Spiritual Direction at Sanctuary

The day of my spiritual awakening was the day I saw and knew I saw all things in God and God in all things.   (Mechtild of Magdeburg)

What Is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual Direction is an ongoing relationship in which one person meets with another specifically to become more attuned to God's presence and to respond tot he presence in all of life. If we believe that God is actively involved in our lives, spiritual Direction can help us discern that activity and respond to it.

Spiritual direction is not "direction" in the sense of one person telling another person what to do or how to live. Nor is it therapy, where one seeks a cure for psychic ills. It is more of a companioning, where one person "walks" with another, listens to the ordinary and exceptional events of that person's life, and assists in discovering insights that will deepen one's relationship with God.

Is God inviting, challenging, forgiving, healing me? Is God calling me to do something different with my life? Is that really God speaking to me through a dream, a passage of Scripture, a surprising occasion or another's comments? Though the questions one brings to a spiritual director may be limitless, the is one, central question: How is God present and what is God saying to me?

Who Seeks Spiritual Direction?

Those who seek spiritual direction will have the desire within them to grow spiritually. Those who want to deepen their relationship with God will want to spend time in silence, prayer, worship, and study. When one starts noticing new insights and raising new questions and wondering new thoughts, one will benefit from talking with a spiritual director.

Spiritual direction is not for everybody. But if you feel a tug in your soul to become more deeply connected with God and sense that God is inviting you to deepen your relationship, a spiritual direction relationship can be helpful.

How Does Spiritual Direction Work?

In a typical relationship, the two people will meet for about an hour once a month. Those seeking direction will not come to solve problems, although one's problems are part of the conversation. Rather, the one coming will bring questions, issues, concerns, wonderings, the joys and sorrows of everyday life to the meeting with the director for conversation and prayer. The human director is there to be present to the other, to listen, to question, and to guide.

Because God is never finished with us, the direction relationship will continue as long as both people want it. Periodic evaluations will be done to look honestly at how things are going and to decide whether or not to continue.

For more information or to make an appointment for Spiritual Direction, call 651-255-6711