My first experience with a Spiritual Director came as a surprise when I met Agnes who, as an elderly lady in her late 70’s at the time was tasked with providing some counselling for me as part of a training programme I was undertaking. But rather than attempt to answer my questions or solve my problems she offered me what I can only describe as an anchor or a steady place to be held while I was navigating some challenging issues in life. She was an observer, one who noticed me, offering non-judgemental attention, support and encouragement.  

After a number of weeks of seeing her as a counsellor, she advised me that her preferred way of being with others was as a Spiritual Director. Being something that I had never heard of, and being a practice that was difficult to describe in words, my intuition guided me into a sense that this is what I wanted, somehow needed, to just be in the presence of someone who was not bothered by my crises, rather who knew how to hold a safe space for me in the midst of it all.

Alongside this, and amidst the life and work challenges I was experiencing I was encouraged to find a professional Supervisor. I was a young Pastor in a Church and my ethos was to work tirelessly on behalf of others, throw caution to the wind and give myself away for the greater good only to eventually come crashing down and experience a season of burn out, discouragement and desire to give it all away. Supervision was not something that was common or even heard of in the stream of faith based communities that I was involved in, but I set about to find one, This support, alongside Spiritual Direction became my life-line, one that I attributed to my ability and desire to continue in the Pastoral vocation for many years following both enriching and supporting me in ways that continue to enable longevity and health, in life and work.