Denise Foerch, Spiritual Director
I believe it is very important for each of us to “own” our spirituality. Growing up, our belief system was often based on what Mom and Dad, or our church, believed. As we grew older, we looked to teachers/professors, books, seminars, and peer groups to help us continue to create our spirituality.
Each of us is given opportunities to make different choices about what we believe. For some, it’s just the journey of life that brings about a stirring inside—a desire to know who they really are and what meaning their life has. Their thoughts turn toward the spiritual, which causes them to look into various ways of living a spiritual life. For others, it’s something dramatic that happens in their lives, and they feel awakened and begin searching for how to have a meaningful relationship with God. And there are some whose spirituality has remained meaningful, and yet they are finding that as their lives change, they desire God in new and different ways. Sometimes we need someone to walk with us during these times of spiritual transition.
I had a period of time when my life fell apart and all I believed no longer made sense. I felt lost because I hadn’t spent time cultivating my own spirituality. I started meeting with a Spiritual Director on a regular basis, and it was an experience like none other I had ever had. For the first time I was in the presence of someone who wasn’t going to give me answers or try to fix me! She was there to walk with me as a guide on my quest to have a meaningful relationship with God. She helped me own my spirituality, by listening to me, nudging me, and praying for me.
Put simply, a Spiritual Director is a guide, a mentor, or facilitator for your journey. A person who listens, asks questions, gives feedback, and allows you to discover your own spirituality. As the Spiritual Director for this church, I want to invite you to join one of our two Spiritual Direction groups. In September our Spiritual Direction groups will open for new members. The Saturday group meets on the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10am-Noon, and the Thursday night group meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 6:30-8:30pm. I hope you will seriously consider going a group as a way to invest deeply in your relationship with God!
“Spiritual Direction is the opportunity to sit with a trusted companion and reflect on your relationship with God. It is a time to look at your daily life and God’s presence within it. It is a gift you give yourself!” —Connie Schnapf