Spiritual Guidance

So much of the training for a pastor and the expectations of many, at least in the past, have revolved around “doing,” rather than “being” when exploring spiritual wholeness.

Someone comes to the pastor with a need or a hurt or a hope, and the pastor tells them to “do this or do that” because Jesus did it, or because the seminary professor said this is the best way to fix it, or because the latest seminar sponsored by the hierarchy had a sale on spiritual tools.

An unhealthy cycle is promulgated when, for a moment of varying intensity, relief is experienced. The pedestal is erected for the pastor’s ego to be placed upon and the next person with a need or a hurt or a hope is offered the same fix.

Henri Nouwen wrote in Reaching Out:

"The real spiritual guide is the one who, instead of advising us what to do or to whom to go, offers us a chance to stay alone and take the risk of entering into our own experience. He[she] makes us see that pouring little bits of water on our dry land does not help, but that we will find a living well if we reach deep enough under the surface of our complaints." P.36