Journey of the Heart

Spiritual Direction

You may be unfamiliar with the term, "Spiritual Direction." It is the term generally used for one on one spiritual mentoring by one Christian of another. But there is more to it than that. Spiritual direction is a formal covenant arrangement between a director and his/her directee for the purpose of enabling the directee to find the spiritual path to which God is calling him/her. The one being directed, who has sought out a director, engages in this effort as a means for him/her to grow spiritually as he/she is helped to discern God's will for him/herself.

In someways, spiritual direction resembles psychological counseling, but it is not. It is spiritual counseling, but not. Spiritual direction is a walking with, a journeying together. It is one pilgrim helping another to find the path of righteousness. It is soul-walking, hand-in-hand. The one called "director," is not the director, but an instrument in the hands of The Director, the Holy Spirit. The human director, with some gift of discernment, is a fellow traveler, who has become sensitive to the traveling of other journeyers to lead, to prod, to entice, to "push," to yank from briars, to help up stumbled ones, to see God standing before them. The director is Balaam's donkey (Numbers 22: 21-35) who speaks because he/she has been given the gift to help others to see God or some adversity standing before the journeyer for him/herself.

The director is a mentor, but at the same time is being mentored by his/her own director. He/she is a soul-friend to whom one's very soul may be revealed without fear or consequence of judgment. The director is a loving, gentle, but probing and challenging sounding board, allowing one to hear oneself and that "still, small voice" of God calling one into God's eternal future.

On the more concrete side, spiritual direction is a one-on-one, sacred meeting of 45 to 60 minutes (sometimes more). At the first session, both director and directee discern if they are appropriate for each other, and if so, a short-term covenant is worked out. This covenant would include the number of sessions decided on by the parties before an evaluation would take place to see if the relationship needs or ought to continue. An affordable fee is determined, dates are set, and the responsibilities of each person are addressed, meaning each agrees to be present for each session and on time, and how much notice is needed if unforeseen circumstances prevent either one from being present. Other details might also be addressed.

Dr. Leaver is a certified spiritual director, having more then ten years experience in the field. He is willing to travel short distances if there is a need to help accommodate a directee at some mutually agreed to site. Additional remuneration for travel is appropriate in that case. The first meeting together will always be held at Dr. Leaver's location. Directions will be provided when you call. There is no fee for this first session together. 

To reach Dr. Leaver, send e-mail to: revdrrgl@verizon.net

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