It seems with such a short summer this year I am hearing, "my, where does time go?" This comment gives me pause to consider "time" in a different context, that of facing our mortality. Well,we all are facing our mortality, some sooner than others. Spiritual direction is a wonderful arena in which to discuss this journey.Have you ever had a conversation with an individual and something brought you to this topic and with it one's spirituality and relationship with the divine? A friend mentioned to me "the older I have become, the more focused I am regarding my relationship with God." This conversation also brought up other concerns of: prayer, heaven, purgatory, and other things.
Several years ago my younger sister had a fourteen month nightmare with cancer before she died, which became a very poignant time for several of us because of all her fears, questions and "getting right with God." Sharing these discussions with her challenged some of my own beliefs and brought me much closer to my own heart; it was also a blessing for me to have a spiritual director to talk things over with.
By having a spiritual companion a dying person can come to a true peace if they have been allowed to express their concerns. This allows them to come to their own convictions. The atmosphere of spiritual direction trusts that the divine entity is the real spiritual director in the session not imposing personal beliefs onto the dying person. Spiritual direction can facilitate a very calm, accepting atmosphere as that person transitions from this world into the next.
Because time does fly, especially as we get older, no matter how long we may have, spiritual direction can be invaluable. There doesn't have to be a major situation, like death, facing us; it could simply be that time in life when these concerns come to mind. If you yourself wonder who to turn to or know of someone who might appreciate a listening ear, consider spiritual direction. It could be a huge gift!
I am a spiritual director with offices in Two Rivers and Crivitz, WI. If you would like to do spiritual direction with me, contact me at 920.793.3530. To read more or to subscribe to my blog, see:MollyLaFond.com
