Experience, Sound Judgment and The One Who Makes All Things Possible

“This is why it’s so important to work with guides who are well informed, exhibit good judgment, and have experienced spiritual things themselves. It wouldn’t hurt if they had some formal education as well. If they cannot meet all these criteria, they should at least have experience and sound judgment.” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)

As you may recall from my earlier posts, I am blogging for The Wisdom Project as part of my spiritual direction training program through the St. Scholastica Monastery. The Shalom Program is a two-year formal course of study, prayer and reflection, and it is helping me deepen my faith and learn how to be a soul friend to others.

Now that we are about to begin our second year, each student in the Shalom Program needs to find a person interested in the spiritual life who is willing to work with an inexperienced advisor for the next nine months. We were asked to find someone to guide who was not a friend, co-worker or family member. I wondered how I’d ever find anyone who wasn’t one of those things; however, as you know, God makes plans for us—plans for good and not for evil—and yesterday I found out a little bit more about what The One Who Makes All Things Possible was setting up.

Yesterday afternoon I went over to see my friend Cheryl Husby, the prayer mug lady. I was at Cheryl’s house to pick up prayer mugs for my mother who is giving them as gifts to her birthday club friends at Christmastime. (My mother plans ahead.) After I walked into the kitchen and admired all the mugs, Cheryl put on some tea and asked how the summer had been going. “I’ve got something I need your help with,” I said. “Do you know anyone who would like a spiritual-advisor-in-training? I need to find someone who is not a friend, co-worker or family member to help me with my spiritual direction class.”

Cheryl thought of someone right away and said she couldn’t believe the timing because it was her friend’s birthday party that night. (Sometimes God shows off. Have you noticed this before? If not, start paying attention because it happens frequently.) Then Cheryl asked if it would be okay to give the spiritual-advisor-in-training time to her friend as a birthday present. Of course I said—“Yes, yes, yes!” And before I went to sleep last night, Cheryl called to say that her friend loved the present. And I do, too.

Teresa says the best spiritual guides are “well informed, exhibit good judgment, and have experienced spiritual things themselves.” I really don’t know how good I’ll be as a spiritual guide, but we’ll get some clues as the year goes on. At least I’m off to a good start with help from my friend Cheryl and a little showing off from You Know Who.

In the week to come, may we look for the many ways in which God shows off and may we send thanks for the blessings we find strewn upon our paths.