Walking Each Other Home

2020 September Blog by Carol Kandiko, CSA ~ Once a month I meet with my Spiritual Director. We both agree that a more appropriate title for her position is Spiritual Companion. She does not direct my journey toward a known end. She walks with me on whatever part of the path I am traveling and she listens to my story. She asks questions for me to consider and points out wonders that I might otherwise miss. Although the process can at times be very challenging and awkward, ultimately it is a truly peaceful and non-directive experience for both of us. I have thought of calling her a Spiritual Listener or Mirror or Cheerleader. I do know that without her willingness to go with me, I certainly would not be moving as steadily as I am.

We aren’t best buddies, but she knows more about me than any of my family or friends. It is very comfortable and helpful to have someone marking my progress on the unique path that I have stumbled upon.

At times I get to sit in the listener’s chair to be a Spiritual Companion for another. It is a special and humbling privilege to be so trusted and an extraordinary opportunity to be allowed to see into other inner worlds and other ways of growing in grace. These God-centered relationships are precious.

What about you? Is your journey through life a lonely trek through strange territory or do you have a companion to share the experience with you? It would be someone you trust to be honest with you, to be open and to truly listen. Someone who would be able to be unbiased and non-judgmental, patient and loving. Sometimes good friends can do this for each other, but being too close to a given situation can be a liability. If there is a doubt, seeking a Spiritual Companion is worth the search.

In my life I’ve had a variety of persons filling this position. Not all have been “matches made in heaven,”  but all have helped me toward the goal of becoming more and more uniquely me. There are a few certified Spiritual Companions who meet with their companions at Centering Space. You can look them up on our website. And beyond that there are many qualified religious and lay persons who fill this role. It is easy to find them if you are serious about it.

Of course, for those who have come to recognize the Divine Presence in all creation, everyone and everything can be a Spiritual Companion. As Ram Dass has said “We’re all just walking each other home.”