One-to-One Spiritual Direction
The ancient practice of spiritual direction is an ongoing relationship in which a person who wishes to be attentive to his or her spiritual life meets with another person on a regular basis (usually once a month for about an hour) specifically for the purpose of becoming more attuned to God’s presence and guidance. A South African proverb expresses this well: "The reason that two antelopes walk together is so that one can blow the dust from the other's eyes."
Rev. Holly Whitcomb is a graduate of the two-year training program for spiritual directors at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Bethesda, Maryland. Holly is accustomed to offering spiritual direction to laypersons, pastors, seminarians, chaplains, and vowed members of religious communities. Some testimonials from those whom she has directed:
Thank you for helping me find my spirit when it gets lost in my body and mind.
I liken my experience of [your] spiritual direction to a sunny breeze blowing across the grasses - bending and caressing at the same time, encouraging growth while nurturing the place where I am at the moment.
I want you to know I am grateful for God's presence shining from within you, offering me great compassion and non-judgmental listening. Your guidance and partnership on the path is deeply appreciated and provides me with comfort and courage to grow into my life.
Thank you for your deep and loving kindness to me. Your spiritual direction has been transforming.
You are a wonderful spiritual guide, an angel in my life. Thank you for being there for me. Your support, prayers, and guidance in my life mean more than you will ever know.
I want to thank you for your time, your encouragement, prayers, and support... I'm grateful for being able to dialogue these matters of my soul. Without it, I don't think I would have experienced the grace I needed to let go and see clearly. Your light has shone on my path, and I thank God for you.
Thank you for your great gift of listening, for your heart of pastoral care, and for your prayer life.
Thank you for your years of beholding God in me!
Thank you for providing the space and spirit for me to follow my call and path with courage and integrity.
I give thanks for your companionship on my journey. You listen with holy ears.
Thank you. You have steadied me. You've given me comfort and support. It has helped me immensely to sit across from you and have you inquire about my spirit. Then I attempt to integrate events, life, dreams....I'm grateful for our monthly meetings.