Christ the King Parish

Guide for the Journey:  When visiting new places, we usually avail ourselves of some kind of guide service so that we don’t miss what is important to see.   So too can it be with life itself; although we all were raised to navigate the ins and outs of everyday life, we weren’t necessarily instructed on how to probe its deeper meaning or discern the direction that is truly right to take.   Life will pose questions if we have ears, hearts, and minds open to hear them! Is this all there really is?  If not, then to whom do I owe my existence, and what is my destiny beyond what I  can presently see?   Who is God?   How does God speak to me; how can I discern God’s voice?  What is God expecting of me?  Where is the hand or providence of God in the particular circumstances of my life at this time?  How have  I responded, or not, to God’s call in my own life?  What is next for me in this particular time and chapter of my life if I want to live the rest of my life in accord with God’s will and plan more than my own?   Not everyone has to ask every one of these questions, but these are often only the starting point; there are perhaps many other questions besides, depending on who we are and our particular age, place, and stage of life.   Some find it very helpful to have a guide to  help them with such questions, and we call these guides Spiritual Directors (SD’s). An SD is not a counselor nor an adviser; they do not seek to provide answers or solve personal problems, but to help guide the seeker to find their own answers.  In the Christian context some of the basic questions are already answered for us, in that our framework tends to be that of believers who desire to trust that God exists and has sent his Son to instruct us and ultimately to save us, but how that faith is lived out, and how our doubts are navigated and our questions answered will vary with each person in their search and maybe even their struggle for hopeful assurance, meaning and purpose, and ultimately for contentment with God’s will and peace in God’s presence. The parish is able, on a limited basis, to connect you with trained Spiritual Directors if this is something that you are considering as a helpful next step on your spiritual journey.  Once connected, the schedule of sessions would be determined with the SD, and in fairness, a stipend would be proper as a gratuity for the SD’s time and expertise as a spiritual guide.