Prayer and the Ministry of Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Direction is an inter-personal situation in which one person assists another person to grow in the spirit: in the life of FAITH (prayer), HOPE (difficulties, sufferings, trials), and LOVE (the person’s life in the Christian community). Spiritual Direction is not primarily informative, although it may be the occasion for imparting knowledge. Spiritual Direction is not primarily therapeutic, although it may at times involve therapeutic counseling or referral. Spiritual Direction is not primarily advisory, although it may be a situation in which helpful suggestions are given from time to time.
Spiritual Direction is primarily 1. CLARIFICATION and 2. DISCERNMENT. It is important for the directee to be able to speak about what is moving inside him or her and, thereby, be able to see more objectively what is really moving inside. Then the directee will have to sift through what is moving inside in order to recognize whether the interior movement is leading him or her toward God or away from God; this sifting is called the discernment of spirits.
The Basic Method of Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Direction is a CONVERSATION. 1. It enables the directee to understand, objectify, and articulate his or her own living of faith, hope, and love. 2. It also enables the directee to sift through, and respond to, the motions from God which the directee has experienced in his or her own life. Thus, in spiritual direction the directee is far more active than the director. The director, on the other hand, listens and then reflects back to the directee what he or she sees that God is doing in the life of the directee.
Spiritual Direction is essentially an ADULT – ADULT relationship as distinct from a PARENT – CHILD relationship. The director may be more experienced in the ways of God; but the director is assisting the directee to objectify his or her experiences. The director can do this by asking questions or helping the directee to gain some insight into his or her experiences. The director is not judgmental; the director will evoke the understanding of the directee’s experiences.
The relationship of directee and the spiritual director is one of mutual trust. The directee needs to be open and to speak honestly about what is happening interiorly. The director needs to hold the directees statements in confidence, to be sensitive to the ways the Spirit is moving in his or her life, to have enough experience in growing in the spiritual life to assist the directee in his or her growth in prayer and in relationship with God, and to know how to lead the directee in growing in personal discernment.