What is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual direction is a time-honored practice that might be compared to a guided, adventurous journey. When we set out on such a journey, we typically have a preliminary sense of which way to go. Both the precise routes as well as the exact destination, however, often remain unclear to us. As we move ahead, we inevitably encounter bumps in the road that are difficult to maneuver around, road signs that we do not understand, and intersections requiring decisions. “What does this mean?” we ask. “Which way should I turn?” Whether climbers ascending Mt. Everest, travelers exploring a foreign city, local drivers making their way through a major construction site, or simply shoppers trying to find a desired item in a crowded super market, everyone who has ever been on a journey quickly learns that an experienced guide is invaluable.

This same principle, so apparent in our earthly travels, is no less true of our spiritual journeys. We often have a general sense of direction, and we may even know something about the routes that lie before us. Yet as soon as we put one foot in front of the other, we seem to miss a road sign, stumble over fallen debris, or find ourselves distracted by enticing but unreliable, alternative routes. “Which road should I take?” we wonder. “How might I better read the signs?” “Where might I find food and shelter when I feel hungry and exhausted?” These and other questions often arise in our spiritual lives, questions that may confuse and even discourage us if left unanswered.

Here, just as with our earthly travels, a guide can be of inestimable service. Such a guide is more than a casual observer or even a well-intentioned friend. Instead, a spiritual guide is a trained and seasoned traveler who helps us notice what we might otherwise miss, interpret signs and road markers posted all along the way, navigate obstacles lying in our path, and find nourishment and rest while in route. A guide meets with us periodically and assists us as we sift through our feelings, pray through our ups and downs, and discern how it is that God is working in and through our lives. Guides of this variety, long called Spiritual Directors, fan the “flame within us.” They help us move more faithfully toward our most fundamental destination—a deepening intimacy with and greater commitment to the God who created us.

Spiritual Direction, then, is essentially the practice in which a trained and experienced traveler joins hands with another traveler and guides her further along the path toward spiritual maturity.