About Pathways Spiritual Direction

A Spiritual Director is a trained listener. Directors walk should to shoulder with those who long to experience God in a deeper, more embodied fullness. In this encounter, the Holy Spirit is the true director and we listen together for the invitations in daily life from God.

Spiritual direction is not advice or solutions but an on-going process of growing recognition of the holy experiences in life. These experiences are invitations from God that move us into deeper union with the Trinity.  The goal of Spiritual Direction is a richer friendship with God!

Spiritual Direction is for leaders, for teenagers (and even children!), for men and for women and all people who are spiritually thoughtful about their lives. In Spiritual Direction, we seek increasing union with God by curiously reflecting on the lived relationship with God in your current context. The pace is slow and contemplative as we join together in the mystery. 

Friendship with God can be wild and confusing (or even boring) to us as we live in our current contexts relationally, culturally, politically and emotionally. We need a safe space where we can say things we don't feel safe to say in other contexts. Spiritual Direction addresses these kinds of questions in a confidential and curious space. Questions like:

• How can I grow in my love for others when my heart feels so critical and irritated?
• Church is not working for me right now but I want to talk about my experience of God and spiritual things. Where do I go?
• Prayer is so hard for me to focus on but I know it matters, how can I grow here?
• Everything with God is off right now. How can I get back to a vibrant life with Jesus?
• I'm a leader but I don't have anyone to share my spiritual experiences with safely. Who can I talk to honestly about these things without doing harm?
• Everything in my life feels so heavy, like I can't hold one more thing. Help.
• I feel lost. Help.

In the first centuries of the Church, those gifted in discernment and listening to the Holy Spirit and in guiding others were called "spiritual directors". Although it has been a part of the global Church since it's inception, it was often reserved for persons in specified ministries. Those who were spiritually hungry could also seek spiritual guides. The Catholic Church is most familiar with the practice as Ignatius of Loyola developed it deeply, but since the 1970's, the Protestant Church has grown in understanding, training and practice of Spiritual Direction as well.

Today, Spiritual Direction has formalized training programs all across the world, communities of accountability and growth as well as ongoing training opportunities. It is a contemplative and evocative practice that embraces collaboration and mutuality and provides space to explore spiritual movements in God's people that is safe and confidential.

Over time, the ministry of spiritual direction can help believers grow in the following ways:

• deepening awareness of God's love and pursuit of them
• greater friendship and union with the Trinity
• growing sensitivity to their own heart's resistance 
• love for God, His people and His work in the world
• increase in compassion for others
• inner healing of broken and wounded souls
• peace and centeredness

Spiritual Direction fits easily into your life and enriches your daily relationship with God. Sessions are:

• one hour in length, scheduled once a month
• conducted in person, or virtually
• $65 per session
• one-on-one, always confidential
• usually begins with a Scripture reading or reflection to turn the focus to God
• quiet filled spaces where director and directee can listen to the LORD. 
• conversations where the directee chooses the topic of discussion or discernment they would like to explore together