What if the goals of the spiritual life include:

• listening, not merely talking?
• being, not merely doing?
• loving, not merely working?
• praying, not merely deciding?
• discerning, not merely strategizing?
• now, not merely heaven?

Then how would we proceed with our spiritual living? David Benner offers three goals for the spiritual life:

1 – becoming a great lover of God
2 – becoming whole and holy
3 – becoming one's true self in Christ
             (Sacred Companions, p. 32)

Who can help us with this progression toward wholeness and holiness?

Potentially, someone who can listen to us as we bumble our ways toward God. A spiritual companion (or director) who is attentive, truly present, and unconditionally accepting, creates space for us to encounter the LORD of transformation. We need someone to listen to us as we seek to discern God’s presence in ordinary life happenings. This is the practice of spiritual direction.

The greatest gift one person can give another is the gift of truly listening. As Douglas Steere says: “You can listen another into existence.” Spiritual directors are called and gifted to provide this gracious space for others by listening affirmingly as they deepen their intimacy with God.

(For more on a definition of spiritual direction, click here.)

To offer spiritual direction, several skills can be honed and added to call and natural gifting. For a partial list of topics and skills to be covered during the course, click here.

Class sessions will include:  
Ø      Recollection and prayer
Ø      Teaching
Ø      Exercises promoting spiritual growth
Ø      Discussion
Ø      Practice listening sessions with peers  

Topics to be addressed in this training include:

§        Listening with your heart

§        Listening for the Spirit

§        History of spiritual direction

§        Core issues

§        Presence

§        Grace

§        Mystery

§        Prayer seasons

§        Jesus as Spiritual Director

§        Dryness/dark night of soul

§        Psychological considerations

§        Discernment (Ignatian)

§        Experience of God

§        Images of God

§        Stages of Faith

§        Transformation

§        Contexts/culture

§        Dreams as God’s revelation

§        Distinctions between counseling and direction

§        Wholeness vs. false self

§        Silence and solitude

§        Practical considerations relating to direction sessions

How does the training take place?

1.  An opening retreat  
2.  Two four hour sessions a month for seven months
                 
Dates: 
September ’08 – April ‘09 in Richmond Beach

Cost: $180 for training and materials, including textbooks, as well as a monthly spiritual direction appointment for yourself  
or three installments)

Application to the course includes a $100 refundable deposit. [Make checks out to KOINOS.]

Facilitators: Dr. Kathy and Phil Bence

Expectations: Participants need to commit to the program:
    ØAttendance at every class, barring emergency (or prior arrangement)
 ØCommitment to the community in presence and participation
    ØConfidentiality of proceedings involving others’ sharing
    ØOne meeting per month with an assigned spiritual director
    ØA book report and a verbatim per quarter
       (instruction provided)

To apply for the program, complete and submit this application to Kathy Bence at either: 
    1425 NW 195th Street, Shoreline, WA 98177
    or kpbence@gmail.com
For more information, call Kathy at 206-546-4074.