One of the most powerful ways for people to express spiritual care for one another is through spiritual accompaniment or spiritual direction. There is no shortage of spiritual directors in BC, but there may be a dearth of information in knowing how to make contact with one. Even if you live in a remote community where there may be no trained directors available, you still have the option of being accompanied through conversation by phone. I have two directees whom I have never met in person but with whom I carry on a very full and deeply satisfying journey of accompaniment.

Spiritual Directors International have really stepped up to the plate in making the international community of trained and experienced spiritual directors easily accessible for all who are seeking such a relationship. When you go to www.sdiworld.org/find_a_spiritual_director.html you will find an easy and pastorally thoughtful process for finding a spiritual director with whom you will feel at ease. Here’s what you will find as the beginning of their guided search:

How do I find a spiritual director?

Finding a spiritual director is a very personal and spiritual quest. We suggest a person seeking a spiritual director contact at least two spiritual directors to interview, if appropriate. Here are some ways to find spiritual directors to interview:

• Search the Seek and Find Guide
• Call area theology schools, institutes and retreat centers and ask if they have a list of spiritual directors.
• Ask an ordained minister or rabbi or vowed religious for names of spiritual directors they recommend.

I could describe Spiritual Care as asking God to continue, at deeper levels, my transformation through discernment of my true self, a child of God, in the struggles and joys of life. There is much more that could, and has, been said. But let this suffice to “prime your pump”. Ultimately we want you to assess how you are getting a daily dose of both pastoral and spiritual care.
When you go to that SDI site you are going to notice links to the SDI ‘Seek and Find Guide’. When you follow that guide to the British Columbia listing you will discover exactly 50 qualified spiritual directors waiting to be interviewed! And what’s more 29 of them are outside the lower mainland of BC. There are all kinds of very helpful resources at the SDI site. I just came on one that I hadn’t seen before: a sample engagement agreement for spiritual direction which clarifies and relationship between director and directee and lays out roles and responsibilities in the relationship.

Imagine this: there’s a spiritual guide waiting out there for you to set out on the walk toward that spirit- centered relationship. The folks in the SDI network want to make that walk as safe and inviting as they can. Want to know more before trusting your search to a website? Feel free to call: Tim Scorer (604)947-0967 or timscorer [at] gmail [dot] com