Spiritual Direction

 
 

Overview of Spiritual Direction

by Dcn. Bill Johnston

What is spiritual direction?

  • Spiritual direction is an everyday principle applied to the spiritual life. In very few things are we truly “self-taught”. In gardening, music, sports, etc. we learn from others. (Thornton, p. 25).

  • Spiritual direction is “a continuous process of formation and guidance, in which a Christian is led and encouraged in his special vocation, so that by faithful correspondence to the graces of the Holy Spirit he may attain to the particular end of his vocation and to union with God.” (Merton, pg. 13). (Author’s italics).

  • Anglican spiritual direction is more empirical than dogmatic (Thornton, p. 29). A good Director will uphold Church teaching and sound spiritual practices, but free discussion, collaboration, experimentation, and a mutual problem-solving is involved. Direction involves “infinite pastoral elasticity springing from a firmly dogmatic foundation.” (Thornton, p. 175).


What is the purpose of spiritual direction? 

  • “The whole purpose of spiritual direction is to penetrate beneath the surface of a man’s life, to get behind the facade of conventional gestures and attitudes which he presents to the world, and to bring out his inner spiritual freedom, his inmost truth, which is what we call the likeness of Christ in his soul. This is entirely a supernatural thing, for the work of rescuing the inner man from automatism belongs first of all to the Holy Spirit. (Merton, p. 16).

  • The purpose of direction is to form a partnership to the glory of God that allows for more efficient progress. (Thornton, p. 38).

  • The purpose of direction is to “guide the soul in its struggle against sin, the acquirement of virtue and the development of the spiritual life…” (Harton, p. 201).


What isn’t it?  

  • Spiritual direction is not blind submissiveness, avoiding personal responsibility, or an interference between the soul and God. (Thornton, p. 26).

  • We do not receive spiritual direction in order to have our spirit taken care of, the way we go to a dentist to have our teeth taken care of or to a barber to have our hair taken care of. (Merton, p. 14).

  • Spiritual direction is “not a luxury reserved for the spiritual elite.” (Merton, p. 16). Of course you can be “saved” without direction, but this is not the point. The question we should ask is can direction help me live a more faithful, fruitful, joyous, and efficient life.


An analogy of spiritual direction 

  • “Atlanta Ambassadors” serve the public in downtown Atlanta. They can give you directions, help you find a particular business or service, and provide “safety tips.” Because they have helped many others, they have learned how to give good advice. They understand how people can get lost, and can give directions in a way that minimizes that possibility. The Ambassadors may give you several options, and can steer you away from what might be a dangerous area. Once they know what you’re looking for, they may point out some other activities along the way you may be interested in. You are free to ignore their advice, but doing so may result in taking a longer time to get where you want to go.



Benefits of spiritual direction

  • Better decisions

Decisions related to dating, employment, education, and numerous other things should be made carefully and prayerfully. What is our process for deciding between two nearly equally good (or bad alternatives) when a decision must be made?  How do we know if we are being “led by the Spirit? (Rom. 8:14). Two heads are better than one. A conversation with a Director who knows you can result in seeing that alternatives are not as equal as you once thought.  

  • Identifying dormant spiritual gifts

Spiritual direction involves examining your strengths and weaknesses. Your Director may see spiritual gifts in you that you have overlooked. “God is much more lavish with his gifts than many people suppose.” (Thornton, p. 26)

  • Building up the Body of Christ

Spiritual direction is not selfish. As you mature as a Christian and develop your God-given gifts and abilities, you are better able to serve God’s people (I Cor. 14:12). Spiritual direction may help you uncover interests and abilities you didn’t know you had. 

  • Application of Catechesis

We have many avenues of Catechesis at CTK.  Spiritual direction gives you the opportunity to apply what you have learned to your own prayer life, home situation, and goals. “Theology should be applied; not merely taught.” (Thornton, p. 27). Spiritual direction can reinforce that Scripture and Church teaching should always to be applied to the particular circumstances of my life. 

  • Support for lay ministry or discerning a vocation

Direction can provide resources, support, and encouragement for those involved in lay ministry or are discerning a vocation to another kind of ministry. 

  • Growing in grace

Your response to direction will help you recognize and follow all the effects of grace in your life in order to walk in the center of God’s will. 


The qualities of a director

  • The most important quality is competence: “A working knowledge of ascetical and moral theology supported by a regular life of prayer.” (Thornton, p. 37).

  • A director should be approachable and easy to talk to. (Thornton, p. 37).

  • His first duty is “to see to his own interior life and take time for prayer and meditation, since he will never be able to give to others what he does not possess himself.” (Merton, p. 28).

  • Being an adequate Director “demands a real knowledge of human nature, understanding of the principles of ascetical theology, real humility, and a deep personal life of prayer…” (Harton, p. 201).

