Spiritual Direction

Have you met Bob Blough? Bob started coming around CGS this year when he was referred from a friend of CGS. Even if you have not met him, you’ve probably heard him read in worship. He’s a gifted orator. Bob is a beautiful new part of our community and I’ve had the pleasure to get to know a little about him. One of the things he shared with me is his calling to spiritual direction. I got his permission to share that gift with the rest of the CGS community.

Pastor Manda: What is Spiritual Direction?
Bob: It is not a difficult thing to experience but it is a difficult thing to express. I think of it as two people sitting down with God in their midst. One is talking and the “Director” is listening. The Director when prompted by the Spirit will ask for clarification or will feel a strong impulse to follow a certain statement made by the talker. So the person talking is choosing what will be discussed but the person listening with the help of the Holy Spirit will guide the discussion into different insights or ways of seeing a problem in order to help the other to see something new in the situation being discussed. Both sit in God’s presence and pray for insight to descend.

Pastor Manda: What happens when you meet with someone for spiritual direction?
Bob: I am not a therapist, pastoral counselor or life training coach. I just try to be the ear of God as much as I possibly can. We would meet for one hour each month and discuss the joys, hurts or confusions on your mind. Anything that you feel is important to discuss at this particular time of your life. I will not tell you what to do but will wait in silence and/or ask questions for you to get some clarity through the fog of uncertainty or fear or anger or whatever is the crux of the matter. All of this is completely classified and will be told to no one unless there is the possibility of self-harm or harm coming to others.

If you would like to meet with Bob for spiritual direction, the fee is $30.00 per hour. But if that is a burden he is willing to work out something else. If you are willing to loop in Pastor Manda, CGS has funds available to supplement or cover your cost of spiritual direction with Bob. If this strikes a chord in your heart and/or spirit, you can set up a time to meet with Bob by emailing him.

If you are not interested in spiritual direction, I hope that you will invite Bob to share a meal with you, sit with him in worship, get to know him at game night or coffee hour, and introduce yourself. Bob has a wide berth of experiences and interests and is a blessing to our community.