Bishop John Noonan | Diocese of Orland website

Do you feel your spiritual growth has stalled? Have you been confessing the same sin for years and don’t understand why? Do you need to discern a big decision or desire a deeper relationship with Christ? These are all good reasons to seek spiritual direction.

According to Catholic Spiritual Directors website, "Spiritual direction has been part of the Church’s mission since Christ commissioned the apostles to teach and guide all nations, and since the early Church Fathers and Mothers have played significant roles in providing spiritual guidance."

Some Scripture references include Sir 37:12, “Instead, associate with a religious person, who you know keeps the commandments; Who is like-minded with yourself and will grieve for you if you fall.” And Tob 4:18, “Seek out the counsel of a wise man and do not despise any worthy advice.” Director of Spiritual Development for the diocese, Father Anthony Aarons notes Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts of the Apostles 8:26-40. "(The eunuch) was reading the Scriptures and wanted to find out who is this about? What does this all mean? He had an understanding, but not a fuller understanding."

“I think you have to love people,” says Julie Harper, a spiritual director for the past 20 years. Harper is a retired nurse and psychotherapist who felt drawn to helping people on their spiritual journey. While noting the similarities between therapy and spiritual direction, she also recognizes they are very different. “You use similar skills such as listening, asking questions, connecting and forming a relationship. The difference is, in therapy we are looking to solve problems to come up with a solution. Whereas, in spiritual direction we’re listening through the eyes of faith. Where is God in this? Where is God leading you? What is God asking of you to do?” she explains.

Based on her own experience, Harper says people are drawn to spiritual direction for many reasons—"a longing for something or a hunger to know Jesus on a more than superficial level. And it’s healing having Jesus in your life," she says.

Harper continues to meet with her own spiritual director every month. She says every person has different needs and levels of spirituality that govern the process of direction. "It just takes time for people to get to that place to be vulnerable enough to share." She finds often it begins with helping people establish a regular prayer life, recognizing who God is for them, and how God speaks to them. She has discovered people with a more mature faith who "just come to talk, to share, and explore." She describes her role by saying, "As a director I am holding a sacred space for them to tell their story."

Her own deep feelings about spiritual direction may offer encouragement to people who have questions. “My directees are gifts. It is an honor to sit with them and know their story. And pray for them every day. And see God working in their lives,” she says.

Spiritual director John Molloy describes spiritual direction as "getting better at understanding and hearing God’s voice in our lives through practices of prayer not only in prayer times but in all aspects of our lives." It is the art of accompanying someone toward holiness.

“It’s helpful having an outside voice helping us understand: Is this my voice or my thoughts? Have I missed something in this discussion with the Lord? Am I already biased towards a particular path? Am I being too hard on myself? Am I not being hard enough?” he said. “It just helps having an objective voice speaking into a situation saying here perhaps where the Lord is; here where the enemy is at work; here is a place you still need bringing before the Lord. The benefit is an outside objective voice who also tunes with God listening His voice as you're wrestling through things.”

Molloy shares what one can expect in typical meetings noting format will vary from director-to-director he starts interviews getting ideas where directee comes from usually lots listening some prompts discuss what’s going on sometimes challenge wrestle grow inner life he says really it's about how experience Lord's voice life listen reflect back usually give suggested advice continue growing prayer.

Molloy cautions it's not one-size-fits-all noting different personalities styles even different spiritualities helpful seasons life recommends getting knowing your spiritual director states alright ask Are they under direction hard lead haven’t been like blind leading blind adds trial period needed determine build trust environment openness key awareness Holy Spirit integral part conversation.

“If you're seeking direction Lord's going put director path,” Molloy assured said receiving made him aware where God trying speak become patient long process takes sometimes.”

As Molloy states greater sense amazement God's doing others love saying gives front row seat seeing happening someone else's life shared sometimes realize happening until coming mouth wonder awe seeing unexpected ways

To find contact Katie Phillips San Pedro Spiritual Development Center 407-671-6322 katie@sanpedrocenter.org