The Questions of Life

Many wonder what they would explore or discuss if they were to meet with a spiritual director. Core questions live within most people and those questions sometimes become more persistent and ask for attention at different seasons of life? One resource for those entering spiritual direction that can help explore some of these core questions is the post-humous book by Henri Nouwen entitled Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith. I like this book for several reasons including the thoughtful exercises and reflection questions at the end of each chapter, and the fact that I can return to this book over and over and my responses to the questions presented change based on the circumstances of my life. It is dynamic resource that continually aids in the formation process.

But most of all I love the questions, the universal questions, that Henri offers for contemplation on this long walk of faith: Who am I? Where have I been and where am I going? What is prayer? Who is God for me? How do I hear the Word? Where do I belong? How can I be of service? Where do I go from here? These a dozens of other core questions drive us in our quest for knowing God. I like living with these questions brewing within me — questions with no easy answers, or no answers at all, plant me squarely in the center of divine mystery. It means I’m not living by a set of rules or clichéd responses to my questions, but by the freedom of the Spirit alive within me, stoking the fires for transformation.

In Henri’s words, “The first task in seeking guidance then is to touch your own struggles, doubts, and insecurities - in short, to affirm your life as a quest. Your life, my life, is given graciously by God. Our lives are not problems to be solved but journeys to be taken with Jesus as our friend and finest guide.” What are the questions stirring within you these days? How are you exploring these questions? What is opening for you as you sit with the questions? What is closing for you?