What is Spiritual Direction?

In recent years, a great need has arisen among Christians of all denominations to develop and foster their relationship with God. The practice of spiritual direction is centered on and concerned with a person’s experiences of his/her relationship with God. Spiritual direction is the help given by one Christian to another which enables one to be able to understand how God is communicating with them and how they should communicate with God. The spiritual director is a companion accompanying one on their spiritual journey. We all need a way to cope with these troubling and unsettling times. The search for the rock upon which we can ground our search for meaning is not found in the things of the world. The rock is God and spiritual direction can become our roadmap on the journey to find God in our lives.
The present day practice of spiritual direction is not only encouraged for the religious, but is also encouraged for the spirituality of the laity. Spiritual direction is a relationship in which one person assists another, in attending to God’s presence and call. Spiritual direction has been, and remains, particularly strong within Roman Catholic and Orthodox religious orders, and over the past twenty years Anglican and Protestant traditions have begun to recover it more fully. There is also growing interest in spiritual direction among other faith traditions, such as Judaism and Buddhism.
We define Christian spiritual direction as help given by one Christian to another which enables that person 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 the relationship. Christian spiritual direction becomes specifically Roman Catholic when done within the context of the Catholic Church's understanding of Scripture, is connected to its sacraments, and is aware of the teaching and guidelines that have protected and fostered a variety of spiritualities over the centuries of the Church's history Throughout Christian history, spiritual direction has traditionally been practiced by ordained clergy alone. In recent years, however, this practice has widened to embrace the spiritual gifts of non-ordained persons as well. Today, spiritual direction is regarded as a ministry open to all, not an order or office reserved for the few.
Do you need help with your relationship with God? Would you like to develop a better prayer life? Do you see God's work in your life?
Maybe Spiritual Direction could help you.

Peace and love to all,

Sue


"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)