Guest Blogger, Dr. Ann Randerson
In my last post, I wrote about my walk in my local park on Whitsun Monday to get some fresh air and inspiration. Nature is a healthy option to combat stress and fatigue and it nourishes my soul. I wrote about the obstacles, inspirations and insights I experienced on this walk.
In our capacity as spiritual directors, we help our clients, recipients of spiritual direction and allies, understand the spiritual meaning that permeates their lives, including obstacles that may suddenly arise. We do our best to provide sacred space and quiet, contemplative moments to help our clients discern their most important questions. During a spiritual direction session, brief moments of divine light and love may illuminate a client's thought process, bringing awareness to what they should or should not do at any given moment. Sometimes, all that is needed is a moment of silence and reflection.
In our practice, even in online sessions, we strive to provide our clients with a safe and accessible space to help them understand the most pressing issues that arise in their spiritual, professional, or personal lives. For this reason, we typically adopt our clients' specific terminology regarding how they refer to God, such as God, the Holy Source of Wisdom, etc. Also, like many of my colleagues, I respect the fact that some of my clients do not want to identify with theistic terminology or ideology.
Insight and reflection, along with a great deal of patience, can help us decide what is right for ourselves and our loved ones—whether to act, react, and respond according to what we feel deep inside, what we're feeling in the moment, and what presents itself along the way. But despite the best intentions and planning, sometimes things can unexpectedly get derailed, like my father-in-law's heart attack and sudden memory loss and the strain it put on the whole family, especially his wife, who unexpectedly and constantly assumed the role of caregiver.
Just last week, two of my friends experienced great loss through chronic illness and the sudden death of a spouse. It is so difficult to overcome the shock, pain and grief that comes with such devastating times. Illness, accidents and death are events most of us don't want to experience or talk about, but they will happen to most of us or our loved ones at some point. Such is life. But despite the intense sadness and grief that comes from loss, life is still beautiful. That's why it's important to remember to cherish the moments and things we have, like the tall grass and fragrant flowers of spring.
I am grateful for the inspiration I received in the park on Whitsun Monday. As I sit at my computer and type these words, admiring the lush grass and wildflowers blooming there, I hope this glimpse of my life in Belgium resonates with you. I wish you and your loved ones peace and good health.
I would like to extend a special thank you to Teresa Blythe for the opportunity to contribute to Spiritual Direction 101.
Dr. Anne Randerson graduated from the Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction Apprenticeship Training Program in January 2024. Anne lives in Brussels, Belgium and is a spiritual director, author, mindfulness-based transition coach, teacher of meditation practice and creative expression, and a member of Spiritual Directors International (SDI). In 2003, Anne completed her PhD in Human Life Studies after six years of study in Northern Japan. Her dissertation was titled “Human Lifestyles and Sensitivity to Nature: A Comparative Study of Japan and the West from a Religious Perspective”. Anne has lived in five countries, speaks six languages, and currently offers online sessions to spiritual directors of various faiths, cultures, languages, and backgrounds. She is especially welcoming to those from LGBTQIA+, neurodiverse (including ADHD), global and creative communities, and those facing chronic illness, grief, and loss. Ann also provides spiritual direction for interfaith groups, nature-based meditation retreats, and will soon be leading an international pilgrimage. To contact Ann, visit https://evocativesoul.com or email info@evocativesoul.com.
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