New and Improved!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Springtime is the perfect time to spout a new and improved blog.

I began this blog several weeks ago and have been posting about once a week. Next week I am increasing my entries to twice a week with the long term goal of expanding even more.

One post (I am aiming for Tuesdays) will be on spiritual health and the second post will feature books and resources that feed the soul. (Friday)

I am grateful for you reading my words and hopefully the expansion will glorify God and lead us all closer to Him.

Unexpected Expectations from the Spiritual Director International Conference

Throughout my career I have attended numerous national and international conferences. Unfortunately most of the time I leave the workshops disappointed with generalities, gaining little tools to use helping others and an inner sense that I wasted my time.

So loaded down with low expectations, last week I traveled to Houston to attend the Spiritual Directors International (SDI) conference for the first time. The quality and depth of this conference surprised me and in the following list of expectations for anyone going to this particular conference I share some of the treasures I discovered there:

1. Expect to be surprised. This conference exceeded all my expectations in multiple ways.
2. Expect to be surrounded by God’s spirit. The prayers, décor, music, silence, discussions and networking all opened my heart and eyes to see God’s presence.
3. Expect to connect. I ran into a good friend, Sue Wilhelm, and then made many new friends. We experienced a luncheon called the Amazing Faiths Project where we were assigned tables with people we didn’t know and of diverse backgrounds. We answered thought provoking questions and shared deeply with one another. The project is named appropriately – it was amazing.
4. Expect to discover new books. Of course the book lover in me quickly found the exhibits and bookstore and wandered through all the titles and resources multiple times. I didn’t over buy for a change but studied the various titles, authors and subjects.
5. Expect to participate, not just sit and absorb. Many conferences we attend we soak in all the material like sponges. No action on our part. SDI is different. With every workshop I attended some degree of participation stimulated active, not inactive learning.
6. Expect to stretch your mind and open your heart to new ideas. I met a Buddhist from Ireland and learned so much about her deep faith. New ideas blossomed as speakers presented, planting new seeds in my heart. Much to ponder.
7. Expect to use both sides of your brain. The left side in learning and listening and the right half in experiencing. I attended a wonderful presentation on spiritual intelligence. I fed my spirit in two quiet rooms set aside for prayer that were open 24 hours a day. The desert room actually felt dry, bare, yet still, and the garden room tingled all of my senses.
8. Expect to reflect on deep questions: What is missing in my life? How do I live a spiritual life? What does it mean to be compassionate?
9. Expect to be renewed, revitalized and reenergized. Healthcare was the focus for the first day with a focus on its being a sacred vocation. That was refreshing to hear.
10. Expect to hear top notch presenters. Ron Rolheiser gave two key notes full of faith building information.

Would I recommend SDI to spiritual directors? A huge YES!!

Traveling to Houston

I leave tomorrow to fly to Houston to attend the Spiritual Director International Conference. This will be my first time to participate in this event.

Spiritual Director International is a membership organization and learning community of people from many faiths and many nations who share a common concern, passion, and commitment to the art and contemplative practice of spiritual direction. Its mission is: “throughout human history, individuals have been called to accompany others seeking the Mystery we name God. In this time, Spiritual Directors International responds to this call by tending the holy around the world and across traditions.”

One of my goals this year was increased networking with people in the field of spirituality, especially those who write. The keynote presenter at the event this year is author Ron Rolheiser, who has written books like The Holy Longing, The Restless Heart and the Shattered Lantern.

One full day is dedicated to Spirituality and Health Care. For those of you who do not know my background, I am an RN and practiced many years in public health. Topics scheduled for that day that piqued my interest are Healthcare as a Sacred Vocation, Spiritual Intelligence, and Embracing the Unwanted Gift of Grief.

Additional workshops I am attending are on Henri Nouwen, another one of my favorite authors, Being present to God’s Movements through Storytelling, and Creating a Culture of Awakening (transforming churches into places of deep listening).

