Spiritual Direction Blog

I determined several weeks ago that tonight’s topic for the Circle of Trust at Franciscan Center would be “Grace.” And my question to consider would be what is it about hearing a rendition of Amazing Grace that brings up a special emotion in (nearly) all of us?  On this I find myself tongue tied, like St. Augustine: “What is Grace? I know until you ask me; when you ask me, I do not know.”

And as is usual for me, I’ve put off really considering how to do my presentation until now, not long before it’s to be. But, by Grace, I am generally blessed by some inspiration arriving by email or found on the web.  The good fortune this time came in the form of a web site, The Art of Grace, to which I am indebted for many good ideas and inspirations.

I spent several hours yesterday and today totally reworking the web site. The new site is, I think, a lot more user friendly and useful than the old. Please take a look, and comment if you wish!

I’ve determined to make more space for my spiritual direction practice, and here’s a first step!

In this season of graditude I give thanks for my family, my friends, my spiritual community, and for the opportunity so support others in their spiritual quest.  The on going Men’s Circle of Trust at Franciscan Spiritual Center continues to draw men from many places in their spiritual lives.  I am blessed by my expanding Spiritual Direction practice. Thank you to all who have been a part of my jouney!

The Season of Epiphany begins this Wednesday, January 6, the traditional date in the West for the Feast of Epiphany and lasts until Tuesday, February 16, the day before Ash Wednesday, 2010. The feast of the Epiphany takes its name from the Greek “epiphania,” which denotes the visit of a god to the earth and is celebrated in thankfulness for the time when Christ’s birth was revealed.

Spiritually, the season is a particularly appropriate time to contemplate our own personal epiphany, or epiphanies.

Dictionary.reference.com’s third definition of epiphany is “a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.”

What was or is your personal epiphany? For me, one was the very definite time, in 1993, when my spiritual understanding took a quantum leap toward what it is today.  Another was when it became very clear do me that I was to become a spiritual director. And a third was when I realized I was ready to become one.

How about you?

I’ve started this blog in the hope of drawing commentary on ideas around Spiritual Direction. Here are several reasons to post here or comment!

• Are you interested in spiritual direction (as a Director or “Directee”)?
• Wondering about Group Spirituality?
• Have you adventures on your journey you’d like to share?

Let’s get this blog going!!