CCSDN Newsletter: Road Trip with Jesus
by Deb Strahan
NOTE: We sent this newletter to the directors in the Central Conference Spiritual Directors Network but many said they did not receive it. We are trying again with a more clear subject line. It is also possible it went straight to spam folders. If you know of someone who should get this but didn’t, ask them to check their spam folder first. If they still don’t have it, they can reach out to me at melanie.myatt@gmail.com.
The CCSDN Leadership team have been thinking about ways we can help our spiritual directors feel more connected and how we can support you in your ministry. We would like to try a monthly newsletter for our paid members. Each month you can expect some thought, encouragement, reflection, or information about the ministry of spiritual direction and/or what is happening within the CCSDN.
Have you ever been giving spiritual direction and realized God is speaking to you about your life? In a direction session a few years ago I had an image of the directee being on a road trip with Jesus. He explored the image for the rest of our time together that day. Near the end of the session, I heard that Still Small Voice say to me, “Deb, where are you sitting in the car on your road trip with Me?”
In God’s great economy, the message was not just for the directee, but also for me. It is an image I have returned to over and over again to explore in my own life. Sometimes it is about where I am sitting in the car, or how fast we are going, how bumpy the road is, or perhaps my focus is on the scenery.
The image continues to be fruitful for reflection.
Many of us spiritual directors would agree that when we create a sacred space for our directees, God shows up for everyone in the room. With spiritual direction in mind, I invite you into an Examen to look back over the last year. Consider: How did God show up for you during direction sessions?
The Examen is a prayer practice developed by Ignatius of Loyola in the early 1500s. It was intended to be a short prayer, usually around 15 minutes, ideally prayed twice a day. As a result of praying the Examen we start to notice God in our days, in the big and little blessings, and irritations that are often overlooked without some deliberate reflection.
Different types of the Examen can be found on Pray As You Go, YouTube, and in apps such as Reimagining the Examen.
Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ, developed the 5-Rs of praying the Examen:
Relish the moments that went well and all the gifts I have today.
Request the Spirit to lead me through my review of the day.
Review the day.
Repent of any mistakes or failures.
Resolve, in concrete ways, to live tomorrow well.
Here is an Examen prayer that uses the 5-Rs and can be prayed as an end-of-year reflection specific to spiritual direction.
Set aside a space and time when you will not be disturbed. Breathe deeply for a minute or more as you imagine God’s loving gaze on you in this moment.
Invite the Holy Spirit to bring to mind spiritual direction sessions over the last year. What interactions surface and shimmer for you? Where did God clearly show up for you, the director? What did God say to you about your life? Thank God for these. Savor what those times meant for you. How has each encounter with God continued to shape you?
What are some growing edges for you as a director? Did you notice times when you felt bored or impatient with a directee? Were there times when you felt hurt by a directee who stopped coming to direction without a word, or did not keep appointments consistently? Have you felt a desire to gain more training in an area, to better serve your directees or grow as a director?
Under God’s loving gaze, talk to God about these things and listen for God’s voice.
Close with a few minutes of silence as you rest with God.
Some upcoming opportunities for Spiritual Directors:
Saturday, February 10, 2024
Front Porch Zoom Gathering for CCSDN members
Psalm 133 gives us images that describe the blessing of the fellowship and unity among believers. We want to offer spiritual directors the opportunity for that same kind of blessing.
You are invited to a Zoom gathering of spiritual directors on Saturday, February 10. You are welcome to drop in anytime from 1 pm - 2:30 pm. We’ll have a chance to catch up, talk about challenges and blessings, and encourage each other. You are invited to put on your comfy clothes, make something yummy to drink, and hang out with us. Check it out on Zoom!
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Discernment: The Art of Decision Making with Ellen Kogstad
Discernment is both a gift and a spiritual practice that we can hone and refine and expand. Solomon talked about “wisdom in discerning” as a growth model. This growth process has three components: desire, discernment and decisions. Living a life of discernment increases the likelihood that we can make decisions well and experience a life well lived.
Join us in person at the Wilson Abbey in Chicago, or online, on Saturday from 10am to noon for this workshop. The cost is $35. Register by application here.
Saturday, March 9, 2024
Save the Date: Spring Workshop with Elizabeth Pierre
Dr. Elizabeth O. Pierre is Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling and Counseling Psychology at North Park University. She is also a licensed professional counselor (LPC) currently practicing in Chicago. She will be speaking to us about trauma and spiritual direction. How can we as spiritual directors be more sensitive to the ways trauma impacts personalities, behavior, and thought patterns? Join us online on March 9, 2024 from 10am - 12pm. More information about registration will be coming.