Holy Listening

This book by Margaret Guenther dives into the mystique and fuzziness around the term 'spiritual direction' to draw out clear guidelines as to what it is, where it can happen and how it can happen well in these contexts, and what people should be sensitive to when being given or attempting to give spiritual direction. It has the feel of a book which packs an intellectual punch (as, it does) but is eminently readable, practical, and resists obtuse theorizing, always coming back to the relationality of the people involved and God above. While this will not be discussed at length in my summary/commentary below (as to those who see the linkages it will be obvious enough and for those who don't I can't justify elongating this blogpost into yet another feminist-theology polemic which probably won't convince anyone of owt anyway, or even, wouldn't if people read this), there is a final chapter exploring some of the particular strengths of women in giving spiritual direction to both genders.

   First - what is spiritual direction? Guenther talks about it in a very nuanced and person-centred way, so it is almost certainly an oversimplification for me to say this, but it is basically the process of helping another person, whatever stage of faith they are at, best discern ways in which God is calling them to do or be particular things, whether that is to become a Christian at all or pursue particular ministries. Needless to say this process will involve deep committed listening, both to God through scripture and the promptings of the Holy Spirit alongside the person themselves in their own complexities and context.
   This process (described in the book's subtitle as an 'art', which resonates) is then discussed in three distinct but complementary and in places overlapping roles or forms;

• Hospitality - through showing it, unconditionally and inclusively, we help create real spaces and times in which people can be themselves authentically, and so draw out underlying aspects of character or need which can then be responded to. Also in the doing of this we model the love of God for all peoples.
• Teacher - in developing questions and gently leading conversations to the suggested answers given by God, we help inform and direct people's thoughts, and thus actions and so journeys, more into line with an overall narrative from Heaven which is fully transcendent over all earthly knowledge. Theology here takes a backseat to will.
• Midwife - as elements of people's character and life-journey lead them closer to the core of questions they are wrestling with, closer to God, closer to particular kinds of ministry, etc, through the combined processes of deep listening, open conversation and nurturing mutual exploration, a spiritual director can help a person 'birth' their own realisations of certain things and so empower them toward new paths.

   As I've said, there is a final chapter on the speciality of women in this kind of activity which, while I will not discuss here, I think says a great deal of potent common-sense on the ways in which listening and mutuality are life-givingly important, yet which because of patriarchal sociocultural structures and norms men (who still dominate the clergy) are generally less well-equipped to do.

   In any case, if you are a spiritual leader who is to any degree responsible for the souls of people under your care, then I would wholeheartedly recommend this book, as it contains many highly insightful stories as examples of how it can be done well, badly, in-betweenly, how God uses both people to sharpen each other, how the very process itself can be wholesome in the practice of discernment over dogma.