New Adventures
This month, I’m engaged in a training course to serve as a spiritual direction supervisor. Whereas my typical appointments are centered on the needs, story, and becoming of the client, this work would focus on supporting another director through careful listening to case presentations on challenging sessions, offering affirmation, education, consultation, thoughtful challenge, and an invitation to self-reflection.
These responses are designed to support the director in their role, help them to continue their formation and development as therapeutic listeners, and provide insights necessary to be their most skillful selves for their own clients.
Halfway through the class, I’m already making lots of wonderful connections and gaining vital experience through roleplays and observing consultations. I’m looking forward to completing the course, though I’m not in a rush to build a supervision caseload. I want to start slow to continue to practice the craft, and trust that I can continue to receive support in these interactions through my own supervision relationship.
I’m also excited about using these new skills and frameworks in the peer supervision group that I belong to, hopefully to the benefit of everyone who attends. I’m so grateful that my own supervisor invited me into this experience and gave me a way to continue to deepen this aspect of my life and work. Bearing witness to people is indeed an awesome and deeply privileged experience. I want to do everything I can to nurture that trust and bring skill, attentiveness, and compassion to that space.
I’m also pleased to report that I will be teaching with Spiritual Directors International again this February on the afternoon of the 9th. I’ll be the lead-off session of an eight part series on providing spiritual companionship with people on the margins. You can learn more about that course here.
I’m really excited to share about the lessons I learned during my time as the lead chaplain and trainer for Faith on Foot, a street outreach program connected to the organization now known as Rutland Neighbors. Connecting with people in neighborhoods, outdoor hangouts, camp sites, on front porches, and on the street led to countless moments of awe and wonder as we engaged in the art of what Carl Jung called “being a human soul present with another human soul.”
In the liturgical calendar, this shorter period of Ordinary Time, also called the season after Epiphany, the focus of the Gospel stories are on the steady revelation of who Jesus is, and how the divine is fully present in him. Our street team used to reference the Road to Emmaus story from the Easter season, noting that “every seven miles we see Jesus”. I feel such deep gratitude that every week I am blessed with opportunities to catch glimpses of divinity shining through the stories of the people I care for.
Be gentle with yourself, you are worth it.
Peace and Everything Good,
The Rev. JM Longworth, OEF Spiritual Direction and Trauma Care
https://www.sdicompanions.org/sdi-profile/GreenMtFriarOEF/ To book an appointment: https://calendly.com/greenmtfriaroef