Andy Otto’s Hope for Spiritual Direction
“I hope that we embrace spiritual direction as a ministry that excludes nothing. We don’t only speak about prayer…. Ignatius understood that God touches all parts of our lives. There is nothing off limits for spiritual direction because God is somehow involved in everything.
Spiritual direction is more important than ever as we move into the future. In a world that fragments experience, we offer integration. In a culture that says some things are secular and others are sacred, we say it’s all sacred ground.
Transformation comes through a kind of holy unlearning by peeling away the layers that obscure what’s there. Our directees are seeking something that they already possess. Our role is to help remove the veils that obscure what is already present – their inherent worth and identity as beloved children of God.”
This month’s reflection is offered by Andy Otto. Andy is a spiritual director and pastoral associate for faith formation at St. Thomas More Church in Decatur, Georgia. He spent nearly three years as a Jesuit in formation, where he was shaped in Ignatian spirituality through pastoral ministry, academic study, and Clinical Pastoral Education. Andy trained in spiritual direction through the Jesuit Collaborative in Boston. He offers the Spiritual Exercises and retreat ministry at Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center in Atlanta. He is the author of God Moments: Unexpected Encounters in the Ordinary and the creator of God In All Things, an online resource for Ignatian spirituality.
Watch the video above or listen on our podcast feed below.
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