Last week I described what Spiritual Direction is NOT. To recap, it is NOT about the Spiritual Directors agenda, creating Disciples, or Spiritual Formation. While sometimes the Directors agenda sneaks in, of course it would they are only human after all, Discipleship does happen, and Spiritual Formation happens. Those are not the focus of Spiritual Direction. So, what IS Spiritual Direction? Here I want to give some book definitions, my own characterization, and some antidotes as to what it is. It is difficult to try and describe or define it and I will give it my best shot to paint a picture of What Spiritual Direction, IS.
The first thing that Spiritual Direction IS is that it is about the directee. Yes, it is client centered. The directee is responsible to bring something to talk about during the meeting. The directee drives the agenda for the session. Spiritual Direction is Directee centered.
I am going to use four authors to paint a picture of What Spiritual Direction IS.
Gordon T. Smith in his book, Spiritual Direction: A Guide to Giving & Receiving Direction, uses several different images to help us understand Spiritual Direction. Smith writes, “a spiritual director helps us make sense of the witness of the Spirit – assisting us to respond well to the question, How is God present to me and how is God, through the ministry of the Spirit, at work in my life?” He continues, “Spiritual direction has a clear agenda: directing our attention to the presence of God in our lives.”
Alice Fryling in her book, Seeking God Together: An Introduction to Group Spiritual Direction, writes, “Spiritual Direction is a way of companioning people as they seek to look closely, through the eyes of their hearts, at the guidance and transforming work of God in their lives.”
Margaret Guenther in her book, Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction, communicates that Spiritual Direction…”is to help connect the individual’s story to the story and thereby help the directee to recognize and claim identity in Christ Jesus, discern the action of the Holy Spirit.”
William A. Barry & William J. Connolly in their book, The Practice of Spiritual Direction, define it as, “…spiritual direction is concerned with helping a person directly with his or her relationship with God. It may well be that in each of the human problem mentioned earlier the most fundamental issue is that relationship and its underlying questions: ‘Who is God for me, and who am I for God?’”
While the above authors are Christians a person doesn’t have to be a Christian to participate in Spiritual Direction. According to Spiritual Directors International, https://www.sdicompanions.org/, most of the world’s religions have Spiritual Directors.
Personally, I try and define Spiritual Director a couple of different ways. First, I see Spiritual Direction as, “A guided exploration of everything from the mystical to the mundane moments of our lives. To put it another way: intentionally slowing down to have an ongoing conversation about the joys and challenges of life.” I also consider it a “Sacred Space to
Rest, Reflect and Restore.” Let me expand on the last consideration.
Rest: Learn to be rooted in the fact that a person matters, belong, and are loved no matter what.
Reflect: Learn to reflect the love and belonging they experience from God to the world.
Restore: To return to former condition.
All this happens for a person to grow into the person and freedom of who they are created to be.
Finally, there are a few more images that have been used to help people understand what Spiritual Direction IS.
1) Soul friend
2) Mid-wife of the soul
3) Soul Companion
I hope this has helped paint a picture of what Spiritual Direction, IS. For me it has been a life saver. Next week I want to write about my own experience with Spiritual Direction. I know when I first heard about it, I was skeptical and scared. However, now it has become an integral part of my life. If you have questions about Spiritual Direction please send me an email, mark@yourstoryandaflashlight.com, and we can set up a time to talk.
May God Bless You and Keep You.
The photo is of The Road to Emmaus. You can read it in the Bible at Luke 24:13-35. I found the photo at the following website, https://www.jesus-story.net/emmaus/
Comments