Intimacy with God is Available

Many people in the United States identify themselves as Christians, they have checked the box that said “Personal Relationship.” Sadly, however, many of these same people would never characterize their relationship with God as being an “intimate relationship.” Through no fault of their own, many people have not learned how to cultivate an ongoing, intimate relationship with God; the kind of relationship that becomes more intimate and more passionate over the years, rather than less so.

You know, faith is more a process or a long journey, than it is a one-time decision, and because of this we are very interested in your journey of faith. We want your journey to be a voyage of discovery, where you are learning more about yourself and about God, as your journey unfolds. But we don’t want you just to know about God, we want you to know God intimately. Spiritual Direction is a way to help you develop intimacy in your relationship with God.

What is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual direction is the contemplative practice of helping a person or group to awaken to the unique presence of God in their life. It is a voluntary relationship between a person (“Directee”) who seeks to grow in intimacy with God, and a Spiritual Director. The focus of Spiritual Direction is intimacy with God. Directees are led to hear the Holy Spirit, the "real spiritual director.” The director's role is one of coming alongside, rather than dictating a program.

The goal of spiritual direction is to cultivate openness and responsiveness to the Spirit’s presence in our lives. The spiritual director serves as a companion on the journey, listening attentively, without pressure or expectation, to whatever comes to the surface as people seek to give expression to their experience of the Holy in their lives. As such, the relationship is similar to what the Celtic Christians called an “anam chara,” a "soul friend."

What Spiritual Direction is not

Spiritual direction is not counseling or psychotherapy. However, spiritual direction can work in tandem with therapy. Additionally, spiritual direction does not offer quick solutions. A spiritual director cannot answer or solve all spiritual dilemmas, quandaries, and questions. No one can do another’s spiritual "work." The spiritual director is himself or herself also a traveler on the journey of faith, rather than someone who has "arrived."