Paths to Contemplation - 55

What if you cannot find a spiritual director?

Regardless of whether one can find a suitable director, the goals of spiritual direction are still important for anyone who is actively seeking to be found by God: 1) accountability; 2) discernment of God’s action and 3) responding appropriately to God’s action; and 4) receiving encouragement and prayer support.  The deeper a soul is brought into relationship with God, the more important direction becomes, particularly if the soul begins to experience contemplative gifts or enters the Night of the Senses.  But it is not always possible to find a suitable director.  What other steps can someone take to try to gain the advantages of direction when a director cannot be found?

Even if a compatible spiritual director is available, and especially if one is not, a “soul friend,” or spiritual companion can be of immense value.  A soul friend is someone who can listen compassionately and non-judgmentally to what is happening with you spiritually.  The soul friend is someone who can pray with you when you need prayers, someone who can share your joys and your sorrows on your pilgrimage.  The difference between a soul friend and a spiritual director is that a director generally has more training and experience in spirituality, and will often know of resources, such as books, workshops, or prayer techniques that might assist a particular directee.   The director can, and should, tailor his or her advice to the specific temperament and life situation of the directee, and the director can do so because he or she can draw on her training and experience in fashioning such advice.

But we are not meant to travel our spiritual journeys alone.  A spiritual companion who does nothing more than listen to, and pray with, you can help you to clarify how God is acting in your life and how your might respond appropriately in order to cooperate most effectively with God.

Reading is also often helpful.  You can read spiritual classics like the works of Teresa of Avila or John of the Cross, or you might read works that use more contemporary language and modes of expression.  A suggested reading list is given in Appendix – .  This list is by no means exhaustive, and it does not take into account any special interests that you may have, such as healing prayer or the religious formation of children.  If you feel you are called to some particular ministry, then you will, no doubt, want to read more about that ministry to prepare yourself to exercise it more faithfully and to listen attentively for any special work that God might want of you.

And, as always, the Sacraments and worship with a faith community are powerful aids to gain strength and advice for spiritual growth.

Always remember that whether you can find a spiritual director, or not, God will never abandon you.  God wants to transform you into what God has called all human beings to become, his lovers, united to him in intimacy and grace, sharing his life, coming to know him as he knows us.