I've been chewing on the idea of Spiritual Direction for the last few months. I was at the library looking through the rows of Christian living books when this book called "Spiritual Direction" by Henri Nouwen caught my eye. Henri introduced me to the concept of Spiritual Direction and this book introduced me to Henri!
After I finished reading that book, I read a few more on the topic and started praying about the concept of Spiritual Direction. God has been throwing the words "Spiritual Direction" and "Spiritual Formation" in my path ever since. He even has brought a couple people around who are knowledgeable about SD. I have so enjoyed our conversations.
What I have gathered is that SD isn't like counseling which focuses on interpersonal relationships of an individual or like life coaching which focuses on an individual's career/ministry path. SD is focused on the relationship one has with the living Saviour. A Spiritual Director walks with an individual for a season to help them discern the movement of God in their life.
The role of Spiritual Director in the Church is prevelent in many sects of Christianity such as Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, and Mennonite. The cool thing about Spiritual Diector is that it isn't focused on the doctrines that seperate out the denominations but is focused on the experiential knowledge of the Divine that we meet in the Bible and in our own lives. A non-Catholic can see a Spiritual Director that is Catholic and not feel out of place. I love it!
For now, I will keep reading and thinking about SD and what my part, if any, is to play in this area of minstry.
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