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Geelong Deanery |
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Spiritual DirectionFor several years now the ‘Retreat in Daily Life’ has been offered to the people of Geelong. The purpose of these retreats is to help those who take part to have a deeper experience of prayer through reflecting on the Scriptures and come closer to the Lord. It is very much a retreat in ‘ daily life’ – you continue with your ordinary daily routine, and devote some time each day to prayer with the help of a Scripture passage. Taking part in such a retreat program can be an excellent introduction to the benefits of receiving spiritual direction on some regular basis. As Christians we are called to an ever-deepening relationship with God as we struggle with the flow of life, and can take great heart from the words of Jesus: ‘I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly’ (John 10:10). We are constantly reminded that we need the support of other people: parents, teachers, tradespeople, friends, professional services, etc. And this is no less so than in the area of our faith life. It is only in recent times that people have sought the support of a spiritual director like they would seek the professional services of a doctor, counsellor or psychologist. So, what is spiritual direction? One helpful definition suggests that it is ‘an interpersonal relationship in which one person assists others to reflect on their own experience in the light of who they are called to become in fidelity to the gospel’. This suggests that the ministering person (director, helper) is directly concerned with a person’s actual experience of his/her relationship with God. So the focus of this kind of spiritual direction is the relationship itself between God and the person, and the emphasis is on religious experience and not on ideas about God. It is not about advice giving and problem solving, but implies that the one seeking direction engages in an ongoing journey of searching the heart, the personal core of one’s being, in fidelity to God’s presence in the their daily life. This presumes a prayer relationship in which the directee communicates all of him/herself: feelings, moods, thoughts, desires, hopes and so on. In direction the helping minister walks with the directee as he/she deepens their intimacy with God. The director is like a filter guiding others to experience God’s love, as St Paul reminded the Ephesians when he prayed for them: ‘Out of his infinite glory may God give you the power through his spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith’ (Ephesians 3:16–17). Why seek direction? For some people the search for ‘spiritual’ consolation to life’s problems is found by calling into a centre that advertises psychic readings, tarot card predictions, and the like, as can be found in Bell Park. But for those on the Christian journey, desiring to deepen their relationship with God, support through regular spiritual direction is readily available. For those interested the ‘Retreat in Daily Life’ program is an excellent place to start. Those wishing to find out more about spiritual direction can contact me at Holy Family Church, Bell Park, phone 5278 1343 or fax 5278 4618. Fr Gerry Spillane |
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