Introducing Spiritual Accompaniment with Greg Colley, OFS

What is "spiritual accompaniment"?

Spiritual accompaniment is a ministry of listening, discernment, and prayer in a confidential setting of encouragement and compassion. Traditionally it has been called "spiritual direction," but in my approach, it is not really about one person "directing" the other. Rather, it is about my being present with you as you seek the path which draws you closer to God. And this is a journey of continuous exploration across the warp and weft of your life, not a short term pursuit of milestones. 

Spiritual accompaniment has been called “holy listening.” In spiritual accompaniment, we pledge to journey together for a time in order to listen together for the voice of the Divine in your life. Through listening, reflecting, in a confidential setting of prayer and encouragement, we seek to discern God’s leading. The goal of Spiritual Accompaniment is well-expressed in hymn: to see God more clearly, love God more dearly, and follow God more nearly in our daily lives. The goal of spiritual accompaniment is that you grow closer to God and become more the person God dreamed you to be. I believe spirituality is a universal aspect of human life, and so this is an exploration of the spiritual aspect of being human.

As a spiritual companion, my role is to listen and journey with you while you discern the presence and work of God’s spirit in your life. As your companion, I intentionally set aside the concerns of my own life to listen and attend to your experience of God in your  life.

Spiritual accompaniment is more about the path to joy that leads through life's challenges than it is about short term happiness. It is more about becoming conscious of God's presence and love in your life than it is about specific prayer practices (although we can talk about those, too). It is more about questions than it is answers.

There are many gifts in spiritual accompaniment.
Here are just a few that you might experience:

• Noticing and savoring your own experiences of God
• Finding ways to integrate spirituality into your daily life
• Receiving understanding, encouragement, and affirmation
• Discerning and making important or difficult choices
• Sharing challenges, losses, or disappointments
• Celebrating joys, accomplishments, and moments of gratitude
• Developing a sensitivity for justice and concern for the poor
• Growing in your relationship with God, yourself, others, and all of creation
• Deepening your freedom to live a more authentic life

Please explore some of the resources I have provided on these pages, including:
What happens in spiritual accompaniment?
Who is a spiritual companion?

And feel free to send me a message or give me a call if you would like to speak to me or meet with me.

May God grant you peace!