Spiritual Empowerment for Single People II

CHOOSING A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR II

Living the single life can be a lot like being a hermit if you live alone, and you could learn from the hermits of old. The guide you choose could be a priest, a religious, a sponsor or a godparent; indeed, anyone who is experienced in guidance in the church, is detached enough to be objective, has the time and inclination, and is genuinely concerned about your soul. If you cannot find a priest to take any vows, go straight to Jesus and Mary in prayer. They will provide.

In the olden days, hermits like St. Antony of Egypt and St. Paul of Thebes simply left society, and lived under God and the Heavenly Host, or at least until they were discovered by the hierarchy. St. Antony was made into an abbot. St. Paul of Thebes was discovered by Antony just before Paul died, and had been away from the world for a long time, all but forgotten. Until recently, my life was a lot like theirs; totally hidden and obscure. Now I am honored by Cambridge Who's Who and Madison Who's Who because of my writings. But I still live alone quite happily, although at heart, I am as social as it comes.

Tell your spiritual director the truth about yourself, and not so much about your achievements, but about your problems. That is what is most important, because Jesus said he didn't want our left hand to know what our right hand had been doing. What do you talk about? Any of the topics will be covered in this book, including loneliness and affliction, or those questions you yourself may raise about life, love, work, scriptural experiences, even current events that have a bearing on your spirituality, or anything pertinent to your own life, whether it be lodgings to fasting to almsgiving. Before making any major decisions concerning your soul, ask your spiritual director for advice.

Although my spiritual director has little time to talk, I remember everything he says, and take it all to heart to ponder in prayer and reflection. In his decisions regarding me, I find the Will of God.

It is best to choose someone who already knows you, because then that person knows your history. Don't hide any faults. If you get someone gifted, the Holy Spirit will speak through that person Himself. Of course, your spiritual director is finite and imperfect, and occasionally you should rely upon your own personal relationship with God for the right answers. But if God Himself, Jesus Christ, subjected Himself to Mary and Joseph, and was even obedient to a man like Pontius Pilate, you can be sure that a wisely chosen spiritual director, who knows and cares about you, who knows the Church and its precepts, will teach you the value of giving way to authority.