What is Spiritual Direction?
“Spiritual direction is an ancient form of Christian soul care that goes back to the earliest days of the church. It has never really gone away. It is just that large sectors of the Christian Church have forgotten their own heritage. In it’s classical form, spiritual direction is a one-on-one relationship organized around prayer and conversation directed toward deepening intimacy with God.” David Benner
“Spiritual direction, as we understand it then, is directly concerned with a person’s actual experiences of relationship with God. … We define Christian spiritual direction, then, as help given by one believer to another that enables the latter to pay attention to God’s personal communication to him or her, to respond to this personally communicating God, to grow in intimacy with this God, and to live out the consequences of this relationship.” Barry & Connolly
“The supreme gift that anyone can give another is to help that person live life more aware of the presence of God.” David Benner
How is it Practiced?
In a traditional sense, spiritual direction is a one-on-one meeting, involving a mix of conversation with your spiritual director and time with God. Through each of these we notice how God is present in your daily life and hold space to respond to His invitations. Often you would meet with your spiritual director once a month, for a one hour session. Spiritual direction can also be practiced in a group setting, and practices of spiritual direction can be incorporated into a larger structure of spiritual formation, retreat and leadership.
My Journey
When I first heard about spiritual direction, it sparked an interest deep within me, but really it was more of a longing I couldn’t shake. A bit slower paced, quiet and contemplative by nature, this seemed like something I felt naturally inclined to, but especially as I was grappling with the odd reality of a life that didn’t quite match up with this anymore. A life post burn out, that still seemed to be more than I could or wanted to handle. It hadn’t just affected my capacity or schedule, my mind and my body, but my spirit seemed a bit broken and damaged in some ways I had yet to experience before, and didn’t have a lot of direction in what to do with it, or helpful language to communicate what was going on and/or what it needed. I started to pay attention.
In spring of 2022, as I headed into a Sabbatical season, stepping away from a culmination of businesses and projects for the time being, I made the decision to step into spiritual direction training. I read time and time again that the spiritual formation that came with training seemed to make quite a mark on individuals, whether they went on to formally practice spiritual direction in a traditional sense or not.
This spiritual formation journey seemed to be in line with the longings of my heart and what I sensed were some of the invitations God was extending to me in my Sabbatical time. I must say, a year in, I will join in the chorus of reflection. I am halfway through my two year training certification through the School of Spiritual Direction with Sustainable Faith. I’ve found the formation and training to be invaluable and spilling over to all aspects of my life. Beyond the boundaries of one on one spiritual direction sessions, it has forever changed the way in which I engage in relationships, love, lead, respond and serve. It is still very much transforming the ways in which I am able to know myself and know God. I desire to be a bring elements of spiritual direction, formation and soul care in creative ways all around me.
I believe wholeheartedly in the power of sacred companionship. This often looks like listening and loving with care and compassion, holding space to be beautifully and freely honest, and leaving room and space for the presence of God to settle in with us. Fostering hospitality between the Trinity and others is a truly sincere privilege and joy of mine. I find the manner of “retreat” to be one of the ways I’m able to most freely and fully do so, incorporating elements of spiritual direction and formation in an in-depth, spacious, and creative way. Making room for the Spirit through intentionally crafted time and space, is for me, a work of art of sorts. It is an honor to hold space with others in this way. For now, I will begin offering some small retreats at my home in the next year, and am available to help facilitate times of guided retreat for individuals or groups. For more info, click here.