SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR

‘“I stand at the door and knock,”
says the Lord.

What a wonderful privilege

that the Lord of all creation
desires to come to me.

I welcome God’s presence.’

By LINDA M. LINONIS

VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR

CANFIELD — Eileen W. Novotny read those words today on her daily visit to the Web site, www.sacredspaces.ie, a prayer site. The site offers a prayer each day and a visitor is guided through a 10-minute session focused on a passage of Scripture. It also has a special section for Lenten devotions.

As a certified spiritual director, Novotny helps people deepen their spiritual lives through prayer, reading Scripture and journaling. In part, she leads by example — faithfully praying every day. And she uses various resources, such as the Web site.

She emphasized that a spiritual director is “not a counselor or problem-solver.” If the conversation wanders into that territory, Novotny said she does not offer advice or counsel. But she said she may suggest professional counseling in some circumstances.

“My role is to listen to people talk about their relationship to God and about their prayer life,” she said. “It’s not about what’s in your head but what’s in your heart.

“The folks in the pews want to come to know God in a personal, conscious way,” she said. And that’s why and how people might come to work with a spiritual director.

“People usually have an issue ... a question about how to talk to God,” she said. And, she noted, each person has a different view of God — as the Holy Spirit, a light, the person of Jesus Christ or God the father. Some people, she added, may view God as judgmental. “But they come to realize that God loves and cares for them,” she said.

A graduate of the Ignatian Spirituality Institute at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Novotny said ideas, concepts and practices of St. Ignatius, the founder of the Society of Jesus, are the guide. St. Ignatius wrote “Spiritual Exercises,” a set of meditations and prayers.

“God is in all of creation ... not some distant being,” Novotny said of what St. Ignatius believed. Having put that idea forth, the next question might be ... “Where do you see God in your life?” Novotny said. And that’s the crux of the issue.

“Prayer changes things,” Novotny said. “We find out who and whose we are. And that leads to freedom ... we’re no longer caught up in things that have bound us.”

She noted that so many people are “angry” about life — grieving a loss of a person or job and can’t let go of their feelings, which are holding them in bondage.

“God wants us to be free. Then we’ll know who we are and develop ‘whose’ we are ... a loving child of God,” she said.

“When we develop a deeper relationship with God, we surrender those feelings and become free.”

In a private, quiet place behind the chapel at the Ursuline Center, 4280 Shields Road, called the Stations Room, Novotny meets with each person, usually once a week. The space gets its name from a display of medallions feature the Stations of the Cross. Stained-glass windows filter in light, creating a serene setting for prayer, reflection and quiet conversation. Novotny describes the space at the Ursuline Center as “contemplative” and the environment is safe and confidential.

Novotny’s service as a spiritual director involves a stipend, whatever the person can afford. She shares it with the Ursuline Sisters.

Novotny said that the person “sets the agenda” of what he or she wants to accomplish.

Novotny’s role is one of gentle but firm guide. “They have to be ready to make a prayer commitment of 30 minutes a day,” she said. “We spend time on Scripture from the life of Jesus,” she said.

Another component in the process is journaling.

“Writing down your thoughts is important,” she said. “When you look at your journal, you’ll see patterns. Once you see a pattern, you can change it. I think of journaling as a form of prayer.”

Prayer also can help people think and react in better ways to people, situations and life in general

“The person has to be willing to put time in time for prayer. Prayer is pivotal,” Novotny said. “It’s a retreat in daily life. But you have to get into a discipline.”

Among the important concepts is recognizing that “God is not only in church but he’s with you when you pray and he’s everywhere. It helps you see God in the ordinary ... and that’s a leap for some people.”

Novotny also encourages people to imagine this scenario — that God is holding their hand and that they are holding God’s hand.

“That’s part of it ... God is there for you but you be there for him.”