Be Now, Do Now, Live Now

The year was 2007 and my spiritual director and I had just finished our session when she handed me a pamphlet and suggested I pray about applying to an intensive, two year, university-based, spiritual direction program to obtain certification.

My first response was questions, and a lot of them. How would my beloved and I pay for the program? Finances were tight. Would I be able to return to the classroom and be a good student? Been eons since I’d been in one. Could I handle the long drive to the city suburbs? Short days and snow and ice can make for rough weather in these parts.

A good friend / mentor discerned my excitement [and fear] and replied with one of her own—could I trust God with the unknowns? If I believed this was the path I was to take, all I had to do was say yes. I swallowed hard, felt a deep sense of peace, and the miracles began to unfold.

In less than two weeks [did I mention the official deadline for registration had come and gone?] I completed the lengthy application and collected the required detailed letters of recommendation. A deacon at my church also put me in touch with a couple who wanted to provide financial assistance with the only condition they remain anonymous.

A few weeks later, syllabus and roster in hand, I discovered a classmate lived about half an hour from me. In no time we became friends and traveling companions.

Finally, my fear of being in a room sharing space with a variety of professionals and academics lasted about twenty minutes into the first class. I felt like I had come home and over the next two years embraced every drop of the experience.

So, what does a Spiritual Director do anyway?

In brief, we listen. A lot. Mostly one person at a time, occasionally with a group of people.

Many view the ministry of spiritual direction as one of being a “companion on the journey.” In that light, my responsibility is to provide a safe place for the directee to talk about any and all aspects of their life in order to discern and discover what God is speaking to them. To facilitate this process I ask evocative questions as prompted by the Spirit and share my observations and insights. [It is paramount that we, as directors, maintain a good prayer life, be grounded in Scripture, and have a person who serves a similar role in our life.]

It has been my experience most people who seek a Spiritual Director [it’s good to interview at least two to discern compatibility for both director and directee] are at a place in their life where they want to develop a deeper relationship with God, come to a better understanding of themselves, and grow in love and compassion for the people in their lives.

While this ministry of being a companion can be messy at times, it is also one of countless moments of joy, hope, and blessing—for both directee and director.