There have been many world-class athletes who have spoken highly of how significant a role their coach played in their success. The idea of reaching the highest level of your sport without having a coach helping guide you is almost unthinkable today. At the minimum it would put an athlete at a big disadvantage.
In tennis, some lower-ranked players who cannot afford a full-time coach often discuss how unfair it is. Could the same be said for our need as Catholics to have a spiritual director in our lives?
Most Catholics do not have such a person in their lives. Perhaps they don’t even know that this is available to us, but we all really should. Spiritual directors are a gift.
While I don’t wish to equate sports coaches and spiritual directors, there are some similarities in their roles.
One parallel is that coaches and directors need to know the person they are working with very well; they are not mind readers, nor is the direction they offer one size fits all.
The factors that have brought an individual to this point in their journey are vital in making a daily plan. It involves both listening and then talking/directing the best route.
Before a tennis match, a coach will figure out what the student’s style and strengths are and will help formulate a game plan from that. For a different player there may be different strategies based on the athletes God-given gifts.
Another commonality is both coach and director must be extremely knowledgeable and trained in their fields.
Both coaches and spiritual directors should have transformational relationships and effects on the individuals put in their care. Their motivation should be out of love for the individual not a desire for control. They need to be empathetic while challenging.
In both cases there are strategies, daily norms, and exercises that will be recommended to help the person be prayerful and grow closer to their goal. The person receiving direction needs to be docile and fully participate in the plan. As hockey analysts often say, “the players have to buy into the plan” and be accountable.
Sessions or time together should be regular, not infrequent, for both sports and spiritual direction. We need to often review how we are progressing in our journey and avoid getting off track as the temptations to slack off are very challenging. It is important to recognize bad habits early to avoid discouragement.
Ultimately both of these types of leaders are trying to help an individual experience victory. For the sports coach/athlete that victory is on the court or field of play. For the Catholic that victory is eternal life in heaven with Jesus.
Catholic Athletes for Christ based in the United States provides spiritual direction to numerous professional athletes, especially in Major League Baseball and the National Football League.
Today people seek regular help and advice from an expert in every aspect of wellness and recreation. Be it a physiotherapist, Pilates instructor, tennis pro, or yoga instructor, we need to have weekly routines and guidance to both maintain and develop our skills to a higher level.
Before choosing a coach, you ask around to see who is best at dealing with your needs. Why then do we not make the same effort to find a spiritual director? Could it be that we don’t believe that growing closer to God and knowing his plan for me isn’t as important? Or do we not know where to find a spiritual director? Does fear keep us away?
As Father John Bartunek at spiritualdirection.com says, “We cannot be our own spiritual director, we need an objective point of view.”
Don’t underestimate the extraordinary importance that a spiritual director can play in helping us understand and listen to the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives and therefore become increasingly holy.
If you want to read more about spiritual direction I recommend Through Wind and Waves by Francis Fernandez-Carvajal and Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Father Jacques Phillipe.
Pray to God, talk to friends, and contact your pastor for suggestions about a spiritual director. It is very hard to go through the journey of life alone, and we are not expected to.
