Since I've announnced my new calling and career path, I have been asked, "just what is a Spiritual Director?" .
Spiritual direction is the contemplative practice of helping another person awaken to the mystery of the Divine in all of life, the process of accompanying people on a spiritual journey. Through Spiritual direction we become more aware of the many ways in which God may be touching our lives, directly or indirectly. Spiritual direction helps us learn how to live in peace, with compassion, promoting justice, giving honor and glory to that which is beyond naming. A Spiritual Director is a compassionate listener. Listening to another person with a loving, caring, open heart allows room for the Spirit to become present and provide guidance. A Spiritual Director listens and provides a person with practices that can help them open more fully to God's presence in their life. It is not a process of instructing the person in specific beliefs but an openness that helps another person become more aware of the way the Spirit touches their life and the places they are being nudged by the Spirit to make changes or move forward.
As we reach out to share the lives of those around us, remember our advice is not nearly as effective as listening with an open heart.
Compassionate listening is crucial. We listen with the willingness to relieve the suffering of the other person, not to judge or argue with her. We listen with all our attention. Even if we hear something that is not true, we continue to listen deeply so the other person can express her pain and release her tensions within herself. If we reply to her or correct her, the practice will not bear fruit. We just listen. - Thich Nhat Hanh
Spiritual direction is the contemplative practice of helping another person awaken to the mystery of the Divine in all of life, the process of accompanying people on a spiritual journey. Through Spiritual direction we become more aware of the many ways in which God may be touching our lives, directly or indirectly. Spiritual direction helps us learn how to live in peace, with compassion, promoting justice, giving honor and glory to that which is beyond naming. A Spiritual Director is a compassionate listener. Listening to another person with a loving, caring, open heart allows room for the Spirit to become present and provide guidance. A Spiritual Director listens and provides a person with practices that can help them open more fully to God's presence in their life. It is not a process of instructing the person in specific beliefs but an openness that helps another person become more aware of the way the Spirit touches their life and the places they are being nudged by the Spirit to make changes or move forward.
As we reach out to share the lives of those around us, remember our advice is not nearly as effective as listening with an open heart.
Compassionate listening is crucial. We listen with the willingness to relieve the suffering of the other person, not to judge or argue with her. We listen with all our attention. Even if we hear something that is not true, we continue to listen deeply so the other person can express her pain and release her tensions within herself. If we reply to her or correct her, the practice will not bear fruit. We just listen. - Thich Nhat Hanh
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