"In the spiritual life, the word discipline means the effort to create some space in which God can act. Discipline means to prevent everything in your life from being filled up. Discipline means that somewhere you’re not occupied and certainly not preoccupied.
In the spiritual life, discipline means to create that space in which something can happen that you hadn’t planned or counted on." —Henri J. M. Nouwen |
How Can I Benefit from Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual Direction is the process of accompanying someone on the spiritual journey with the goal of discovering where and how God is at work in the details of one’s life. It invites the person into a deeper relationship with God and thereby into a deeper understanding of the spiritual aspects of being human.
Spiritual direction is not counseling, psychotherapy or coaching. Spiritual direction is a way of moving farther along the path toward God, farther along the path of abundant life. You are invited to contact any of the spiritual directors listed in this brochure to learn more about their practice or to schedule an appointment to meet with them. Be aware that some may charge a fee while others may not. What Can I Expect to Happen in Spiritual Direction?
> In spiritual direction, you should find a safe place to talk about your spiritual journey and to share your thoughts, doubts, struggles, hopes, and losses.
> Spiritual directors offer a listening ear, a non-judgmental attitude, and skills to guide you on the path toward a deeper relationship with God. > Confidentiality is a key component of spiritual direction. You will want to discuss with your director any limitations to this gift of confidentiality. > Spiritual direction can help you discern choices in your life as you learn to listen and see how God is already at work in your circumstances. > Your spiritual director may suggest certain spiritual disciplines, methods of prayer, reading material, or other resources to help you along the way. > Through spiritual direction, you may discover or further discern a call God has placed on your life. You may also find ways to fulfill your call without suffering burnout. |