by Rev. Laura Bratton
As spiritual directors we work with a wide range of people: people who grew up going to church and every United Methodist event offered, people who grew up as a member in the church but were not active, people who did not grow up in a church and are now seeking spiritual guidance, and countless other backgrounds. As we think about the various type of people we offer spiritual direction to, let’s think about people with disabilities. Is spiritual direction just as powerful for individuals who are disabled? Is it possible to give spiritual direction if the person has a disability? The answer to both questions is absolutely!
As a spiritual director who is blind, I know how transforming it is to receive spiritual direction as a person with a disability. In my book, Harnessing Courage, I write in great detail about the healing power I received through spiritual direction. Sitting with my director in silence as well as reflective conversation gave me the space to ask questions that we often ask in the midst of difficult circumstances. Questions such as: Why did this happen? Where is God? Does God still love me? Do I still have purpose in life? Spiritual direction gave me the space to explore each of these questions and come to a place of healing. A place of healing where I believed that indeed God was with me, God did love me, and yes, I still had a purpose in life.
As spiritual directors we have an incredible gift to offer people with disabilities. We have the gift of sitting in the holy presence of God while a person becomes aware that he or she is a beloved child of God. Now, you might be thinking: How do I offer spiritual direction to someone who has a disability. Do I have to know about their specific disability? As you think about these questions let me give you answers by sharing my experience. My first spiritual director would often read a passage of scripture during some point of the session. So, rather than handing me a Bible to follow along, she would read the passage aloud to me. Or, if I thought of a passage I would tell her about the passage and she would again read it aloud to me. The place where we met for each session had several icons around the room. So she would describe the different icons to me. As the spiritual director, it is not our job to know all about the disability. Rather it is our job to let the person know that we are willing to make the necessary accommodations so that spiritual direction can be a powerful experience. Remember that the person lives each day with the disability so he or she knows just what is needed to adapt the sessions. With the spiritual director being open to asking the person what accommodations are needed and the person being clear about any accommodations, the sessions will be a powerful source of healing and strength. May we each continue to share the amazing gift of spiritual direction with all people!
Rev. Laura Bratton is a pastor in the United Methodist Church, a spiritual director, and founder of Ubi Global LLC. She is the author of Harnessing Courage. Visit Laura’s website at www.ubiglobal.org.