Spiritual Direction

What is a Spiritual Director?

Spiritual direction is a centuries old practice within the Christian Church.  A Spiritual Director is one who walks with another and serves as a spiritual companion.  A Spiritual Director does not walk above the other.  A Spiritual Director walks with another.  It is really more accurate to say spiritual companion then it is to say spiritual director..

The Spiritual Director helps one listen to God in prayer and in the Word.  The Spiritual Director is there to ask clarifying questions as one seeks to understand God in a deeper way.  The Spiritual Director may help connect one with portions of the Scriptures.

A Spiritual Director does have background and formation in different styles of prayer and has come to understand certain spiritual issues.  Therefore, the Spiritual Director may offer suggestions for Scripture, prayer or meditation to help one grow in awareness of God and to seek how God is present in the issues of life.

The Spiritual Director is there to help one identify how God is present in one’s life.  All questions, topics and issues are open ground for one to bring forth.  A Spiritual Director listens without judgment.  A Spiritual Director is NOT a counselor, but a Spiritual Director can help one identify spiritual roots in the issues of life.

To share life with a Spiritual Director is to have a safe place to talk about anything.  Spiritual Direction sessions are treated with the utmost confidentiality and discretion.  It is important that one feel very safe when engaging in spiritual direction.

What happens in a spiritual direction session?

A spiritual direction session is normally 50 minutes in length.  One would usually meet with the spiritual director once each month, but, it could be more often, or less often, as needs dictate.

The session takes place in a quiet place that provides a confidential setting.  The time begins with the lighting of a candle to symbolize that Christ is present and that Christ is the true spiritual director.

After the candle is lit there is a five minute period of silent prayer.  In this time of prayer, both the director and the directee inwardly invite the presence of the Holy Spirit and seek the Spirit’s guidance for the session.  At this point, then, the directee is invited to bring forth anything that the directee would like to discuss.  The director and the directee then engage in both conversation and prayer.  The directee only discloses what the directee feels led to disclose.

At the end of the session, there is another time of silent prayer and then a closing prayer.

Spiritual Direction with Steve

Resources

Connect with Us

Learn More About Us By Following

Navigation

Recent Items

  • The Loneliness Factor

    I was at a luncheon that was serving as a listening post for seniors to describe their sense of loneliness and isolation. I knew that the population invited to this luncheon was one that would probably have a higher sense of isolation, but, what I heard was much more intense than I expected. A man […]

  • Social Networks and Aging

    It is interesting that research is showing two demographics experiencing social isolation in such as way as to impact health: Young Adults (18-22) and Senior Adults (65+). I have worked with both populations over the past 50 years and I continue to be amazed at the similarity of the questions raised by both groups and […]

  • An Eye-Opening Awareness: One More Transition for this Guy

    I sat at a luncheon two weeks ago that opened my eyes to a reality that I knew was there, but as the discussion unfolded I began to realize how the discussion, about to take place, was going to expand my thinking. As I listened to the needs of the people with whom I shared […]

  • TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE: LETTING GOD SET THE AGENDA

    When it comes to the human condition and a desire to change, we can become easily frustrated: we think that we want to change … but we really don’t. Paul expresses this contradiction well in Romans 7:15-24: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do […]

  • The Crisis of Loneliness

    THE NATIONAL CRISIS CALLED LONELINESS From “LINKED IN” “America is becoming Isolation Nation. Nearly half of respondents to a nationwide survey by health insurer Cigna say they always or sometimes feel alone, and 54% say they feel no one knows them well. Such loneliness is connected to increased risk of heart disease, stroke and premature death. The […]