What is Spiritual Direction?
"How can we nurture our desire and encourage our intention? What can we do to embrace love's awakening presence more fully? How can we become more receptive to the gift?" –Gerald May, The Awakened Heart
Jesus appearing in glory to Paul on the road to Damascus. The image of Kali enrapturing Swami Vivekananda. The crucifix speaking to St. Francis, or the seraph imprinting on him the marks of the Crucifixion. Rumi's sudden outpouring of poetic rapture. Most theophanies -- appearances of God — are not nearly so dramatic as these.
Jesus appearing in glory to Paul on the road to Damascus. The image of Kali enrapturing Swami Vivekananda. The crucifix speaking to St. Francis, or the seraph imprinting on him the marks of the Crucifixion. Rumi's sudden outpouring of poetic rapture. Most theophanies -- appearances of God — are not nearly so dramatic as these.
The Still, Small Voice
In fact, most of our encounters with the Divine are more like the "still, small voice" that spoke to Elijah in the cave. (1 Kings 19:11-13) And as bombarded as most of us are with words, sounds and images that compete for our attention, it is very easy to miss the subtle touches of the Spirit in our lives. Like the young Hindu monk who frantically searched the whole ashram for his glasses, only to discover, when he came in from the cold and they fogged up, that he was wearing them, most of us are simply not aware of how near God is to us in every moment. Spiritual direction can help refine our spiritual awareness.
"Something in us, sometimes hidden, yearns to release limiting viewpoints and old emotional habits in favor of wide understanding, joy, and freedom." –Gregory Kramer, Insight Dialogue: The Interpersonal Path to Freedom
