Over the past four years, I have spent many meaningful hours in a sacred space not far from our house. When not living in pandemic mode, every three or four weeks I make the 20-minute hike through my neighborhood to the Brookland Pastoral Center. Just half a block from the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land, the BPC sits high above Quincey Street.
I climb the steep, stone steps, pausing to catch my breath at the top before entering the simple, three-story house. Waiting for me in her cozy, upstairs office is my spiritual director, Charlotte, who for decades has been accompanying people on their path with God. I fondly describe her as “Mother Theresa meets Mrs. Doubtfire.”
Time spent with Charlotte is not about achieving, producing or plan-making. From the moment I walk through her door, I know I’ve entered a space in which the point is being present—present with God and with myself. I settle into the swivel-chair as she lights a candle to remind us both of Holy Spirit’s presence. With grace and compassion, Charlotte receives whatever I bring. Nothing is off the table. Questions, complaints, tears and/or silence are welcome. “There’s something happening here.” she says sometimes. “Let Love bring it into the light.”
Many years ago, Charlotte answered a call to the ministry of “holy listening”—also known as spiritual direction, spiritual guidance, or spiritual companionship. At the heart of this ministry lies the radical conviction that spiritual companionship is a form of prayer and that contemplative listening comes not so much from a set of skills but from grounding in one’s relationship with God.
With this in mind, I want to share with you some developments happening in me that relate to my own life and and sense of calling…
I am feeling drawn to the ministry of holy listening.
Douglas Steere, the 20th century Quaker writer and professor of philosophy at Haverford College, said that “to ‘listen’ another's soul into a condition of disclosure and discovery may be almost the greatest service that any human being ever performs for another.” After six years of receiving spiritual direction I am sensing a call to offer this ministry to others.
Two years ago, I began to pray about applying to an 18-month program offered by the Shalem Institute for those who feel drawn to the ministry of spiritual direction. Shalem’s Nurturing the Call Spiritual Guidance Program draws on the rich resources of Christian contemplative tradition to deepen the spiritual lives of those called to this ministry.
It was important to me, before applying to the program, to receive congregational affirmation for this undertaking. In January, I reached out to our Diaconate and Personnel Committee to ask for their blessing and support and was grateful to receive this word from Philip Hawkins, our deacon chair: “…go forward with the blessing of the holy breath of this church behind you as you continue to grow deeper in your own spiritual listening journey with God.”
Back in March, I was about to let the congregation know of my acceptance into the Shalem program (including a scholarship to defray costs) when COVID-19 caused us all to shift our focus to more urgent matters. Now that we have settled into this “new normal” for now, I am once again turning my attention to the Spiritual Guidance Program. I have loved the readings so far and have met once already with the peer group made up of people from around the country with whom I’ll be journeying for the next 18 months.
I’ve received some good questions from deacons and others about the program. Here are a few and feel free to ask questions of your own.
What will this 18-month Shalem program require of you?:
The program includes two 10-day residencies at Bon Secours retreat center in Marriottsville, MD, in the summers of 2020 and 2021. (Because of the pandemic, the 2020 residency will take place online.)
I will be expected to receive spiritual direction myself (which I already do) and to offer spiritual direction/companionship to at least two individuals during the course of the program.
I will participate in a monthly peer group meeting with other spiritual directors.
I will be expected to fulfill required reading assignments throughout the 18 months.
How will your participation in this program benefit our church?
Though I can’t predict all outcomes, it is my prayer and expectation that this “deep dive” into the ministry of helping people explore their relationship with God and discern the movements of Holy Spirit in their lives will have a ripple effect in our congregation. In addition, more and more seekers and newcomers to faith are looking for spiritual direction , even before they step foot in a church.
Is spiritual direction the same as therapy, but with a religious focus?
Spiritual direction is not therapy. Fundamentally, spiritual direction is an act of prayer. It is an act of intentional availability to God on the part of both the director and the one receiving direction, with the assumption that Holy Spirit is the real “director”. Spiritual direction or companionship is a guided conversation about a person’s spiritual life. While spiritual directors are trained to listen carefully to those seeking their help, the focus is on prayer and contemplation, not the treatment of mental health issues.
Will you please pray for me as I embark on this meaningful path? I’m eager to see what God will do.
Peace and grace,
