What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual Direction is an interpersonal relationship in which a trained Spiritual Director supports another person as they seek to know God’s voice and respond to God’s callings. The spiritual direction conversation is always confidential and without judgement. The director listens deeply to what the person is thinking and experiencing in their relationship with God, and supports the person as times of darkness, doubt, and suffering are a part of the spiritual journey.
For a very long time Spiritual Direction was thought of as something that only clergy or vowed religious could access. This is no longer true at all. Spiritual Direction is available to every person who desires to explore their relationship with God in a safe space.
In my own journey, Spiritual Direction has been a LIFE-LINE. Having that monthly sacred time to talk with my director about how I experienced God working in my life, or how I’ve experienced what feels like God’s absence in my life is something I treasure. I talk about what has happened when I’ve prayed or about when I’ve resisted prayer. I talk about moments that I call “God moments” and how these have impacted my month. I talk about relationships in my life and my wonderings about how to be more Christ-like in those that are difficult. My time in spiritual direction is one of the very few places in my life where I can be totally transparent. I just can’t imagine my life without this incredible relationship. It is vital to my growth as a Disciple of Christ. It is vital to my mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health!
Khris Ford, Lay Leader, St. Francis UMC