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READERS RESPOND







              Letters to the Editor                          Short Takes
                Dear Editor:                                 An Interview with Eve Ilsen
                As a spiritual director, based in New Zealand, I find   Ilsen’s breadth of life experience and depth of perspec-
              your  advertisements  invaluable.  I  get  a  sense  of  what’s   tive was appreciated…. Learned very little about spiritual
              out there for me to grow in my ministry and such are the   direction and divine guidance, and too much about one
              choices that I also gain an insight into the breadth and   person’s interests…. Helpful guide—sensitive, real,
              depth of what I am doing.                      humble and poetic approach to spiritual direction and
                Also, I use your reviews as a source for my reading and   companionship…. Excellent interview; like being in the
              the eclectic mix enables me to deepen my own spiritual   presence of this spiritual light. Topics ran the gamut from
              journey. I have just ordered three books and the Inquiry   biography to practical guidance, yet the piece flowed
              Cards from the June 2014 Presence!             gracefully.… Didn’t find myself very much in tune with
                Your articles make for amazing reading as well. Many   this interview, but can see that it was full of wisdom….
              thanks.                                        So enriching to experience a new insight from the
                Susan Chrisp                                 Hebrew tradition; found the exploration of shame espe-
                New Zealand                                  cially valid…. Would have appreciated if she had applied
                                                             her approach to spiritual direction….  Very interesting
                Dear Editor:                                 and informative. Enjoyed the style of writing…. Deeply
                I am writing in response to Laura Thor’s article, “Living   moving, touched my heart with gratitude….
              in the Image of God:  Transgender People in Spiritual
              Direction.  (Presence,  December  2013).  Many  people   The Addicted Pilgrim
              who are engaged in LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and   Essential read for spiritual directors and seekers.
              Transgender) ministry are really not well educated on the   Mindfulness of our addictions is the first step towards the
              “B” and “T” of the acronym, with the “T” being especially   sacred.... Had some difficulty with the imagery of the car-
              challenging and worthy of much prayerful and earnest   ousel, but still found the idea of the “core wounds that lie
              education.  I am certainly one who has much to learn, and   at the very centre…as unique to us as our fingerprints” to
              this very rich article provides much guidance, enlighten-  be very powerful; likewise with the “pilgrim(age) into this
              ment, and references.  One of the most profound lines   heart of darkness.”… Important to be reminded about
              of thought within this writing deals with spiritual direc-  addictions—any way of telling when as a director I have
              tors serving as “God’s assistant midwives” to transgender   reached the core pain? How do addictive compulsions
              people, in which we “aim to cultivate within our spiri-  serve as surrogate relationships?… Extremely helpful—
              tual directee the capacity to sit in awe of what cannot be   both for me as a spiritual director and an addict!...
              understood except in God’s time to unveil it … [in] which
              God will birth seekers into their intended identity.”  I real-  Nurturing Healing Emotions in Spiritual Direction
              ize that this is very precious, tender ground on which we   Enjoyed  this piece….  Appreciate the  acknowledge-
              trod with transgender directees, so I am very appreciative   ment that so-called “negative” emotions are part of the
              of the work that people such as Laura Thor are doing.        human experience and therefore part of our listening
                Bradley A. Leger, PhD                        in spiritual direction. The presentation of certain “posi-
                Estherwood, Louisiana, USA                   tive” emotions as part of wholeness and healing through
                                                             spiritual  direction  is  thoughtful  and  helpful….  Never
                Dear Editor:                                 realized how deeply self-compassion fits in with the posi-
                Bruce  Tallman’s article in the March 2014 issue of   tive interaction between the emotions of the soul and the
              Presence was a disturbing piece of journalism for one who   contemplations of the spirit. Sometimes religion treats
              is, by choice, part of the 97 percent of spiritual directors   self-compassion as a weakness to be conquered…. Strong

                (LETTER TO THE EDITOR CONTINUED ON PAGE 60)        (READERS RESPOND CONTINUED ON PAGE 61)

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