Shonda Carter
AKA "A Heavenly Hearing Aid"
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(Pending) Doctorate in Spiritual Formation & Soul Care, Talbot School of Theology
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M.A. Spiritual Formation,
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MTS Master of Theological Studies
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Certification in Spiritual Direction
A Christian Spiritual director is a trained listener who accompanies you on your spiritual journey, helping guide you through spiritual blindspots (not seeing God anywhere or only where you expect to see Him) to spiritual sight (finding God everywhere, especially where we least expect it).
What is Spiritual Direction?
Through regular meetings of conversation and prayer, the spiritual director helps another notice the work of God in his or her life and respond to it as promptly and consistently as possible.
Spiritual direction is a key discipline for Christian leaders because it offers a safe place for attending to one's ongoing process of transformation and surrender to God outside the public view and without any other agenda.
The director is present to assist the directee in paying attention to the invitations of the Holy Spirit and to support the directee in making a faithful response.
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To receive spiritual direction is to recognize that God does not solve our problems or answer all our questions, but leads us closer to the mystery of our existence where all questions cease.
--Henri Nouwen
How Does Spiritual Direction Differ From Other Disciplines/Relationships?
Spiritual direction is not the same as mentoring or disciple-ing. Those types of relationships usually focus more on moral, educational and vocational guidance in a particular faith tradition. Although hints of mentoring and discipleship can cross paths within a director/directee relationship a true spiritual director is someone who can listen and provide spiritual guidance beyond any personal need to defend or uphold any particular tradition or religious institution. Spiritual directors, are there solely to attend to the directee. There is a willingness on the part of the directee to submit to the guidance of the director because of the inner authority they possess and their ability to listen (both to the directee and the Holy Spirit) not to be a student of preaching or teaching.
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PEOPLE START TO HEAL THE
MOMENT THEY FEEL HEARD.
- CHERYL RICHARDSON
"The soul is like a wild animal—tough, resilient, resourceful, savvy. But it is also shy…. if we will walk quietly into the woods, sit patiently by the base of the tree, and fade into our surroundings, the wild animal we seek might put in an appearance."
--Parker Palmer
