Spiritual Director

Paul writes - More from Kenneth Leech on spiritual direction, specifically the role of the spiritual director. I find his description daunting but continue to trust in God who forms, shapes, and enables us to both discern and respond to his activity in the lives of others, and especially in our own lives:

The ministry of the spiritual director is a daunting one. One is being called to share the deepest experiences of ones sisters and brothers in Christ, and while this is a great privilege, it calls for intensive spiritual preparation. For the spiritual director is called to be a person filled with, and yet giving way to, the Holy Spirit; a person of experience as well as learning; a person of discernment and spiritual intelligence and sensitivity to the workings of God in the human person. These qualities are not acquired skills so much as parts of an outflow from a whole life of Christian discipleship and union with God. Indeed spiritual direction itself is a by-product of Christlike lives.

Spiritual directors will often find themselves thrown into this ministry,feeling quite unprepared and ill-equipped for it. Yet in the very process of guiding others, we are guided, and may take comfort from the words of St. John Climacus – If some are still dominated by their former bad habits, and yet can teach by mere words, let them teach…For perhaps, being put to shame by their own words, they will eventually begin to practice what they teach.

Quotation taken from Leech’s very useful little book Spirituality and Pastoral Care (1989), p. 54.   It is a definition I warm to, but one that stands in contrast to many "professional" practices of spiritual direction.

Comments

[Jan Bros]

True listening to another's heart only can happen as much as the listener has been formed in their own life in God. It is a travesty to think one can be trained in this by spending two years or so of learning about it vs.living it.

I like Leech's emphasis on the capacity for spiritual direction coming from an outflow of a life of a disciple of Christ. It takes the ministry of direction out of the spiritual guru category--for only special people--and into the possiblity of ordinary Christians living life together centered in a listening relationship with God.

[ben]

I believe that in training pastors and spiritual directors, we need to re-evaluate our methods. Rather than sending someone to seminary for 2-4 years, studying in an academic setting, why not spend at least half of that time (preferably more) in an apprenticeship situation. Learning in community under the wing of an experienced spiritual leader will guide you on what it looks like to be a Christ-Like leader. Just a thought.