Spiritual Direction A Primer on Spiritual Direction What is Spiritual Direction? Spiritual Direction, an ancient ministry of the Christian Church, is a relationship in which a person assists others in attending to the presence and call of God in all of life. Who is spiritual direction for? Spiritual direction is for anyone yearning for God. Sometimes this desire appears as a sense of longing for something greater, for others this longing is more focused, rising from a clear understanding that they are missing a sense of God's presence in particular parts of their lives. How is spiritual direction different from pastoral counseling? People usually enter a pastoral counseling relationship because something is wrong in their life, whether it is an area of shame, or guilt, or abuse or addiction, or family crisis. Pastoral counseling tends to be crisis-oriented or problem-driven. Spiritual direction, on the other hand, isn't designed to solve particular problems or handle specific crises. It takes the long view. The spiritual direction relationship looks for how God is working, calling, prodding, and inviting us to new ways of being with Christ. It focuses on building an intimate relationship with Jesus over a life-time, through all the problems, crises, joys and blessings. How do you find a spiritual director? If you sense in your own life a longing for a deeper intimacy with Christ, a spiritual director may be helpful. Check with your pastor, or at nearby retreat centers and monasteries for suggestions of names of spiritual directors. As in a counseling relationship, look for someone who's experienced, someone whom you feel you can trust; don't be afraid to "try it out" for a few sessions before committing to a particular director. For more information on spiritual direction, and how to find a director in your area, visit Spiritual Directors International website at www.sdiworld.org. For a listing of retreat centers nation-wide, visit www.retreatsintl.org.
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