By Jo Newell
Spiritual Director, Train – Develop – Care
God walked so faithfully and kindly with me in the year following our only son Nathaniel’s death. He met me often through people, almost daily in nature, and usually through His Word. As I was approaching the first anniversary, I sensed from Him that He wanted me to seek a companion to accompany me as I continued this heartbreaking journey.
I had read about spiritual directors several years previously, but didn’t know anyone personally who offered direction. So, I googled “spiritual directors near me.” The first person who came up, Janet, “just happened” to have been discipled by The Navigators in college, and she specialized in grieving women. She was God’s gift to me.
We have been meeting for 12 years now, usually once a month. In the months she battled cancer, I went and sat with her. And in the months that I battled cancer, she came to me, and refused to charge me for our sessions. Then, after the death of my husband early during COVID, we had to switch to Zoom. But we kept meeting.
We meet in person again now, and I cherish my hour with her each month. I can bring the worst of me, the hardest struggles, the most confusing questions, the real me. Whatever I bring to talk about, God does not fail to use her compassion, her wisdom, and her accepting presence to reveal Himself and His truth more fully to me. She’s truly with me on this journey.
In early 2021, I began a two-year spiritual direction training apprenticeship, and now I sit with 20+ folks a month, prayerfully listening to their stories. I pray before we meet, and we begin our time with silence, receiving the loving gaze of God. I usually share a poem I’ve chosen, which God often uses to speak to the heart of the directee. Then, the time is theirs to talk about anything they want. God is in every aspect of our lives. They may not see His presence, so it can help to have another pair of eyes on their experiences. I get to do what God created me for! I LOVE hearing how He speaks to people when they slow down enough to tune into His voice. I am so grateful for the privilege of getting to direct people’s hearts to the heart of God.
