{"id":4298,"date":"2014-10-01T12:51:07","date_gmt":"2014-10-01T12:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/?p=4298"},"modified":"2020-11-04T21:35:41","modified_gmt":"2020-11-04T21:35:41","slug":"learning-to-live-deeplyis-spiritual-direction-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/home\/significant-sustenance\/learning-to-live-deeplyis-spiritual-direction-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Spiritual Direction for you? &#8211; Learning to Live Deeply"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">For centuries, people have spent lifetimes on the journey of discovery. Exploring what it is to be human, to discover meaning, purpose, find peace and a deep sense of self and their place in the universe. This exploration has often included thoughts and experiences of God and our relationship to God within our life and beyond.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">How do we interact with God, how does God interact with us and does it really matter?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Is God good?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">What does God think of me?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">What does God want of me?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Where is God when I hurt?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Why does God allow suffering?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Does God love me and how can I experience that love?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">These and many other questions have been the universal cry and many have chosen a companion to journey alongside them for encouragement, support, wisdom; to help them discover God working in their lives and affirm them on their journey. These companions are often referred to as Spiritual Directors. The term spiritual direction is one of those loaded terms. It can elicit good or not so good feelings and the name can be a bit misrepresenting because of the word &#8216;direction&#8217;. Sadly, many of us have been disappointed by the church and stifled by some form of religious obligation, so when we see terms like direction, we assume this must mean someone telling us what to believe and what to do. Nothing could be further from the truth! An authentic, healthy spiritual direction never usurps a person&#8217;s responsibility for their own relationship with Jesus. So what is spiritual direction?<\/span><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><a title=\"Spiritual Direction - IamSignificant.ca\" href=\"http:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/experience-spiritual-direction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>S<\/strong><strong>piritual direction<\/strong><\/a> is the practice of helping another person or group to discover God as revealed in Jesus Christ in all of life, and to respond to that discovery in a growing relationship of love, freedom and commitment.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">God has been stirring us with the word \u201cCatalyst\u201d. A catalyst is someone who initiates or accelerates a relationship between two or more parties without becoming central to it. As catalysts (spiritual directors) we facilitate a richer relationship between you and God while being careful not to get in the way.\u00a0 This allows the distinctiveness of what the Holy Spirit is doing to take form in your unique personality, in your unique setting.<\/span><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">In a general sense, spiritual direction helps you explore your personal and sacred relationship with God and BIG questions like:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Who am I?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">What is truly important to me and why?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Who is God?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">What is God doing in my life?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Where can I find meaning?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">What is God calling me to be and do?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Can I overcome Guilt and Shame?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">How do I live with integrity what I believe?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">How can I cultivate a healthy relationship with Jesus and others?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Spiritual directors assist you in exploring these questions, providing some tools for discerning some of the answers and working with you to see how these answers impact your life in healthy ways.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><em>\u201cSpiritual direction is, in reality, nothing more than a way of leading us to see and obey the real Director \u2014 the Holy Spirit hidden in the depths of our soul.\u201d <\/em><em>&#8211; Thomas Merton, Trappist monk<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>How <a href=\"http:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/experience-spiritual-direction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spiritual Direction<\/a> can benefit you!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">A growing awareness of God&#8217;s love, presence and grace in all of life.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">A deeper sense of peace, joy, freedom and gratitude.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Increased sense of purpose and focus.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Help to discern God&#8217;s will in the decisions you face.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Growing self-acceptance and the discovery of your true identity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Grow in compassion and understanding.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Can help the healing process from hurts, brokenness and bitterness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Share your struggles and challenges confidentially with love and acceptance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Renewal of Faith and Hope.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Learn the skills for personal soul care.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Support and encouragement as you learn and grow in your faith.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For centuries, people have spent lifetimes on the journey of discovery. Exploring what it is to be human, to discover meaning, purpose, find peace and a deep sense of self and their place in the universe. This exploration has often included thoughts and experiences of God and our relationship to God within our life and&#8230;","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[150,152,193,235,254,408,478],"class_list":["post-4298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-significant-sustenance","tag-discerning-gods-will-for-my-life","tag-discipleship","tag-finding-peace","tag-growing-in-faith","tag-hearing-gods-voice","tag-pastoral-care","tag-soul-care"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4298","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4298"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4298\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4298"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4298"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4298"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}