Of course exhibits, interactive experiences, and networking will abound.

Watch for my updates on Twitter (http://twitter.com/jeanwise) and highlights in next week’s blog.

In the name of God I go on this journey.May God the Father be with me,God the Son protect me, andGod the Holy Ghost be by my side.Whoever is stronger than these three personsMay approach my body and my life; yetWhoso is not stronger than these threeWould much better let me be!

What is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual direction, sometimes referred to as spiritual guidance or spiritual friendship, is an on-going relationship in which one person (the directee), desirous of being attentive to his or her spiritual life, meets with another person (the director) on a regular basis (approximately once a month), specifically for the purpose of becoming more attuned to God's Presence in order to respond more fully to that Presence in all of life.

Spiritual direction has been part of the Christian tradition for centuries.

Why would someone want spiritual direction?
To explore their yearning for God -- to understand meaning in their life; to gain a sense of discernment; to understand where they are going and how to live their life more fully. Meeting with a spiritual direction is helpful when you want a deeper relationship with God
Spiritual direction is a vital tool for a healthy spirituality.

Simply, spiritual direction helps people tell their own sacred story and to find the Sacred within their story.

Spiritual direction is not counseling, therapy, nor financial advice. Rather, as a reflective, contemplative process the focus in spiritual direction is always on one's relationship God, on the state of a one's spirit. Working in close relationship with a spiritual director, who is trained in the art of sacred listening, one begins to uncover and discover the multitudinous and often unseen ways in the God appears in one's life.

A spiritual director listens and gives feedback about what he or she is hearing and sensing about the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life. This feedback is for your consideration only; the spiritual director is not a guru who tells you what to do. If you decide to meet with a spiritual director ask how and where they were trained. I fulfilled the requirements of a three year spiritual director practicum at the Dominican Center at Marywood in Grand Rapids Michigan and currently help to lead a spiritual direction group.

Spiritual directors do not have the answers, and the good ones don’t pretend to. In fact, the name "director" is somewhat of a misnomer, as it is not about “directing,” but rather, supporting people in their discernment and offering a deep listening presence.

A companion, listening both to your story and in prayer to God, provides light for your journey and promotes health for your spirit.

Two of them that same day were making their way to a village named Emmaus…discussing as they went all that had happened…Jesus approached and began to walk along with them. – Luke 24:13

My New Name is Amma

If you could pick out a new name for yourself describing your ideal role what would it be? I chose Amma. “Amma?” You asked. “What do you mean?”

My daughter Katie is expecting her first child in June and thus I enter the new realm of grandmothering. At first this presented an identity crisis for me – I am not old enough to be a grandmother, I thought. An unknown author wrote: “It’s amazing how grandparents seem so young once you become one.”

But then I embraced this new adventure and decided to honor the passage with choosing my name. I wanted it to be just the right name – representing how I saw myself and exemplifying this new role.

I talked to many other people asking what their grandchildren call them or what they called their grandparents. By the way, this is a great conversation starter and most people tell great and unique stories about the names.

I searched book stores and Amazon and bought two books about grandparent names. One lists over 700 names for grandmother and grandfather. Both books categorized the names as traditional, playful, or ones that honor heritages and ancestors.

Some people warned me that the child would name me. But I think I can still influence that by suggesting, “Come to Amma.” And with Katie saying, “Let’s go to Amma’s house.”

On the silent retreat I attended last week, I read Robert Wick’s book, Crossing the Desert. In this book Wicks tells about the ancient desert fathers and mothers in the 4th century who provided guidance on how to live. The book companioned me on the retreat on many levels including providing me with a grandmother name.

A desert mother was called Amma. Amma refers to a wise woman, a play on words for me since my last name is Wise. And Amma nurtured the spiritual formation of others – the key role grandmothers have in the lives of their children and grandchildren. I am Amma.

Entering into a new role seems easier with some type of ritual and selecting a name to describe this new chapter in my life initiates this rite of passage for me.

What new name would you chose?