[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/theurbanmonk.org\/monkthoughts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/meditation-center-bg-4.png” background_size=”contain” background_position=”top_left” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/theurbanmonk.org\/monkthoughts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/WalnutGrove.jpeg” min_height=”541px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ box_shadow_horizontal=”30vw” box_shadow_vertical=”0px” box_shadow_color=”#a26737″ collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Crimson Text||||||||” header_font_size=”120px” positioning=”relative” position_origin_r=”bottom_left” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”1084px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”450px||||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”60px” header_font_size_phone=”30px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_line_height_tablet=”” header_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_line_height_last_edited=”on|tablet” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” position_origin_r__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” positioning__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” position_origin_f__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” position_origin_a__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” position_origin_r__hover=”bottom_left” positioning__hover=”relative”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”What is it?” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”700px” custom_margin=”5vw||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”Crimson Text||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#a26737″ header_2_font_size=”80px” header_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_font_size_phone=”26px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Karla||||||||” text_font_size=”30px” text_line_height=”1.5em” text_font_size_tablet=”24px” text_font_size_phone=”20px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\u201cDeep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.\u201d \u2014 Psalm 42:7 (NAS)<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Karla||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The psalm above, is a poetic way of saying that the depths of God call to the depths of your soul and vice versa. For many it is a very strange and unknown place to be, let alone to journey into. For this reason a guide or companion is a welcome relationship. This is the awareness, the awakening that happens upon you through spiritual direction.You see God move within you, shift your perspective, restore, and hopefully heal as you navigate with a companion through deep listening.<\/p>\n
The spiritual director\u2019s privilege is to help you explore the depths, identify the presence of God already in your life, and encourage you to connect in meaningful ways to yourself and the Divine. It is also an exploration and curation of the inner life with the safety of having someone by your side.<\/p>\n
It is important to note that it is not counseling, therapy, coaching, pastoring, discipleship, or even an relationship of accountability. How you get to the those depths in spiritual direction is completely unique to the you. But getting there requires a safe place to explore, have doubts. It\u2019s a judgment free, doctrine free zone. This is spiritual direction. It creates a safe space in which to wrestle, wonder, speak freely, and process life and your spiritual journey prayerfully with a companion, encountering Christ together.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”How does it work” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/theurbanmonk.org\/monkthoughts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/meditation-center-14.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”4vw||4vw||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”586.7px” custom_margin=”|auto|87px|auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”80px||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#A26737″ header_2_font=”Crimson Text||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#a26737″ header_2_font_size=”80px” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_font_size_phone=”26px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” inline_fonts=”Crimson Text” global_colors_info=”{}”]How does it work?<\/span>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Karla||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In our postmodern age, many people dislike the term \u2018spiritual direction\u2019 because it sounds like one person giving directions, or orders, to another. They prefer \u2018spiritual companionship,\u2019 \u2018tending the holy,\u2019 or some other nomenclature. What we call it doesn\u2019t make any real difference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Typically we meet for an hour every month, or whatever cadence you feel you need. We start with a short spiritual practice to ground us both. Silence is always welcome; indeed often needed. Then, you talk about what is on your heart, your connection (or perhaps dis-connection) with God, and more; and we listen, occasionally asking questions to uncover where God may be in your life, where you may have missed his presence, found his joy, or experienced resistance.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/theurbanmonk.org\/monkthoughts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/stillbrook.jpeg” title_text=”stillbrook” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|desktop” border_width_all=”6px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” border_width_all_tablet=”” border_width_all_phone=”10px” border_width_all_last_edited=”on|phone” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_margin__hover_enabled=”off|hover”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”When” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f9f2ed” custom_padding=”||46px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#A26737″ text_font_size=”25px” header_2_font=”Crimson Text||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#a26737″ header_2_font_size=”80px” header_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_font_size_phone=”26px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]Is now the season?<\/span>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n There are times in our lives when the questions and our experiences just weigh heavier than we can handle on our own.\u00a0 <\/span>Are you feeling stuck in your spiritual growth or feeling a long season of dryness? Are you deconstructing decades of living in a faith community and struggle to find the same comfort or certainty you once had? Are you asking questions or perhaps can\u2019t quite get to them?<\/p>\n Henri Nouwen tells a story of young man who seeks a Zen Master with some big questions. \u201cWhat is truth? How may I find joy and happiness? What is the right way of living?\u201d<\/p>\n He goes on to say, \u201cTo his, we might add our own life questions: What am I to do with my life? Whom shall I marry? Where shall I live? What gifts do I have to share? What do I do with my loneliness? Why am I so needy for affection, approval, or power? How can I overcome my fears, my shame, my addictions, and my sense of inadequacy or of failure?\u201d<\/p>\n These are not easy questions for anyone. Perhaps you just need a sounding board because your current relationships lack the listening skills \u2014 friends, family, clergy are too close to be able to offer alternate perspectives. Maybe you can\u2019t find a safe space in this season. If these scenarios resonate with you spiritual direction might help you.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t think we have all the answers by any means; nor do we think the answers to these questions are the same for everyone. But spiritual direction is a means to explore them and perhaps find, through this spiritual companionship and deep listening, that <\/span>the answer was with you all along.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/theurbanmonk.org\/monkthoughts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Fresco.jpeg” title_text=”Fresco” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||58px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_divider color=”#bf997a” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_testimonial author=”Maria Rainer Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet” portrait_url=”https:\/\/theurbanmonk.org\/monkthoughts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/StFrancis-150×150.jpeg” quote_icon_color=”#E09900″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]\u201cDo not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything.\u00a0Live\u00a0the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.\u201d[\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Spiritual Directors In Training” open=”on” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n