parkcitiespeople.com | July 2022
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Abbey on Lovers Lane offers visitors a place for prayer, solitude LANDSCAPE ILLUMINATION
“The Magic of Moonlight” (214) 630-7751
Worshipers gather to bless The Abbey on Lovers Lane. (PHOTO: TOM HOTCHKISS)
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O B I T UA RY
BETSY GESSELL LARKIN
1942– 2022
B
etsy Gessell Larkin, 80, of Dallas, Texas, passed away on May 1, 2022 - the 29th anniversary of her father’s death. Mother of three, Cookie Grandma to six grandchildren, and great-grandma to one, she lived 80 years and deserves to be beautifully remembered. She was a military spouse, a firefighter’s wife, and a widow. Betsy worked for 30 years at Chicago Title in the Park Cities office. She beat cancer twice before but was recently diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer
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The urgent honking of cars darting through the busy intersection of Interstate 75 and Lovers Lane might make the bordering small blue house dedicated to prayer and solitude seem out of place. For the Rev. Thomas and Marcia Hotchkiss, it is the perfect environment for their urban abbey, The Abbey on Lovers Lane. The center opened last August to promote contemplative spirituality, a way of prayer. Although it neighbors Saint Christopher’s Episcopal Church, The Abbey on Lovers Lane is open to all. “They don’t have to be Episcopalian, and they don’t have to go to any church,” Marcia Hotchkiss said. “They just have [to have] a desire to come.” Right as you step inside the little blue house, the guiding belief of the abbey is apparent. Welcoming you in is a picture of blossoming tree branches emblazoned with Psalm 46:10. “[The Psalm] says, ‘Be still and know that I am God,’” Hotchkiss said. “That’s our outstanding belief. We think that people need slowing, silence, solitude, and time to quit having this frenetic activity that most of us have.” To help accomplish this, The Abbey on Lovers Lane offers spiritual direction and programs. Some upcoming programs include a young mothers’ half-day retreat, a series about what to do when you have unanswered prayers, a clergy spouse retreat, and a class dedicated to teaching the basics of prayer.
“It’s going to be called ‘Prayer: A Simple Guide for Normal People,’” Hotchkiss said.“It’ll be three or four weeks [about the] basics of how to pray. We’ll follow that up in Advent with a retreat on how to listen to God.” The center is open for those seeking silence and solitude, including plush futons and comfy armchairs framing each of the two bedrooms converted into spaces for quiet and reflection. There is also a living room with plenty of comfy seating like a sofa and two armchairs, a dining room, and a functional kitchen complete with a coffee-maker. Flyers about upcoming programs are scattered ovion h Prreading t r side and coffee tables, and religious Ea in several book-s materials are gently stacked cases for visitors to peruse. Outside lies a quiet garden space with seating and a model of Jerusalem’s Western Wall, where visitors may place prayers written on slips of paper into the wire mesh for prayer team members to bless and consecrate. Eventually, Hotchkiss said she hopes to expand The Abbey on Lovers Lane into a nonprofit. “We’d like to meet the needs of as many different types of people as possible,” Hotchkiss said. “We feel like it’s one person at a time.”
Whole
By Emilea McCutchan
AT A G L A N C E The Abbey on Lovers Lane 7816 Lovers Lane Open Monday-Saturday (groups by appointment) abbeyonlovers.org
and chose to live out her remaining days at home, in hospice care. She graduated from Highland Park High School in 1959 and later attended Hendrix College and Southern Methodist University. Her family would like to extend special thanks to Chicago Title’s Craig Penfold and Shayla Bell for all of the extra kindness and care they have given our mom over the past year. Betsy was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer T. Gessell and Betty Strickland Gessell of Dallas, TX, and her husband Pat Henderson of Presque Isle, Maine, T.W Larkin of Melissa, TX, and John Kerr of Fort Worth, TX. She is survived by her son John Kerr Larkin of Dallas; son Scott Kerr Larkin, his wife Gerri Ellen and step-daughter Ryann Adams of Collierville, TN; grandsons Nick Larkin and Chris Larkin of Collierville, TN; grandson Jonathan Larkin, his wife Taylor and their son Koda of Tulsa, OK; daughter Julie Henderson Niehoff and her husband CJ Niehoff of Austin, TX; step-granddaughter Jade Niehoff of Arlington, TX; grandson Calen Niehoff and granddaughter Grace Niehoff of Austin, TX. She was laid to rest next to her mother and father at Restland Cemetery in Dallas on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in the section Whispering Waters.
WholeEarthProvision.com
Common unknown reasons why people fall or have balance problems. It’s never because of age...there’s always A REASON! Now what to do about it? By Leading Balance Expert, Dr. Jeffrey Guild, Physical Therapist Are you worried about losing independence because of falls? Are you seeing your friends around you falling and losing their independence? Are you becoming frustrated with your doctors and kids telling you not to fall (without telling you HOW). Here are some common unknown reasons why people fall, and a SOLUTION to prevent it from happening. 1: Vertigo/Inner Ear Balance Problems: Vertigo and dizziness are symptoms of problems that put older people at risk of falling. These symptoms are very common. In fact, one-third of people over the age of 70, and one-half of people over the age of 85 are experiencing dizziness and/or vertigo right now! The good news is that now that you know to look for them, these conditions are usually very treatable! 2. The Legs Not Knowing Where They Are (Proprioceptive Loss): As a balance specialist I see this problem ALL THE TIME. Although this problem is very common, most people don’t realize they have it at all. I often see this when people are falling or having balance problems for what seems like NO APPARENT REASON. It’s simple to find out whether or not you face this problem, and there are many ways around it if you do. 3. Walking Slowly & Furniture Walking: Some people think walking slowly and carefully reduces the risk of falling. This is NOT the case. Like riding a bicycle, slowing down greatly increases the risk of falling, and is a dangerous
thing to do for somebody with balance problems. Touching furniture and walls while walking is a sign that something is wrong and immediate action is needed to prevent this from becoming a fall! Want more information & solutions? My new special report provides actionable tips that will help you keep or regain your independence. And the best thing is it’s 100% FREE, and you’re under no obligation to buy anything when you call. IMPORTANT: For obvious reasons, my offer to send you this report FREE must come with a restriction on the number I can mail out… so it’s critical that you call TODAY and request your free report now. What To Do Next? Call: (214) 712-8242 (Leave a Message 24/7) & Choose: · Option 1: Have your FREE Report mailed or emailed to you · Option 2: Free Report + FREE Balance/Fall Screen Or Discovery Visit · To learn more about Balance, Falling, Dizziness, Vertigo, and MUCH more, listen to our podcast! Visit www.Podcast.OptimoveDFW.com, or search for ‘Optimove Podcast’ wherever you listen to your podcasts. Author Dr. Jeffrey Guild, Physical Therapist is owner of Optimove Physical Therapy & Wellness. You can contact him at (214) 712-8242 or email at J.Guild@OptimoveDFW.com
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