So said Mark Twain once. Before he died that is. But even though rumors of his death eventually proved true, rumors of Spiritual Directors International's death are not.

There is another organization in the world, Retreats International, which is closing its doors at the end of this year. Retreats International is not associated with Spiritual Directors International. Spiritual Directors International is growing everyday, and there are lots of exciting plans for the future. So keep praying and working for the spread of the ministry of spiritual direction in the world. Spiritual Directors International is alive and well.

The Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction third annual poetry contest will be judged by a three-person panel. One of the panel members is John Mizelle.

John writes fiction, poetry, and music that arises from the well of silence. He has practiced psychotherapy, taught psychology and conflict resolution, and facilitated spiritual groups for twenty years. All his work is oriented to inviting people to discover the essential, unconditioned Self. He lives in the mountains of Santa Cruz, California, USA, with his wife and a family of animals.

If you would like to submit a poem, click here for the contest guidelines.

For information about the judges, click here.

According to an old Turkish Sufi saying, "You can bandage a cut for yourself, but you cannot take out your own appendix." That is, we can learn and grow through our own efforts, but for profound spiritual transformation we need a guide.

Read more about Islamic spiritual direction here.

Workplace analysts report that a growing number of American companies are hiring chaplains to minister to their employees, offering counseling services and helping with family crises. Listen to this report by Joyce Russell on a pork-processing plant in Iowa that uses chaplains.

The Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction third annual poetry contest will be judged by a three-person panel. One of the panel members is Hannah Thomassen. 

Hannah takes her inspiration as a writer from the Pacific Northwest, USA, landscape, where she lives with her husband, two sheep, three donkeys, twelve chickens and a dog on four creekside acres in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Her professional background includes education and hospital administration, from which she is now retired. She completed a course of study in spiritual direction in 2004 and sees directees in her home.

If you would like to submit a poem, click here for the contest guidelines. 

Stay tuned for info about the other judges.

Most companies strive to be family-friendly. Some brag that they are gay-friendly. But how many are faith-friendly?

Not enough, says David Miller, a minister, author and former business executive. Ford, American Express and Tyson Foods are among the better-known faith-friendly firms.

Read about the movement among business people who want to integrate their religious beliefs and their work here.

From car parts makers to fast food chains to financial service companies, corporations across the country are bringing chaplains into the workplace. At most companies, the chaplaincy resembles the military model, which calls for chaplains to serve the religiously diverse community before them, not to evangelize.

Read more about the growth of workplace chaplaincy in this New York Times article. 

On a sunny spring afternoon, Angela arrived at my office for her first spiritual- direction session. She was a bit nervous, not knowing what to expect, and was frankly a little embarrassed about her prayer life. An oncology nurse for many years, with three adult children and five grandchildren, Angela never felt she had enough time for prayer. At a retreat, she heard others talk about seeing a spiritual director, and it kindled a longing in her for that kind of support. Our initial session went well, and Angela decided to come again. After we had met monthly for more than a year, she reflected: “Spiritual direction is, for me, a place of safety and grace. I feel like it has helped me find fuller life, faith, hope, and love.”  

Like Angela, you may wonder if you need a spiritual director. To help you decide, let us look at the meaning of spiritual direction, and then consider some guidelines for finding a director. 

Read more of this article from Kathleen Fischer.

Liz Ellmann, executive director of Spiritual Directors International, reports an inspiring start to the United Kingdom Catholic Network for Retreats and Spirituality conference in Swanwick, England, titled, “Dancing on the Edges: Rediscovering our Spiritual Roots."

Keynoter and Spiritual Directors International member, Valerie Lesniak, PhD, (shown at far left with Tess Rynn, SND) introduced the theme of spiritual director as “dancing, rooted and living on the edge.”

 

Hosts, Tom, Magdelene, Paddy Lane, and Margaret (right) are facilitating the annual general meeting, which included a Celtic prayer about winter: 

We gather our hearts at the hearth fire of Winter.

Warmth of welcome on our lips,

Warmth of rest upon our hands,

Warmth of nurture upon our spirits,

May all be wrapped in the warmth of

Peace, this winter’s day, till Winter’s night.

On the way to the spiritual direction conference in Swanwick, Spiritual Directors International executive director Liz Ellmann stopped to celebrate the tenth day of Christmas with Sr. Anne Attard, RSCJ and Sr. Christine Head, RSCJ at Blythe Road Hospitality House in London, England.

 

The deep ebony crèche figures at the base of the tree come from Zaire where Sr. Anne ministered for years.  (Click on the photo for a larger view.)

Hospitality: The Heart of Spiritual Direction
by Leslie A. Hay

In this latest addition to the Spiritual Directors International Series, professional spiritual directors and those in formation programs learn to extend traditional forms of hospitality by living out its deeper meaning as they explore ways in which the spirit of hospitality enriches the spiritual direction experience.

Spiritual Directors International executive director Liz Budd Ellmann wrote a story of hope and perseverance that appeared in the November 25 edition of the Seattle Times.

Soon a light rain hushed some of the scary night sounds. It threatened to dampen the pile of twigs and branches I had carefully collected to fuel the fire.

The drizzle became a downpour, and my fire began to suffer. I knelt with my ear to the wet ground and blew on the embers.

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Spiritual Directors International member Bruce W. Tallman sends these suggestions:

• In order to explain the way things are, nonbelievers ascribe God-like qualities to the universe. But scientists have determined that the universe is not infinite and eternal: it has a beginning (the Big Bang) and computer projections tell astrophysicists it will end.
• God's very nature is to exist. You need a First Cause of things, an Uncaused Cause that exists in itself, or you can go back in infinite regression asking "What caused that?" Monotheistic religion believes God caused the Big Bang.
• God's Creation is foundationally good. Evil is always only secondary, that is, a corruption of original goodness. Example: illness is a corruption of original health. Atheists have no good explanation of why, if there is no loving God, goodness is foundational. 

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Nearly 800 people gathered in Singapore to learn more about the ministry of spiritual direction. Regional Coordinator, Sr. Elizabeth Lim, RGS reports from Singapore, “Our conference ‘Tending the Holy in Our Lives’ has come to a conclusion. Both Mary Ann Scofield, RSM, and Jim Keegan, SJ, who shared their wonderful gifts with us, returned day before yesterday and should be back on home ground now! It was indeed a wonderful experience for our region (Malaysia-Indonesia-Singapore). Much learning took place, networking and bonding of friendships which however, included all those tending the holy from the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, and West and East Malaysia!”

Click here to read about the conference, attended by nearly 800 people over four days.

For a closer look at the Melbourne, Australia July 2006 Gathering, click here.

For a closer look at the Sydney, Australia July 2006 Gathering, click here.