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Welcome to Spiritual Journey Press!  Let's explore our journeys together!  Use the mail order form  to purchase Endless Possibilities and other Spiritual Journey Press products. 

For a description of the Endless Possibilities journey phases referred to in this devotion, go to the Journey Phases page.  Earlier articles can be accessed by clicking the buttons on the left.  

Most spiritual directors and people interested in Catholic spirituality are familiar with the writings and wisdom of Thomas H. Green.  His numerous books address the joys and challenges of growing spiritually, and speak to the needs of both clergy and laity.  My personal favorite has been When the Well Runs Dry: Prayer Beyond the Beginnings.  Green's newest book is The Friend of the Bridegroom: Spiritual Direction and the Encounter with Christ (Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 2000).  

The Friend of the Bridegroom serves as a non-technical introduction to spiritual direction for people who are considering entering into such a relationship or who are training to become spiritual directors.  He surveys some basic models of direction (essentially, directive versus non-directive) and explains the difference between spiritual direction, pastoral counseling, and psychological therapy (chapters one and two).  In chapter three, Green describes five essential qualities that a directee should look for in a spiritual director: compatibility, shared vision, objectivity, superior listening skills, and confidentiality. 

Green covers introductory issues with clarity, and he generates little controversy until he considers the possibility of a sixth qualification: greater journey experience.  He posits that "being ahead of the directee on the spiritual journey is not essential but is ideal" (p. 65).  I respectfully disagree for three reasons. 

First, Green cites Teresa of Avila's approval of the role less experienced directors played in her life.  However, this is a case where the exception proves the rule; Teresa is a saint for more than one reason, and few of us have her capacity to grow in adverse circumstances.  The only reasons I can imagine for  speaking to a less experienced spiritual director would be for encouragement's sake or because they had special expertise in a specialized area.

Second, St. John of the Cross (the subject of chapter 4 - the book's best) prefers spiritual directors to be more experienced than their directees and notes that a director's inexperience can be harmful (pages 74-76, 84).  At key points in our lives, both Green and I were drawn to St. John's writings precisely because he was more experienced than we were in relation to prayer, the dark night experience and the journey toward spiritual maturity (pages 73-74, 80). 

Third, the quality of being ahead of a person on the journey is not less essential than Green's other five qualities, nor are the five as essential as he makes them out to be.  In actuality, all six are ideals.  Most of us have profited from spiritual directors who imperfectly modeled one or more of the five "essential" qualities.  I can even recall a seminary advisor who virtually ignored my opinions and feelings, and nevertheless was used by God to guide me to a perfect pastoral field education opportunity!  Personally, I would prefer to take counsel from a more experienced director with whom I did not feel particularly compatible than from a friend who was less experienced in journeying than I am.  Even Green admits that he prefers more experienced directors: 

"If the director is a bit ahead of me on the journey to divine intimacy, she or he can speak much more confidently in helping me, the directee, to evaluate my own experience.  And I will have much more confidence in her judgment if I know that she speaks from experience" (pages 67-68).

A Spiritual Director's Experience and Endless Possibilities

In relation to Endless Possibilities, a spiritual director's experience can be measured in a number of different ways.  

First, the major thrust of Endless Possibilities is that our lives bear the imprint of the divine imagination.  God guides us and expects us to fulfill his will.  Specifically, God calls us to embrace both mission and redemptive level journeys so that we might bring his grace and love to the world and and so that we might become more Christ-like.  Accordingly, a spiritual director working with Endless Possibilities should be able to help others:

1. Distinguish between the two levels (mission and redemptive) and be sensitive to how they affect one another.
2. See how their journeys, both past and present,  are related to each other.
3. Identify the flow of the five phases of a journey and address each phase's key issues.
4. Discern both mission and redemptive level journey themes, as expressed by the phase 2 call.
5. Discover positive and negative recurring themes.
6. Appreciate how their journeys are linked to the journeys of other people.

Second, there is no substitute for personal experience in journeying.  The "I've been there" factor is crucial for confidently guiding others through pitfalls and challenges of their journeys.  Prior experience in a specific journey theme is more important for redemptive level themes (such as negotiating the "dark night of the soul" journey) than for mission themes.   A good spiritual director should have a deep awareness of the journey themes which have been manifested throughout his/her life, since they can bias or blind the director.  More positively, personal experience provides the director with a reservoir of examples which can illuminate journey issues.

Third, Endless Possibilities is intended to foster a sense of mystical appreciation in us as we journey faithfully.  Accordingly,  a joyous and playful attitude toward life is an essential fruit of a person who really comprehends the Endless Possibilities world-view.  I would never listen to a spiritual director who didn't like to laugh - at himself/herself and at life (in all of its crazy manifestations).   Endless Possibilities - and this can be said of any authentic mystical perspective - deepens the awe of life instead of killing it through reductive dissection.   Life is truly fascinating.  Exploring one's journeys is fun and interesting, and experience in the process should produce a heart that is filled with joy and also capable of absorbing or embracing the sadness of life. 

Copyright (c) 2001 by Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer.  All rights reserved.  This article may be distributed for private use only.

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