About Spiritual Direction
Discover Deeper Spiritual Growth with Guided Direction
What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual Direction is an ongoing process aimed at forming and cultivating a deeper relationship with Jesus. Unlike counseling or therapy, which focus on problem resolution, Spiritual Direction emphasizes growth through developing a relationship with Jesus in partnership with the Holy Spirit and the Spiritual Director. The director helps facilitate reflective conversation, listening prayer, and discernment of life events, aiding in maturing your ability to notice Jesus's presence in everyday life and hear from the Holy Spirit.
This process also explores obstacles that hinder your deepening relationship with Jesus and create resistance to following His leading. While not ignoring theology or beliefs about God, Spiritual Direction excels in furthering the practice of your spirituality—your daily lived experience of a loving God.
What should I expect?
As the Spiritual Director at Wellspring, your times of meeting in person or over Zoom will be facilitated by me, James Knight. Here is what you could expect to experience in a session of spiritual direction. Our time together starts with a genuine exchange, where we share the highs and lows of life since our last meeting. This initial connection sets the tone for a contemplative listening practice, designed to help us transition from the busyness of daily life into a receptive posture, acknowledging the active presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst.
The heart of our session unfolds through a prayerful conversation. While I guide the process, the direction is led by you, the directee, as we listen to the Holy Spirit. I invite you to share what you're experiencing, noticing, or seeking to explore in your relationship with Jesus. Through thoughtful, open-ended questions and attentive listening practices, we delve deeper into the rhythms of your life, your aspirations, your struggles, and the tangible presence of God. This dialogue is a journey of discovery, where we listen together for God's voice and discern His invitations.
As our time draws to a close, we engage in reflection, considering together what our conversation means for you as you re-enter your daily routines. I conclude with a prayer of blessing, tailored to support and affirm your ongoing spiritual journey. Confidentiality is strictly maintained for everything shared during our session, ensuring a safe and trusting environment, with exceptions only in cases where there is potential harm to you or others.
In essence, my approach to spiritual direction is rooted in compassionate listening, prayerful reflection, and a deep commitment to supporting you on your path of spiritual growth and discovery in relationship with Jesus.
What is the benefit of seeing a Spiritual Director?
A common question people ask is, "Why do I need a Spiritual Director? Can I not grow in my God-awareness and responsiveness on my own?" While it is possible to grow in these areas independently, it can be likened to getting ready in the morning without the use of a mirror. Certain tasks can be done without a mirror, but others require it to see what we cannot on our own. When a mirror is not available, we often rely on an honest friend or loved one to ask, "How do I look?" trusting them to point out anything we might have missed.
Similarly, a Spiritual Director serves as a mirror, a trusted friend, and a compassionate listener. Through their loving, attentive presence, they help us see both God and ourselves in ways that we might have missed on our own.
