"Holy Listening: The Spiritual Direction Movement
from The Christian Century
by Amy Frykholm
"When Angela Reed was in seminary, she found her studies intellectually stimulating, but she felt that something was missing. Seminary life involved "a great deal of talk of how we know about God, but almost nothing of knowing God, and that grated on my soul," Reed recalls. When she heard about an opportunity to meet with a spiritual director, she jumped at the chance. . . To continue reading this article, click here.
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"Focus and Linger"
from The Christian Century
by Sandra Lommasson
At age 29 I cried out to an empty universe in the first authentic prayer of my life: "God, if you are, I need help!"
The help came in ways I couldn't imagine. Most significant was my involvement in a self-help process for family members and friends of alcoholics, and I drank from that well like a woman dying of thirst. God became real, a palpable and living presence, and I found practical ways to live this relationship, gradually finding my way into a congregation with which I could share the story that was becoming central to my life. . . . To continue reading this article, click here.
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"Spiritual Direction"
from Religion and Ethics Newsweekly
Bob Abernathy, host: From time to time on this program we have referred to spiritual direction and spiritual directors. Recently, the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Washington gave us permission to record a full spiritual direction session with two of its most experienced directors, one seeking the help of the other. That is not unusual, they say—like one doctor treating another.
Spiritual directors say what they do is more like prayer than therapy, not so much counseling as helping people sense God’s presence. Every spiritual direction session is probably different, but this is what happened in the conversation we covered. . . . To continue reading this article and watch a partial video of a spiritual direction session, click here.
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Essential books on spiritual direction
from The Christian Century
by Richard A. Kauffman
The print version of the Century's recent feature on spiritual direction included an annotated book list, which I compiled based on recommendations from three professors in the discipline: Marlene Kropf (Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary), Marcus Smucker (Eastern Mennonite University) and Angela Reed (Baylor University). Here are those selections: To continue reading this article, click here.
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Books on Spirituality and Spiritual Direction.
from The Christian Century
by Amy Frykholm
"When Angela Reed was in seminary, she found her studies intellectually stimulating, but she felt that something was missing. Seminary life involved "a great deal of talk of how we know about God, but almost nothing of knowing God, and that grated on my soul," Reed recalls. When she heard about an opportunity to meet with a spiritual director, she jumped at the chance. . . To continue reading this article, click here.
----------
"Focus and Linger"
from The Christian Century
by Sandra Lommasson
At age 29 I cried out to an empty universe in the first authentic prayer of my life: "God, if you are, I need help!"
The help came in ways I couldn't imagine. Most significant was my involvement in a self-help process for family members and friends of alcoholics, and I drank from that well like a woman dying of thirst. God became real, a palpable and living presence, and I found practical ways to live this relationship, gradually finding my way into a congregation with which I could share the story that was becoming central to my life. . . . To continue reading this article, click here.
----------
"Spiritual Direction"
from Religion and Ethics Newsweekly
Bob Abernathy, host: From time to time on this program we have referred to spiritual direction and spiritual directors. Recently, the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Washington gave us permission to record a full spiritual direction session with two of its most experienced directors, one seeking the help of the other. That is not unusual, they say—like one doctor treating another.
Spiritual directors say what they do is more like prayer than therapy, not so much counseling as helping people sense God’s presence. Every spiritual direction session is probably different, but this is what happened in the conversation we covered. . . . To continue reading this article and watch a partial video of a spiritual direction session, click here.
----------
Essential books on spiritual direction
from The Christian Century
by Richard A. Kauffman
The print version of the Century's recent feature on spiritual direction included an annotated book list, which I compiled based on recommendations from three professors in the discipline: Marlene Kropf (Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary), Marcus Smucker (Eastern Mennonite University) and Angela Reed (Baylor University). Here are those selections: To continue reading this article, click here.
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Books on Spirituality and Spiritual Direction.
- Barry, William.and William Connolly. The Practice of Spiritual Direction.
- Bakke, Jeanette. Holy Invitations: Exploring Spiritual Direction.
- Bloom, Anthony. Living Prayer and Courage to Pray.
- Dougherty, Rose Mary. Group Spiritual Direction: Community for Discernment.
- Edwards,Tilden. Spiritual Director, Spiritual Companion and Living in the Presence: Disciplines for the Spiritual Heart.
- Foster, R. Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith.
- Fischer, Kathleen, Women at the Well: Feminist Perspectives on Spiritual Direction.
- Francis de Sales. Introduction to the Devout Life.
- Guenther, Margaret, Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction.
- Hart, Thomas. The Art of Christian Listening.
- Holt, Bradley. Thirsty for God: A Brief History of Christian Spirituality.
- Ignatius Loyola. Spiritual Exercises.
- John of the Cross. Ascent of Mt. Carmel; Dark Night of the Soul; etc.
- Johnson, Ben Campbell. Listening For God: Spiritual Directions for Searching Christians.
- Lamott, Anne. Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith.
- Merton, Thomas. Spiritual Direction and Meditation
- Miller, Wendy. Learning to Listen: A Guide for Spiritual Friends.
- Myers, Lisa. Companions in Community: Resources for Group Spiritual Guidance.
- Nouwen, Henri. Reaching Out: Three Movement of the Spiritual Life.
- Petersen, Eugene H. Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer.
- Sheehan, Barbara A. Partners in Covenant: The Art of Spiritual Direction.
- Teresa of Avila. Interior Castle; Life; etc.
- Thompson, Marjorie J. Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life.
- Vest, Norvene: Gathered in the Word: Praying the Scripture in Small Groups.
