“Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.”
Spiritual direction is a way of growing in your own beliefs. Developing a relationship that guides you in life and the wisdom that nudges you to do something or go in a certain direction.
Spiritual direction is an aid that can help you make decisions or at least see more clearly to make a decision.
I believe one of the biggest misconceptions today is the thought “I can do it on my own, I don't or shouldn't need anyone”. Over the years and especially through the recent covid -19 season we seem to have become more and more isolated from one another, suspicious of one another, and of the messages we hear. Some of us may be more introverted than others but the fact is: we do need each other, we're not meant to live lonely detached lives. God made us to live in unity. We are made to help those around us, and live in community with them.
You can't do everything on your own. Although we may need “introvert time” or a few quiet moments to ourselves, more than that and it can become an unhealthy retreat. Having someone guide us can help us recognize how we are feeling and what we need. We also need to understand what we believe in a way that lets others help us understand and strengthen those beliefs. But in a way that feels authentic for us and that doesn’t separate us or isolate us.
A lot of people in my family are introverts but we all feel energized after we meet with our good friends or family. Sure we may need to recharge by taking some time to ourselves but there's nothing that makes us feel better than being with our loved ones.
Being around others allows us to learn from each other and it also allows us to grow in ways we wouldn’t by ourselves.
Giving or having grace can change a situation completely.
When someone is different from you, rude to you, or makes a mistake, grace can turn the circumstances around.
Even something as simple as explaining an idea or showing a new thing to someone, and doing it with grace and patience and not haughtiness can provide a compassionate and loving environment between people.
Grace can provide good lessons too. When a person reacts harshly to something we say or do, and we respond with grace, it allows the other person space to learn how or why they responded that way.
