“We need a guide, a director… who helps us to distinguish between the voice of God and all other voices coming from our own confusion or from dark powers far beyond our control. We need someone who encourages us when we are tempted to give it all up, to forget it all, to just walk away in despair. We need someone who discourages us when we move too rashly in unclear directions or hurry proudly to a nebulous goal.”
— Henri Nouwen
What is Spiritual Direction?
God is constantly reaching out and seeking our attention in the particularity of our circumstances. Neither panicked nor in a hurry, God patiently waits for us to attune ourselves to Him.
Often it can be helpful to have someone come alongside us to listen, pray, and ask questions to assist our personal engagement with God. The practice of Spiritual Direction is designed to provided that assistance as a ministry of listening and discernment involving the director, the directee, and the Holy Spirit.
Is Spiritual Direction new?
Spiritual Direction is a form of Christian soul care that has its roots in the traditions of the early Church. Fostered in Monastic communities, the ministry of Spiritual Direction has a long history in the Roman Catholic and Episcopalian traditions. It wasn’t until about 45 years ago that Protestant and Evangelical traditions warmed to the practice of Spiritual Direction.
Who is Spiritual Direction for?
Spiritual Direction is for anyone engaged with their Christian faith that desires a companion for their spiritual journey. More specifically, spiritual direction may prove helpful for someone looking to:
Notice God’s presence in the circumstances of life.
Explore and deepen their relationship with God.
Discover God’s compassion and grace in the midst of difficulties.
Be more honest with God (and themselves) about questions, frustrations, emotions, and feelings.
Spiritual Direction is…
Spiritual Direction is the practice of prayerful listening to the Holy Spirit for the purpose of deepening the directee’s relationship with God. It provides a sacred space for conversations about life’s experiences to notice and increase awareness of God’s presence and respond to that awareness. In short, spiritual direction is companionship between the director and directee for the purpose of becoming more like Jesus.
Spiritual Direction is not…
Spiritual Direction is neither mystical nor New Age. It is not mentoring, moral guidance, or accountability. It is also not counseling or a Bible study.
What does a meeting look like?
Meetings between the director and directee may contain moments of silence, prayer, reading and reflecting on Scripture, and of course conversation. There is no agenda or curriculum. Meetings typically begin with a time of centering followed by the directee starting the conversation with a topic, question, concern, observation, or anything else they feel prompted by God to talk about.
Logistics
Meetings generally occur once a month and last 45 minutes to one hour. Meetings can be in-person or virtual.