WHY MIGHT YOU SEEK A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR?
Perhaps . . .
you want to talk about your understanding of the spiritual dimension of your life, or to explore it further, and you’d like someone to accompany you in conversation . . .
you don’t really have the language to describe or express your spirituality, and you’d like some help with that . . .
you are trying to make decisions about your future, or about a current conundrum, and you want to explore the role and place of God in your hopes and plans . . .
you want to learn more about prayer, about your own faith, or about your understanding of the Divine . . .
Spiritual Direction is not therapy, or an AA meeting, or vocational counseling, or coaching — although topics you discuss in those venues may come up in spiritual direction as well. Spiritual Direction is an opportunity to set some time aside to explore your life of prayer and your engagement with the Holy and Sacred, however defined or known by you.
While you may find a spiritual direction session to be meaningful or deeply moving, the real work of spiritual growth takes place between sessions, which usually take place every 4-6 weeks. A spiritual director will be able to raise questions or point you to resources that may further your journey and open doors you might not otherwise encounter.
You might also like to embark upon a one-on-one retreat with a spiritual director, meeting weekly for several (or many!) weeks. Most Ignatian directors will offer various versions of The Spiritual Exercises — five or six or eight weeks in an abridged form, or 25-30 weeks in the fullest form.
Don’t hesitate to take the time to interview a few potential directors, or try the experience out, before settling on someone — even for a tryout period. Each director has their own approach, and wants you to find “the right fit,” whomever that may be. I would suggest that you seek someone with wide-ranging knowledge, good listening skills, a personal life of prayer, and a sense of humor!
If you’d like to reach out to me, please send an email to revrobincraig@gmail.com, with Spiritual Direction in the subject line.
Sycamore Spirituality 