Spiritual Direction

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barbfromtucson

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Hi everyone,

Not sure if this is the proper forum for this topic, but I have a question…it’s one of those “always been too afraid/embarrassed to ask…”-type of questions.

I know that Spiritual Direction is a good thing that everyone should have.

I am deathly afraid of it.

What if what I’ve been doing all these past several years is not what I’m supposed to be doing?

Is this a ‘normal’ feeling about Spiritual Direction???

Thanks much!

Barbara
 
barbfromtucson,

Your feeling is valid, but may not be right. You are obviously “attached” to a vocation, ministry or service you enjoy. Proper Spiritual Direction is impartial guidance of your faith walk with Jesus Christ. It will help you see the Lord’s work in your life and help you better align your calling to your transformed heart.

The Lord has a plan for each and every one of his members. The proper position of our heart should be surrender. Surrender to His will for my life, which includes my calling to vocation, ministry, or service. Surrender gives the Lord permission to place you where you best fit in His body. If we are in the right place, we are fulfilled, and He is glorified!

We as Christians are not islands, and it can be damaging to make life decisions in solitude; outside the body of Christ. Jesus Christ, through his bride; the Catholic church has provided us a gift beyond compare in his sacraments, word, and tradition. Proper Spiritual direction is inclusive, and not exclusive of the body. Good Spiritual Direction is in itself a gift from the Lord.

I strongly suggest Thomas Dubay’s excellent book on Spiritual Direction. It can be found on Amazon.

My prayers are with you!

Peace.
 
Our true spiritual path is to follow our heart and our “personal legend” - If you have been truly following your heart then you are in your spiritual path but if you have been a “follower” of a religion, tradition, or cult because of societal norm and rules that somebody else has defined then you probably better take a journey inside of your soul and look for the Truth…
 
mercuryinfire said:
Our true spiritual path is to follow our heart and our “personal legend” - If you have been truly following your heart then you are in your spiritual path but if you have been a “follower” of a religion, tradition, or cult because of societal norm and rules that somebody else has defined then you probably better take a journey inside of your soul and look for the Truth…
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That “somebody else” is Jesus Christ.
 
No. That “somebody else” is what it reads: ANYBODY beside you…
 
Perhaps you should re-read my post and try to understand the message… nobody but your heart knows the path to your personal legend and that “nobody” includes Jesus Christ.
 
Your post “smells” of the occult. One, your account name, mercuryinfire seems to refer to astrology and the term you used twice so far “personal legend” is mostly found coming from books like “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho who’s idea’s stink of the occult. I’m sorry barbfromtucson for the derailment , but I thought this needed to be addressed. Maybe mercuryinfire can start a thread on their idea’s of spiritual direction. Tim
 
mercuryinfire said:
Perhaps you should re-read my post and try to understand the message… nobody but your heart knows the path to your personal legend and that “nobody” includes Jesus Christ.
Click to expand...
I understand what you are saying and if a persons heart was in the right place such advice might be sound. This is not the case however and can be very very dangerous.

Many people’s hearts are not in the right place.

Ex. 1: For instance I watched a documentary once on child molesters in treatment centers and some of them said that in their own heart it felt like the right thing to do.

Ex. 2: My own brothers heart is not in the right place unfortunately. He believes that he should not be close to anyone ever because they could die and that would hurt him. When he follows his heart he goes into complete isolation.

Ex. 3: Hitlers heart told him he was doing the right thing by killing the Jews, Polish, and Gypsies among others.

Ex. 4: KKK members think that they believe in their hearts that they and their ideas are correct.

I know these are extreme examples but I needed you to see this point about telling people to follow their hearts. **Your heart and soul need to be spiritually healthy before you can safely follow them. ** And I think you know, in your heart, that not everyone is spiritually healthy and I am sure you can even think of a few examples among the people you know.

How does one become spiritually healthy?
This is where religion comes into play and the bible. The bible is full of examples of what it means to be spiritually healthy and how to be spiritually healthy. “Do not kill” “Do not lie” “Do not steal” and so on. Love your neighbors, Love yourself, Be selfless, be considerate, look to Jesus for a perfect example of selflessness…

In summary - yes we are all on spiritual paths. But we are all not on good spiritual paths headed in the right direction.

If you wish to make sure you are headed in the right direction you need religion.
 
I would suggest that you find yourself a Spiritual Director, and just before you begin spiritual direction with your director, make a general Confession to your Confessor, going over all things as far back as you can remember (not just asking for absolution :eek: with no mention of any sin!!:eek: )
Then take up your spiritual direction from day 1 as day 1!! Start from that moment onwards leaving the past to the mercy of God and the future to the path he decides to reveal to you.

God Bless your efforts.
 
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