The Joys of Journeying with a Spiritual Director

When I was in seminary many moons ago, I first heard about spiritual directors. I was immediately intrigued about the opportunity to have someone journey with me as I discerned and lived into my call to priestly ministry. I was blessed with a wonderful spiritual director for my last 2 years of seminary. When I was ordained and moved to Oakville, I immediately began to search for a new director to work with during this new chapter of ministry. I was so blessed to be given Wendy Passmore’s name. We clicked from our first meeting. I have been incredibly grateful to God to have Wendy as someone who is alongside me in my walk with God.

I have found that spiritual direction is one of the points of intersection in my life, where all that I am before God is reflected on. I am a priest, a woman, a person who lives with depression, a daughter, a sister, and a friend; and often these facets of myself can get a bit compartmentalized. I may talk to a colleague about an issue in my parish, or my friend about something going on in my personal life, or my doctor about my depression. But during my time with Wendy, they are all reflected on and together we explore the ways that all of these facets come together before God.

Spiritual direction helps me to see the common threads running through all areas of my life; not just my ministry or my personal faith life. It helps me to notice where God has been present and where God might be leading me and helps me to reflect on the journey that I am on in my life and ministry. It is a chance for me to be very honest in my joys and my pain and know that I am being deeply heard. I could not imagine my ministry without a spiritual director to help me see when I am not being true to myself, my call, or God.

Wendy has been part of my journey through my curacy, my first parish as rector, and my appointment as regional archdeacon. It is an incredible blessing to have that shared history together to help me reflect more deeply on the call God has placed on my life, the blessings God has given me, and the challenges I have faced along the way. The hour I spend in spiritual direction each month helps to ground me more firmly in my faith, allows me to vent in ways I often can’t, and allows me to share the joys of ministry more deeply.