Spiritual Disciplines for Spiritual Directors

For centuries, Christ followers have sought places of silence and solitude in order to hear God’s voice more clearly. They also have sought the spiritual wisdom of those who have spent time in silence and solitude. Today is no different. To face the challenges of ministry, clergy, lay leaders, missionaries, and leaders of non-profit organizations seek places of refuge to prayerfully listen and discern. Quiet Oaks, the retreat space for Come, Learn, Rest Ministries, is a place where ministry leaders escape the daily rigors of ministry and find rest for their souls in the practice of spiritual direction. More specifically, Quiet Oaks invites directors to come, discuss their unique ministry challenges, and try new spiritual practices. Time at Quiet Oaks or another retreat space can help spiritual directors become refreshed and renewed for ministry. It is not always feasible to physically go to places of silence and solitude for spiritual renewal. Consequently, this project identifies specific spiritual practices that consecrate spiritual directors in their ministry of spiritual direction. After specifically defining and reflecting theologically on spiritual direction through the readings on ancient spirituality, Ignatian spirituality, and the thoughts of Dallas Willard, a theology of spiritual direction will be gleaned. With this firmly established, an exploration of spiritual practices for spiritual directors can be made. To fully implement this project, two small groups of spiritual directors will meet over a period of four months to discuss spiritual practices. The first month’s discussions surround spiritual practices in general. In subsequent months, participants will share reflections on a specific spiritual practice identified within the theological construct of the paper. The final assessment of these reflections will identify three specific spiritual practices that Come, Learn, Rest Ministries can encourage spiritual directors to practice as a means that offer a more efficacious spiritual direction experience