seesion 10 in part

Session #10, "Soul Care", (Benner & Moon text, pp. 187-249) 1) Spiritual Questors: Galindo cites Tilden Edwards' two reasons for an increased interest and emphasis upon spiritual direction in contemporary American culture: a. Personal spiritual formation as a way of life with limited interpretation and accountability, and b. Acknowledgement of the limitations of psychology to address issues of wholeness in our lives.
Why are you interested in spiritual direction?
I am interested in spiritual direction because I have already studies psychology and I wanted to integrate my faith into my counseling and practice of therapy.
I read Moon’s chapter whereby he outlines the way pastoral counseling and spiritual direction are alike: both practices are crisis centered, both deal with the person holistically, both give practical attention to a person’s history, both practices teach, both practices work with a person’s motivation, both help people make decisions, both have helping goals and both are centered in love for the person. The differences lie then in the training- too much psychology or too much theology. “Both tend to fall to easily into the false assumption that to understand something is the answer.” (Moor and Benner pg 211). As a Mennonite, many times I had heard the phrase, be “present” with people who are hurting. This is a way not to help solve a crisis, or come to understand the why’s and how’s of life but just to walk with people who are hurting and to walk with people who are searching. This to me is part of Spiritual direction. “People are too complex, the soul is too deep, the spirit is too transcendent and emotions are too inexplicable to naively assume that we can understand them…Faith is, at heart, the central relationship that gives meaning to our life; we are able to interpret our experiences in light of that relationship.” (211)
The the discussion of the differences between these two are outlined: The helping relationship in direction goes beyond crisis, the temporal focus in spiritual direction is broader, attention to operation of grace is central to spiritual direction. It requires a shared confessional stance (this one I will go back to in my personal discussion), Faith in God is central in the spiritual direction process. In our crisis class, we had a counselor come and speak on various mental health issues. I asked her a question about when she is unable to help someone, what does she do? I was looking to see what were her bases of helping and healing? She gave a good- typical mental health answer, (talking with a supervisor, letting go and relaxing- or taking a hot bath, or something like that), but her answer was not satisfactory. I really was trying to get at was –What was her hope, or in what was her hope? In Spiritual counseling, God is central and faith is very important. God’s grace is the hope that keeps on going, as well as community etc. Faith in God is central is spiritual direction. After not being satisfied with the Mental Health worker’s answer, I decided for myself, that I could not just work as a counselor in a non-faith based setting. I needed to share my faith with other like minded – and it seems spiritual direction might be the mode or process in which to do that. . Issues of surrender and conversion are overt in spiritual direction- to give control over to God, willingly and completely. Healing is redefined- not as cure but as finding meaning and wholeness. There is a place for community in spiritual direction. This goes so well with my focus on “being part of the body of Christ, when one hurts we all hurt, and one is joyful , we can all celebrate together”. Spiritual direction deals with healthy individuals while pastoral counseling deal more with deep emotional and psychiatric problems and finally Spiritual directions requires maturity. This I believe is where wisdom, rather than knowledge and skills come in. It is God who gives wisdom to all who seek it. Maturity incorporates life experience with God’s word, and revelation so that in sharing one can help another grow in spiritual maturity and in faith in God. I believe – if God calls me into this ministry- I can care for people’s souls as a spiritual director.

2) Case Reflection: Reflect on the Pastor Mark Case, this type of case reflection can provide some insights into what a Senior Capstone Case Reflection could be for MAFM students. Briefly describe your Case Reflection of the Pastor Mark Case utilizing the format utilized in the Benner & Moon text: a. Case Assessment, b. Conceptualization of the Case, and c. Treatment of the Case. You may integrate insights from other sources such as: a. Other WTS courses, b. Other training, c. Your life and ministry experience, and d. Personal insight.
Will do laterCalhoun, Part 8, Spiritual Growth Planner,

(Calhoun, pp. 256-263)Select the spiritual discipline that you experienced during this course which had the highest connection to your current situation and personal spiritual passion. Describe how this spiritual discipline impacted your life and ministry.
The various practices of spiritual disciplines have been very helpful for me. I have practiced writing in a journal before and continue to find this very helpful. Reading the bible slowly with intent like the practice of Lectio Divina was shared and taught to my K- group and continues to be very helpful, but for me personally the one discipline that I continue to practice is setting time and space for God in daily life. Using the chime on the clock, that rings every hour and consciously reminding myself that God is present has been most rewarding, at times I use the ring of hour many bell for the hour to count my blessing and Thank God for 1,2,3, etc. my three boys, 7-9 the various machines that continue to work in my home washer, dryer, heat, freezer full of food, refrigerator, fire place and wood in garage to heal our home, etc. I even tried to practice this at school, when the class bell rings- Maybe that is why the monks had bells in their churches, to remind them of God’s presence every hour of the day- no matter how busy life can get, “welcomed or not- God is always present” is a quote on my computer at work. The bells have been a great reminded or the Presence of God in everyday activity.