[Ep 25] What is Spiritual Direction, Do I Need It, and Other Frequently Asked Questions

Eugene Peterson wrote, “It is easier to find guides, someone to tell you what to do, than someone to be with you in a discerning, prayerful companionship as you work it out yourself. This is what spiritual direction is.”

If you noticed in my introduction, I speak to my background in communication, spiritual direction, and ministry. And recently, I was asked, “What is spiritual direction? How is that different from coaching?” And so I wanted to set some time aside today to address that question, along with some other commonly asked questions.

In my own experience, I have found spiritual direction to be a great help to me in that I have someone to simply sit with me in the silence, to prayerfully listen to what is stirring in my heart, and not to have any specific agenda we are working toward. We’re just… together. In God’s presence. Seeking Him.

That is why I have done my own training in spiritual direction and why I incorporate it into the work I do. I know how helpful it can be to have someone sit with you in the unknowns. In the healing. In the questioning.

And so today, I’ll address a few questions in-depth as a sort of introduction to spiritual direction, and then I’ll answer some more in a lightning-round sort of fashion.

Let’s dive in,

Kari

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QUOTES:

• “It is easier to find guides, someone to tell you what to do, than someone to be with you in a discerning, prayerful companionship as you work it out yourself. This is what spiritual direction is.” (Eugene Peterson)
• “What exactly do spiritual directors do? The simple and most direct answer I can give is that they help others attend to God’s presence and revelation and prepare to respond to him. In other words, they help people attune themselves to God.” (David Brenner)
• “And, oh, how my heart needs tuning! I forget His goodness. I forget there are ‘streams of mercy, never ceasing.’ I forget that I’m already accepted, covered, held, known, beloved. And when I forget that I’m His cherished daughter, I start hustling for my worth. Grasping for ‘good’ as if I don’t already have access to the Giver of every good thing… I’d never play a song with an out of tune guitar, but so often (too often) I am willing to live with a heart that is out of tune. Dissonant. Fearful. Discontent. Ashamed. All because I don’t take the time to restore my heart to its rightful place, to a place of gratitude for a Love that will never leave me.” (Ellie Holcomb)

RESOURCES:

• Episode 24: An Example in Spiritual Discernment and Decision Making: Going "All In" With Love Does That (http://lovedoesthat.org/24)
• Spiritual Directors International: Find a Spiritual Companion
• Transforming Center: Find a Spiritual Director