In spiritual direction, one person helps another pay attention to God’s presence. A spiritual director acts as a companion, listening for the movement of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life. Though pastors daily do this work, they don’t often have someone as a companion on their own faith journeys. Spiritual directors can provide that spiritual support for pastors or for any Christian seeking greater spiritual direction.
“Spiritual direction is normally carried out in the context of a one-to-one trusting relationship or a small group,” explains Ellen Ratmeyer, a spiritual director and member of the Reformed Church in America. “Spiritual direction happens during scheduled meetings, usually once a month for about one hour, and provides an opportunity for the director and directee to seek to enter a prayerful atmosphere where together they can be attentive to the Holy Spirit, who is in fact the real Director. Spiritual direction is for beginners who do not know where they are on the journey, for spiritually mature people who have reached a crisis point and need to refocus their lives, and for people who have grown weary in their obedience and seek renewal of faith and love.”