Saving One Life

Spiritual direction has the potential to save lives. I’m not talking about religious salvation but literally saving a person from personal destruction.

Listening Saves Lives

What good spiritual directors do–the very act of prayerfully and deeply listening to someone as they share their joys, their challenges and suffering in life–might be all an individual needs to keep their chin up and keep going.

I’m thinking especially of people who have been abused, shunned or marginalized by churches who decide “who’s in and who’s out” of favor with God.

LGBTQIA+ and Religious Trauma

I’m especially concerned about the plight of young adults who are LGBTQIA+, a population that is many times vilified by conservative churches. Thankfully, more people are becoming open and affirming of queer people, however the statistics show we have a long way to go. The Newport Academy has published a report that begins this way:

Research shows that lesbian, gay, bi, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) teens are at increased risk of suicide and mental health issues like depression and anxiety. One of the most startling statistics: LGBTQ+ teens consider suicide and make suicide attempts at about four times the national rate for all adolescents.

These numbers shed light on the critical importance of mental health services and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth. Parents, teachers, mentors, and policymakers must help ensure that LGBTQ+ teens receive ongoing support and access to mental healthcare resources.[i]

Being a Non-Judgmental Presence

Spiritual directors who work with LGBTQIA+ people have a responsibility to deeply listen, show compassion and support open and affirming attitudes. Directors who are condemning or disapproving of sexual and gender minorities simply should not do the work until they educate themselves on the importance of loving their queer neighbor and are openminded enough to listen without judgment.

You may be saving one life.

And every life is important, because we never know how we are affecting history when our acceptance saves even one life.

The Exodus story of Shiphrah and Puah (Exodus 1:15–21) proves that point. By being clever and disobedient, these two Hebrew midwives averted a genocide of Hebrew baby boys which allowed one of the greatest leaders in biblical history—Moses—to live. [ii]

We have no idea whose life we are saving when we serve God.

Spiritual directors, I implore you. Serve God. Save a life. Stand up against discrimination and hate and stand with our LGBTQIA+ brothers and sisters, some of whom have been seriously harmed by religious and spiritual abuse.

[i] https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/lgbt-suicide-rates/

[ii] Special thanks to an inspiring sermon on this topic by Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, Former Associate General Minister of Justice & Local Church Ministries at United Church of Christ, to UCC SWC annual meeting Saturday May 1 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.