogether. This place is simply different. A “good different”.

What drew me in—and what keeps me—is the way The Well lives out its values of connection, belonging, becoming, and creativity. There is a posture here of walking with people rather than doing for people. That distinction matters. It creates relationships that feel balanced and mutual, where no one is a “project” and everyone is a participant in the shared experience of being human.

I have felt a true sense of belonging here at The Well. Not in a performative or conditional way, but in a way that makes space for the full complexity of who I am. As someone who does not identify as a traditional believer, I have never felt pressured to conform or persuaded to believe differently. Instead, I have felt: Seen. Heard. Accepted. Affirmed. That alone has been transformative. It has allowed me to listen more deeply to others’ stories and to better understand the meaning faith holds in their lives, while also becoming more grounded in my own evolving perspective. How amazing is THAT?

As I further ponder my spiritual experience, I am struck by how much The Well has also shaped my becoming - that is, becoming the person I am developing into at the tender age of 64. I have participated in programs and gatherings that have helped me better understand myself, including biases and expectations. This has catalyzed my relationship to others, to my community, to the world, and to the Earth. There is something powerful about being invited into curiosity rather than certainty. It opens doors that I didn’t even know were closed.

Some of the most meaningful moments have come through the integration of creativity. Creative expression is a core value of The Well. We write. We reflect. We respond to prompts—sometimes inspired by poets and writers like Rumi, Mary Oliver, Brian McLaren, and others. These practices invite honesty rather than perfection. There is something disarming about putting words or images on paper in a space where you know they will be received with care. I’ve also experienced art as a way of breaking through barriers—the kind we all carry without realizing it. Through simple creative practices, something deeper often emerges.

And then there is nature. We spend time outdoors, in conversation not just with each other but with our surroundings. There is a grounding that happens when you sit with the beauty of the natural world and allow it to be part of the dialogue. It reminds us that we are connecte to something larger, to each other, and to ourselves.

What I wish for The Well is that it continues to nurture this kind of community and our individual hearts and journeys. A place where connection is real, belonging is expansive, becoming is ongoing, and creativity is a pathway to truth. A place that continues to walk with people—wherever they are—and trusts that something meaningful will unfold.

—

One way you can help us continue creating space where people are invited to practice a faith that embraces Mystery and expresses itself in Love is to donate to The Well.