Getting with the Program

As I looked at programs in Spiritual Direction, I was especially drawn to one offered by Mount St. Scholastica in Kansas.  This Benedictine community offers a 3 year course that builds well into a pastor's schedule. For two years, I will participate in a week long residency program in June (my first residency starts next week) and then once/month Friday through Saturday weekends.  Following two years of that, I will have a one year supervised practicum, where I will begin my work as a Spiritual Director and work one on one with a directee.  Upon completion of the program, I will be certified in spiritual direction.

The program at Mount St. Scholastica also appealed to me because of the breadth of the training it offered.  The program is ecumenical in nature, but definitely has some benedictine flavor to it.  Topics of study include various spiritual formation practices and understandings of God through various Christian traditions (Biblical, Reformation, Celtic, Mystic, Creation Spiritualities, etc) as well as focused training on listening skills, 12 Step Spirituality, Christian maturity, ethics in Spiritual Direction, Psychotherapy and Spiritual Direction, and Masculine/Feminine Spirituality.

As I prepare for my first week of residency, my schedule is full of learning times, advisor meetings, prayer times, and even a day of sacred silence.  There are times for processing in small groups and the opportunity to take a 4-day mini-course on a specific topic.  I have narrowed my choices to two (don't be impressed by my decision making... there were only three options): "Prayer and the Spiritual Journey" or "Small Group Spiritual Direction."  I will keep you posted as to which one I chose and how it was.

In preparation for this week of residency, I am experiencing many emotions.  I feel panicked over everything that has to get done at home and work before I leave.  I am nervous to begin a new journey at this point in life.  I am affirmed and excited by all the ways I *know* this is the right time and place.  And I am overwhelmed at how God continues to call and work in my life.  I am reminded that God's work in me is a work in progress and that God continues to faithfully provide for me.  Practicality and faith seldom walk hand in hand... making the decision to take this path just one more way for me to take a step out in faith -- trusting for God to lead and provide.