A Case for Spiritual Direction in Chaotic Times
These are tumultuous times indeed. To provide a list of all the unrest we are witnessing within our political system, our societal systems, economic systems and of course our fragile ecosystems seems somewhat futile and quite honestly, overwhelming. The challenges we face as a nation, a global community and a cosmic reality are weighing heavily on the minds and hearts of many. As people of faith, how do we live within this chaos and cling to Truth? How do we keep our focus on the fact that wonder and awe coexist with the darkness? How do we listen deeply to the voice within reminding us who and Whose we are? My suggestion, for a start, would be to find yourself a good spiritual director!
Spiritual direction has ancient roots in religious communities and among spiritual seekers. Within the past few decades, it has become much more widespread as more lay people are discerning a call and finding access to programs throughout the world designed to teach and form them to be spiritual directors. Spiritual direction is found in multiple faith traditions but the goal is universal. Spiritual directors, first and foremost seek to help others deepen their relationship with God (or however what is Sacred and Holy is named) through regular meetings, ongoing contemplative practice and committed presence to the endless movement of Spirit.
What to Expect from Spiritual Direction
Spiritual direction offers a place of safety and confidentiality, a place of non-judgmental acceptance, a place of deep listening, and a place where the sacred is attended amidst the ebb and flow of everyday life. In the upheavals of daily living, it is vital to keep our whole selves focused on how God is present and active around us and within us. Spiritual direction is where we hear again and again that God is moving, inviting, and desiring for us what we so deeply desire for ourselves and our world.
Ideally, directors and their directees meet on a monthly basis. These meetings are as unique as those participating in them. Primarily a direction session is a safe space where we can be heard, encouraged, and perhaps challenged as we speak out loud our experience and reflect on how and where God is present. The director’s hope is to help the directee begin to notice and name all the ways God is participating in their lives. Spiritual direction opens us to being fully present to our experiences and the feelings those experiences bring. Living more fully aware, we begin to appreciate and live out of gratitude rather than fear or the expectations of others. As our awareness grows, we see what is life giving and what is not. We discover the spaces where God is present and are instinctively drawn deeper into those spaces. Our sense of God begins to expand and as it expands, we are transformed. We are awakened to the incredible love God has for each of us, just as we are. As this awareness and freedom permeate our lives, we can breathe a sigh of relief in the heaviness of the day’s headlines remembering we are not alone!
As we deepen in our relationship with God and become attentive to all that is sacred around us, we awaken to the sacredness within us. The Trappist Monk Thomas Merton said, “If I discover my truest self, I will discover God and when I discover God, I’ll discover my truest self.” It is through silent prayer and contemplative practices that we are drawn into the wisdom of our own souls. Silence is a challenge in our world today. We are inundated with noise, tweets and busyness. It is countercultural to stop and simply “be” in our world today, but if we are to move forward as individuals and as a global body, silence is essential. It is only in the silence that we can begin to hear the questions and desires that tug at us from our very core. A spiritual director gently walks with us through those spaces and encourages trust in the whisperings of Spirit.
A spiritual director also accompanies us when silence and awareness bring us face to face with what separates us from the Sacred. In silence, we recognize problematic patterns, thought processes and habits ingrained in our being. These are the places where spiritual work is needed. Theresa of Avila would tell us God is drawing attention to the branches in our lives that need to be pruned, where life is no longer flowing. By recognizing them and beginning the difficult process of letting go, we create space for new life to emerge. This is so challenging in our western world where we think we are somehow in control. Letting go opens us to vulnerability, risk and change. Who wants to go there? We need a trusted companion to stay beside us, to continue to listen and affirm as letting go wreaks havoc in our souls. A good spiritual director will help us recognize the freedom that comes as the dead branches begin to wither and new ways of being blossom in our lives. We become freer to live from a place of authenticity. Our concerns are no longer focused on how we “should” be but on how we truly are.
When we can inhabit the space of our true selves, our gifts become evident and flow naturally into all the corners of our lives. Immediate relationships and communities become places where we find ourselves as the peacemakers, prophets and genuine followers of Jesus. We don’t act because we should, we act because it is what brings wholeness to us and the world around us. We find ourselves surrounded by rich soil, firmly planted, learning to love as God intended. When the winds of separation, loss and chaos begin to stir, our grounding remains sure in God. We discover what Jesus meant when he said he came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. This place of freedom, authenticity, purpose, compassion and love is true abundance. It is who we are!
On the road to Emmaus, Jesus accompanies the disciples as they express their grief and confusion. Jesus listens and asks questions that help the followers name what they’re experiencing. Jesus then reminds them of all they know, he helps them recognize the truth that burns deep within their hearts. When someone walks with us on the “road” of life, listening and attending to the unceasing presence of God all along the way, our hearts burn with the fullness of knowing our truth. We are just like the disciples on the road. When confronted with the confusion and grief our world contains we lose sight of where and how God is present. A spiritual director is a companion on the journey who reminds us over and over, God is with us.
How to Find a Spiritual Director
How do you go about finding a good spiritual director? Begin with your local congregations and communities and ask about spiritual direction and where it might be offered. Contact local seminaries or retreat centers to see if they have a list of local directors or if they can offer resources for finding a director. Spiritual Directors International, (www.sdiworld.org) has a relatively current list of spiritual directors from all over the world. Simply click on the “Find a Spiritual Director” tab and begin your search. After gathering two or three names, take the time to set up casual meetings to get to know one another. Not every spiritual director will be the right fit. It’s important to choose someone you will be comfortable sharing your life, beliefs and brokenness with.
Finally, commit to the relationship. Spiritual direction is not for the faint of heart. It is for those who are ready for their hearts to be broken open by the cries of the world; Hearts willing to burn with the tension between the darkness of our human condition and the wonder and awe of a world ablaze with God. Hearts willing to be led by the Spirit to places where compassion, mercy and forgiveness are needed. In order for our world to be transformed, we must first open ourselves to be transformed. The trusting companionship of a spiritual director can lead us there. These are tumultuous times indeed, but God is present! Sometimes we just need someone to remind us.
