Page 1 - 31-3 Connections August 2022

Connections

The Public Square of Spiritual Companionship
August 2022 Volume 31.3

Share this Letter with Anyone

Curious about Spiritual Direction

and Companionship –

Why Learning is a Calling

By Steven Crandell

After five years as Director of Content, I am were easier to equate with recognition and money.
parting ways with SDI. I am deeply grateful It has taken me this long – I’m now 63 – to discover
my intuition as a young man was right. Learning is
for the opportunity to serve our extraordinary
enough. It is abundance. And the most profound
community of deep listeners. I offer my blessings learning we can do is within. This kind of learning
and my thanks to you all - for the tender, is itself a spiritual practice. It is also a metaphor for
anchoring and ultimately, liberating space you how to live our lives fully.
hold for others every time you listen to them.
I have spent the last five years of my working
Your open hearts embody and encourage
life as the Director of Content for SDI, Spiritual
presence. Your companionship reminds us that Directors International. We are an educational
we have access to connection, meaning and nonprofit serving 6,000-plus spiritual directors and
purpose - here and now, in any moment, always. spiritual companions in 42 countries around the
world as well as all the people they companion.
What a gift you bring. Please continue to share it
Spiritual companionship is present in all religious
whenever and wherever you are able. I love you traditions. It also serves those people who honor
all. – Steven Crandell multiple traditions or none. Spiritual directors hold
space for others with deep listening, respect for
When I was a freshman at university, I felt deep- the agency of the other, contemplative practice
down that learning itself was a calling. But my (prayer, meditation, nature, there are many ways to
ego refused to accept this and pushed me to use connect to the infinite) and open-ended questions
learning as a lever to achieve other objectives that that help others find their own life-giving questions.

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