Patriarchy, Choir Boys and the #ChurchToo Movement

Last updated on: November 17, 2018 at 9:29 am By Teresa Blythe

It seems churches are churning out “choir boys” who don’t know how to treat women. In light of the contentious battle on Capital Hill around the Judge Kavanaugh nomination and a lot of misunderstanding around consent, I am revisiting this piece about appropriate attitudes toward women, especially in churches, as described by those in the #ChurchToo movement. Women are trying to get a point across on this subject and we are not being heard. Patriarchal religious institutions often treat women... Read more

Praying for Our Enemies

Last updated on: September 17, 2018 at 11:31 am By Teresa Blythe

If we are to love our enemies, as Jesus emphatically taught, we ought to keep them in our prayers. It’s the last thing many of us want to do these days. Who is my enemy? People who strive to be good don’t like to think we have enemies. Your enemy is someone who is working against you; someone who does not have your best interest at heart; perhaps someone who hurt you and shows no remorse. Part of being human... Read more

Listening to Spirit: Interpreting the Diversity of the Divine Voice

Last updated on: September 4, 2018 at 8:49 am By Teresa Blythe

For some time now, the motto of my denomination, the United Church of Christ, has been “God is still speaking.” This leaves us to wonder: how do we listen? It’s such an important question. What is God’s voice like? Is it still and small? The sound of sheer silence? Is it an “aha” moment when we needed it? Since we’re all made so differently, it stands to reason that the voice or leading of the Spirit will be experienced in... Read more

The Truth About Spiritual Growth

Last updated on: August 17, 2018 at 5:10 am By Teresa Blythe

People usually enter spiritual direction in order to experience spiritual growth. It’s a tough thing to gauge since spiritual experiences vary greatly. But now and then it’s important to look back and consider where and how spiritual growth has taken place. The longer you are in spiritual direction, the easier it is for both you and your director to evaluate this. I prefer the directee be the one who names what they have seen happening in them as a result... Read more

What To Expect When Meeting with A Spiritual Director

Last updated on: August 2, 2018 at 7:31 am By Teresa Blythe

Spiritual direction may be exactly what you need, but if you are not sure what it even looks like, you may have hesitated to call or contact a spiritual director. So, here’s a snapshot: You and a spiritual director sitting in a quiet, private space perhaps with a lit candle on a table nearby, discussing whatever life experience you want to share. Because it is a form of spiritual guidance, the director will invite you to explore how your life... Read more

The Holiness of Ordinary Time

Last updated on: July 3, 2018 at 9:38 am By Teresa Blythe

Although these days feel pretty extraordinary in their weirdness, Christians are actually deep into what is historically known as Ordinary Time. This period is the long season with no significant religious holidays until Advent, a time marked by the blessed lack of insistence that we focus on particular aspects of the Christian story and freedom to go (liturgically speaking) wherever we need to go! Being Ordinary I’ve always been more comfortable with Ordinary Time, and frankly, with being ordinary. When... Read more

Making a Living as a Spiritual Director

Last updated on: June 15, 2018 at 8:18 am By Teresa Blythe

When I was in training to become a spiritual director, the class was told not to even consider doing this work full time, as if it couldn’t be done. I took that as a challenge! Then I met people who were doing it full-time. Most of them were supported by their religious orders or an institution (a few churches hire full-time spiritual directors) but as years went by I began to meet people, like myself, who were making spiritual direction... Read more

Wrestling with My Inner Donald Trump

Last updated on: May 22, 2018 at 1:27 pm By Teresa Blythe

Part of my task as a spiritual director these days is coming to terms with parts of myself that get in the way of inner growth. The part I find most disturbing is my Inner Donald Trump. As I work with my own spiritual director around archetypes (a pattern, model or type at play within our personality), I am aware of a part of myself that gets so angry at our President because it seems he can do whatever he... Read more

Spiritual Direction Demystified

Last updated on: April 2, 2018 at 7:15 pm By Teresa Blythe

I can’t tell you how many times people have told me if they had only known about spiritual direction they would have started it long ago. Of course, certain populations, such as clergy and members of monastic orders have known about spiritual direction for ages. But the practice of exploring your spiritual path with a trained listener whose only desire is to help you grow in awareness of your understanding of God is for anyone who needs it—regardless of vocation... Read more

Why We Need a Spiritual Guide

Last updated on: March 26, 2018 at 3:47 pm By Teresa Blythe

While going it alone can be peaceful, even then there are times we need a spiritual guide. Last week I intended to use the sacred spiral at the Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix as a labyrinth. I entered and began to walk the spiral clockwise because a native friend of mine convinced me that clockwise was the way of nature. My goal was to shed worries and fears moving into the depths of the spiral and feel empowered as... Read more