Glenn Duthie: Spiritual Formation

Spirituality formation: An overview

Christian Spiritual formation is a relational process of intentional transformation whereby our heart and soul as the inmost dimensions of our humanity are being changed in such a way that their natural expression becomes the love of Jesus Christ expressed through the power of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual formation focuses on a person’s actual experiences of their relationship with God. It is intensely practical being lived out in the world today.

There is an emphasis on…

• Spiritual formation as a journey, a set of attitudes and insights, not a program or set of rules to follow. It respects people’s lived experiences and honours the vast diversity of God’s work in the world.
• There is a focus on discerning God’s presence in the everyday activities of ordinary life. Understanding God as always at work inviting us to greater intimacy with Him.
• Developing an active attentiveness to God along with our prompt responsiveness to Him. This call-response rhythm of the inner life makes discernment and decision making especially important.
• Spiritual formation that focuses more on the heart than the intellect. There is a great emphasis on the emotional life: the use of imagination in prayer, discernment and interpretation of feelings, cultivation of great desires, and generous service.
• There is an emphasis towards interior freedom to make a wholehearted choice to follow God.
• There is an importance on reflection and self-scrutiny to review the day’s activities with an eye toward detecting and responding more to the presence of God.
• Spiritual formation that is “contemplative in action” which means living a rich inner life while at the same time being committed to social justice and a radical giving of oneself to others as a way for everyone to seek and find God in their workplaces, homes, families, and communities.

Spiritual direction: My role

Spiritual direction is concerned about the quality of a person’s relationship with God. My role is not to “direct” in the sense of giving advice and solving problems, but rather to help you respond to God’s invitation to a deeper relationship. In a sense, my role is to help you pay attention to what God is saying and how you are responding to His personal invitation to deeper faith and more generous service. My job is to support you to grow in intimacy with God and to live out the consequences of this relationship.