Practiced throughout Christian history, spiritual guidance is offered to those seeking to develop their spiritual lives more fully. More commonly referred to as spiritual direction, spiritual guidance explicitly indicates that the Holy Spirit is the director, and a thoughtful spiritual guide suggests and provides resources for nurturing the journey. While spiritual guidance is less problem-solving-oriented than therapy, both practices can easily complement each other.
As folks progress on their journey, deeper questions tend to arise. These can include:
- How could I engage a deeper connection with Divine Mystery?
- Where can I find meaningful work to do?
- Where is a source of security that will not disappear in a divorce, downsizing, illness, decline in the stock market, or loss of someone important?
- Is there some form of community that is willing to provide support for the journey?
- What can I really expect to happen when I pray, and how can I pray?
- What is my core identity?
- How can I create a more balanced life between work, play, rest, and worship?
- Where can I serve others in ways that will use my energized gifts rather than say yes to needs that drain me?
Spiritual guidance focuses more in the present and the options that are realistically available. Significant benefit can be gained by exploring aspects in one’s past such as early images of God, when prayer seemed to work, and experiences with the church. A key challenge is to explore the wide range of spiritual practices and prayer forms available and find a few that will fit one’s personality, stage in life, and experience with a faith tradition. These might include: guided meditations, journaling, repeated sentence prayer, daily devotions, chants, music, artistic expression, praying Scripture, walking in nature, centering, and discernment. The primary focus is on one’s relationship with God.
Spiritual Directors at Cedar Cross
We have several options for spiritual guidance at Cedar Cross, available for retreatants as needed and upon request.
Spiritual Direction is also available in tandem with an overnight individual retreat. Retreatants often find it helpful to incorporate one or two sessions for spiritual guidance while also allowing space to rest and reflect. Inquire for more information.
John Hilpert offers discernment in vocation, spiritual disciplines, ministry, or service. Jimmy Allen offers spiritual direction for general discernment. Please inquire if you have interest in working with a spiritual director as an element of your retreat.
Meet John Hilpert
John’s background is in vocational ministry and urban planning. He and and his late wife Margaret are the founders of Cedar Cross. As a spiritual guide, he offers help with spiritual disciplines, and discernment around vocation or ministry. In particular, John has long been an advocate for the ministry of the laity. John also enjoys designing outdoor sacred spaces, maintaining trails, and writing both short stories and non-fiction. He makes excellent soup.
Meet Jimmy W. Allen
Jimmy is a pastor with more than 20 years experience in vocational ministry and a graduate of Campbell University Divinity School and the Ruah School for Spiritual Direction. He first came to Cedar Cross as a spiritual directee, and now also serves as the retreat coordinator. His approach to spiritual direction is rooted in fostering an awareness of Spirit’s leading and God’s ever-present grace. He is known for going to the net in doubles’ tennis, and he can quote most episodes of the Andy Griffith Show.
Most commonly, meetings with a spiritual guide are once a month for about an hour. A payment of your own pay rate for 2 hours of work is suggested. This covers our prep, session, and followup. For extensive phone or email exchanges, please send an appropriate payment. If a session is canceled within 24 hours of the appointment, a payment is expected. While one-on-one sessions are the most common format, group spiritual guidance is available.
Jimmy Allen
Ginger Allen