‘What is spiritual direction.’   

Life is a journey.  It is seldom straightforward and it is often perplexing and filled with contradictions. Human beings have always had a range of options to cope with the uncertainties of life. One may choose to secure their future future by busily ensuing that they own their own home, have adequate superannuation and a solid portfolio of shares. Others may simply live for the moment, seeking only an endless series of hedonistic experiences, avoiding as far as possible any thought for the future. For others, it is through rigid belief systems that explain everything and leave little room for mystery. Some though, determined to go beyond the mere material veneer of life, push forward with a dogged determination to connect more deeply with the world, with one another and with God.

In common with many religious traditions throughout the world, Christians have over the centuries sought out wise guides for spiritual direction. The word direction might be a little misleading. Spiritual direction does not refer to one person, an expert, simply telling another person where they ought to go or how they ought to live. It is rather, that of a soul friend, or spiritual guide, sitting alongside another, helping them to discover what God is doing in his or her own life. In this sense the term direction might better refer to the end goal or destination of the spiritual discipline. We recall that God is the director, the directee is the spiritual map and the spiritual director is prayerfully listening to both the directee and the Holy Spirit, to hear the divine invitation. The Spiritual Director assists the directee to then move toward and act on that divine invitation.

In the first instance the spiritual director offers a kind of hospitality. It is a precious gift of a sacred and safe place where the directee may come and open him or herself up to God. This is different from pastoral counselling because it is not focused on a problem but on the individual’s relationship with God and how that might be deepened.

The Spiritual director acts as a kind of midwife, assisting the directee to discover and then bring the diving invitation to birth. This may involve periods of waiting and uncertainty. The term ‘labour’ is quite apt for spiritual direction too, bringing the divine invitation to birth can be hard, focused and intense work. From time to time the spiritual director will act as a teacher assisting the directee to discern what God is actually saying and this may require some adjustment of the affections, it might also require a challenge and rethinking through the priorities and direction of ones life. 

As teacher the wise guide may help the directee to see things in perspective, as they really are. To discern God in all things and then simply be at peace with God – and rest in the presence of divine love. The following short story by Carolyn Gratton illustrates this dimension of spiritual direction.

It seems that there was a school of fish who spent their days frantically swimming about in search of water. Anxiously looking for their destination, they shared their worries with one another as they swam. One day they happened upon a wise fish and asked him the question they had been preoccupied with for so long. Where is the sea? The wise fish answered: If you stop swimming so busily and struggling so anxiously, you would discover that you are already in the sea. You need look no further than where you already are.

From time to time we need to be reminded of what the school of fish hear from the wise old fish. To stop the business and anxious struggle and just look and listen to what is around us, to discover that we were on holy ground all along!

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Bibliography

 Anderson, R. S., (2003). Spiritual caregiving as secular sacrament: A practical theology for professional caregivers. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

 Guenther, M. (1992). Holy listening: The art of spiritual direction. London: Darton, Longman and Todd.

 Ó Murchu, D. (1997). Reclaiming spirituality. New York: Crossroads Publishing Company.

 Middleton, J.R. and Walsh, B.J., (1995). Truth is stranger than it used to be: Biblical faith in a post modern age. Illinios: Intervarsity Press.

 Schmitt, R. (1995). The spiritual director as life servant. Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction, 1(2), pp.13-30.

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Chaplain Col Acton RAN

Chaplain Colin (Col) Acton is a senior chaplain in the Royal Australian Navy. He was originally in the Navy as a stoker, left and studied theology at Moore Theological College in Sydney. He served at Port Kembla and Blacktown Anglican Churches in Sydney before returning to the Navy as a Chaplain in 1997.
Col is married to Heather.