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A contemporary Christian ministry of spiritual direction has certain characteristics which are unique when compared to pastoral or psychological counseling. Although in all three pursuits, it is the intention of the director to assist the directee to become aware of their feelings and thoughts, spiritual direction would have at least three of the following defining characteristics.
First, during spiritual direction there would be an explicit and consistent attention to God's presence. Second, it would be the spiritual director's goal to assist the directee to discern the manifestations of God's guidance for the directee's life. Third, the director would help the directee to be aware of and respond to God's guidance in prayer as an essential part of the spiritual direction sessions.
Unlike most pastoral and psychological counseling, someone may seek out a spiritual director specifically to make sense of spiritual matters and God's direction in one's life. There does not need to be a particular problem or crisis. Even if a problem existed, it would not be the spiritual director's job to solve the problem for the directee or give answers, but simply to assist the directee in finding out how God is to be found in the experience. (Conn 70, Byrne 114).
Any solutions or revelations arrived at by the director's joining into the conversation by being a faithful listener, would be eclipsed by the directee's own soul-searching within self, not imposed by any rules or regulations set forth by the director. They would both be following the leading of the Holy Spirit as a unique and special third guest who has entered into the conversations.
In order for the director to act as this unique God-centered guidance counselor, the director will need to be wise, attentive and experienced in acknowledging the Holy Spirit's leading in another's life, as well as in their own. Since the Holy Spirit does not act within a certain human time-table, the director would need to be very flexible and patient with a certain intuition and sensitivity to God's presence in another's life. This would apply to those life experiences which are painful as well as pleasurable. It may be that the directee has had an unusual spiritual experience as a result of life choices made. It would be imperative that the spiritual director be non-judgmental in their approach, because the trust and honest responses of the directee are essential.
Unlike a pastor or psychologist whose job would be to dispense a course of action or treat an affliction, the spiritual director might be called upon simply to assist the directee in allowing themselves to be touched by God, whether this is by divine mercy and grace or conviction of sin, and then to understand what meaning that may have in what direction to take next in life. "Being a loving, listening presence is the norm." "It is the work of the Holy Spirit, not the director, to move..." (Cowan 14, 33).
Texts Cited
Byrne, Lavina. "Traditions of Spiritual Guidance" Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1990
Conn, Joann. "Spirituality and Personal Maturity" New York, NY: Paulist Press, 1989
Cowan, Marian. "Companions in Grace" Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1993
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