Who Needs A Spiritual Director?

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For many people talking about the things of God is usually reserved for their trusted friends or maybe a pastor but sometimes those relationships don’t go far enough. Maybe you are reading a lot and need someone to process with. A spiritual director is a trained listener who works as a metaphorical midwife to bring the divine to life. 

If you are seeking a new path, maybe a new purpose or feeling a new direction or calling on your life, a spiritual director will work to discern that voice along with you. For some, this need for a new path may come about in what Fr. Richard Rohr calls the “second half of life,” while for others it may be the leading of God you need to discern as you look ahead towards your career or vocation. 

As America drifts into a post-Christian society, many people do not trust the typical places of direction, such as a church or a pastor, to help them discern what God looks like in their daily life. A spiritual director typically comes from a religious background but is not bound by that background and is trained to hear the things of God from many perspectives. 

Another category of people who need spiritual direction are people seeking to reconstruct their faith. Reconstruction refers to the idea of one’s faith deconstructing and needed to be rebuilt. A spiritual director is a trusted voice of reconstruction. Many post-evangelicals or #exvangelicals are excellent candidates for spiritual direction (also “nones” and “dones”). Maybe you wouldn’t put yourself in one of those categories but you are experiencing a shift in your beliefs; in this case the same would be true. 

Maybe you may define what you are going through as a faith mid-life crisis or even just a desire for something different. You may even just be bored but aren’t ready to give up. Your deep desire for more is exactly what a spiritual director is trained to walk through with you. 

For many hearing God in the midst of their daily life is difficult. If you are ready to commit some intentional time to really listening then you are ready for spiritual direction. 

Often times, you will meet with a spiritual director once a month. Sometimes this may be more, especially early on in your relationship.

Read Next: What should I ask a potential Spiritual Director?