Spiritual Direction: Assumptions And Application

Abstract

People are hungry for authentic spiritual companionship. Many are concerned about the coarseness of larger culture and the pace of life--they desire to slow down and notice more about who they are and how to be connected with God. The nature of the Christian life is such that no one grows spiritually without some help from others. Being in spiritual direction, sharing their faith journey with another, helps believers to pay more attention to their own lives, how they are responding to and resisting God as they move along. It assists believers in noticing grace in ways they might have missed. Even the most mature Christian needs help from others from time to time. Spiritual direction is simply the formalisation of this basic fact of life. This article looks into what spiritual direction is, what processes are involved in this kind of pastoral work and why there is a renewed interest in this ministry by the church at large.