What is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual Direction has been around in a variety of expressions for centuries. Maybe better described as spiritual companionship, it falls in a similar space as counseling and coaching but is focused on helping one explore the work and leading of the Spirit of God in one's life. This is work of the heart and often involves unpacking ones thoughts and feeling in connection to life events.

Below are a few reasons for seeing a Spiritual Director:

Longing to go deeper in your spiritual journey - whether you have a highly developed spiritual life or are just exploring your life with God, it is easy to get stuck. Spiritual Direction creates space to better notice what is going on in your own heart and partner with God's work in your life.

Help in discerning the leading of God through difficult life circumstances - the future is unclear and our motives are often mixed; unpacking one's hopes and fears is often central to discerning the guidance of the Spirit. The roll of spiritual direction is to create a safe place to explore the deeper longings and fears of one's inner life and to look for the light of God's leading.

Asking hard questions of faith and doubt- spiritual direction is a context to wrestle with places of pain and doubt.

• "God, where were you when I was being hurt?"

• "Why does God feeling silence and so far away?"

• "What do I really believe about ______?"

The job of the director is not to "weigh in" or give answers but to help clarify the questions and create space for you to articulate your experience and perspective as well as space for God to speak into the questions and pain.