What is a spiritual director? Are they directing your spiritual life? Are they telling you to do something? Are they fulfilling a pastoral role? Rev. Alan Johnson talks about this, as he has been studying it for his disseration. He distinguishes the difference between a spiritual director and a pastor, and would explain that spiritual direction is listening to someone and helping them pay attention to God's work in their life. Spiritual directors seek to ask good questions, rather than give answers. A spiritual director is more of a mentor who can, as Eugene Peterson said "show up and shut up" and let people talk and work through problems, and help people gain some clairty through that process.

This was a fascinating conversation, on working through when you feel "stuck" and various aspects of the church body who can continually point us to Christ.

Show Notes:

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What's New from 1517:

• Bible in One Year with Chad Bird

• Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi

• Junk Drawer Jesus By Matt Popovits

More from the hosts:

• Gretchen Ronnevik

• Katie Koplin