  • A director is “patiently and humbly waiting for indications of God’s action in the soul. He is concerned not just with this or that urgent problem, this or that sin, but with the whole life of the soul.” (Merton, p. 34).


Choice of director

  • You are free to choose any competent Director. (Thornton, p. 37). The Director does not need to be a member of the Clergy. Choose someone you believe you can have a close personal relationship with and who can help you.

  • The most important quality is competence. Your Director may not have every quality you would like. Keep in mind that directors “are not easy to find.” (Merton, p. 26).

  • “The Holy Ghost remains the ultimate director and guide, and the essential unifying principle behind our own modest efforts.” (Thornton, p. 175). “The Holy Ghost is the true Director of souls, and the priest’s business is to do His will and get out of the way himself.” (Harton, p. 204).


The relationship matters

  • The relationship should be marked by trust, respect, care, and love on the part of both parties.

  • There should be an atmosphere of “unhurried leisure, a friendly, sincere and informal conversation, on a basis of personal intimacy.” (Merton, p. 33).


How to benefit from direction

  • Those who have regular spiritual direction “should recognize this as a gift of God, and even though they may not be thoroughly satisfied, they should humbly appreciate the fact that they have direction at all.” (Merton, p. 28).

  • Since grace builds on nature, those who receive direction should “be ourselves” by allowing development “our natural simplicity, sincerity, and forthright spiritual honesty…” (Merton, p. 6).

  • Be as honest and specific with your Director as you can be about your questions, struggles, and trials. Let him know what you really think, really feel, and really want, even if you think these do not reflect well on you. This keeps direction from enabling a Christian life which is a “meaningless pantomime of perfection.” (Merton, p. 23). “The mere effort to admit that we are not as unselfish or as zealous as we pretend to be is a great source of grace.” (Merton, p. 33).

  • Discuss the problems of everyday life, in order to keep direction from getting lost “in a maze of abstract devotional fictions.” (Merton, p. 6). Your Director will not provide guidance according to any single theory of spiritual direction, but according to your own soul’s needs. (Harton, p. 272).

  • While direction is not counseling or psychotherapy, it does concern the whole person, since the Christian “is one whose whole life, in all its aspects and all its activities, has been spiritualized by the action of the Holy Spirit… (Merton, p. 14).

  • Your Director is not a miracle-worker or all-knowing. In fact, he may not tell you anything you do not already know. The kind and wise support of someone we know, however, can help us accept something which may be difficult to accept. The process of direction can help us overcome hesitations and strengthen us. (Merton, p. 29).

  • Do not be surprised if your Director doesn’t say anything “special”, but reinforces over and over the basics of being a Christian. This is because the Christian life continually involves “the grind of resisting sin, of turning a deaf ear to temptation, of sticking to necessary rules…” (Harton, p. 309). Your struggles are not exotic, neither will be the direction.

  • Do not always expect a “pat on the back.” A Director would not be fulfilling his obligation to you if you find too much pleasure in yourself and your virtues. People sometimes find that a Director’s role requires him to “strip them of their self-love and show them how to get free from preoccupation with themselves and their own petty concerns, to give themselves to God and to the Church.” (Merton, p. 30). The Director will know “when to apply the rein or the spur.” (Harton, p. 306).

  • Let your Director know if you feel anger or frustration with him, or are confused by something he has said. This applies to all our relationships, and your relationship with your Director is no different. Your Director will model how to respond when misunderstandings or miscommunications have occurred. Do your best, however, to accept what he has said and make the best of it, even if you think he is asking too much of you. “A little good will, a little faith and a humble prayer to God may enable us to do what seemed to be impossible.” (Merton, p. 46).


The relation between Direction and Confession

  • Private confession is with a Priest who is able to grant absolution (Book of Common Prayer, p. 313). Spiritual direction may be provided as a part of this Sacrament. Ongoing spiritual direction, however, covers more areas that what is covered in the Confession and the Director does not need to be a Priest. (Thornton, p. 81).

  • Confession implies a minimum of spiritual direction, but this typically does not go deep enough. (Merton, p. 21, 22).


Agenda-setting

  • You must ask your Director for what you need help with. The more specific you are in your request, the more likely the Director will be able to give you the assistance you need. For example, “I’m too easily distracted when I pray” is more likely to result in a productive conversation than “I’m not praying as well as I would like.”

  • Address problems when they are still small. “If you are on a sinking ship in the middle of the ocean, it is a bit late to learn to swim.” (Thornton, p. 42). Do not think any problem is too trivial. If it has been on your mind at all, you should consider it material to discuss with your director.


SOURCES

  • F. P. Harton, The Elements of the Spiritual Life, SPCK (1950).

  • Martin Thornton, Christian Proficiency, SPCK (1988).

  • Thomas Merton, Spiritual Direction and Meditation, The Liturgical Press (1960).