“As I see it, our job as spiritual companions is twofold, and the two halves are intertwined. On the one hand, we help the person see that their suffering is personal, individual, and genuine—that a shattering has indeed been experienced, whether in body, soul, or both. The individual suffering needs to be held with exquisite care, love, and spaciousness. On the other hand, though, I believe that it is our task to slowly and gently invoke the idea that it is a suffering that is shared by many others around the world.”
Volume 26, Number 2
June 2020
In This Issue
Articles
Victoria Londergan
To begin, I want to offer the context in which I share my experience as a spiritual director and clinically trained chaplain. Of course, it would be most insightful if I shared my own spiritual journey with you, but alas, that would be a story too lengthy to tell. Instead, I will trust that you will identify for yourself how my journey forms me and draws me forward. Let me state clearly at the start that I am inspired to write not so much because I am a talented writer but because I am nearly overflowing with all I have to say.
More Articles
Margaret Shu-Fen Chang
People are on the path of relating awareness of emotion and cognitive patterns in their mind, then understanding the direction in which God is leading, and finally making an election or a decision in their life to move towards God.
Poetry
Focus
Reviews
by Pema Chödrön
(Reviewed by Kate Clark)
by Rhonda V. Magee
(Reviewed by Amelia Stratton-Smith)
Edited by Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo
(Reviewed by Monique CM Keffer, MA)
by Carl McColman
(Reviewed by Greg Richardson)
Publisher: Spiritual Directors International
Executive Director: Rev. Seifu Anil Singh-Molares, MTS
Editor: Nick Wagner
Media Review Editor: Pegge Erkeneff
Art Editor and Graphic Designer: Tobias Becker
Founding Editor: Susan S. Jorgensen, MA
Poetry Editor: Jennifer (Jinks) Hoffmann
Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction is published in March, June, September, and December. Presence offers a forum among diverse people and spiritual traditions for the exploration of present and future trends in the art and ministry of spiritual direction. Presence is grounded in the belief that our deepest calling is to be present to one another as we share the gift of ourselves. Presence strives to articulate the essential elements of contemplative practices, formation, and training; to encourage accountability; and to develop clear ethical guidelines. Presence supports a global contemplative dialog of spiritual care and compassion for others, ourselves, and the whole cosmos. ISSN 1081-7662.
Opinions expressed in this journal are the opinions of the authors and advertisers and may not represent the opinions of Spiritual Directors International, the coordinating council, or the editors. All biblical quotations are from the NRSV unless otherwise noted.
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