Consider exploring your relationship with God by working with a Spiritual Companion. Pastor Dora J. Odarenko is beginning her third year of training to be a spiritual companion, and is currently under supervision. She is now welcoming clients, pro bono. You may contact her at 203-556-5076 or djodarenko@yahoo.com.
“As your Spiritual Companion, I will invite you into the process of understanding yourself more deeply on a spiritual level. My Guild for Spiritual Guidance—started over 40 years ago by Henri Nouwen, John Yungblut, Nan Merrill, Madeleine L’Engle, and others—uses the term “Spiritual Companion” rather than “Spiritual Director,” because this will be a listening, questioning, responding, and prayerful relationship, meant to help you understand yourself more fully on a spiritual level. I will not be a top-down professional “authority.” The aim of Spiritual Companioning is to give you a spiritual friend in this unfolding life journey that can be challenging and perplexing, as well as joyous. It is good to have a support and guide in times that can be as stressful and demanding as ours. The goal of a dedicated and trained Spiritual Companion is not to push you in a particular direction, but rather to support you as you reflect on experiences, memories, or dreams. Like Spiritual Directors, we follow strict guidelines for ethical conduct; conversations are strictly confidential. Hour-long, monthly sessions are private and sacred times together. As such, they will not simply be times for chatting about the week or for venting or for receiving advice. Your commitment will be to invite God into what you are experiencing and to explore ways in which a Divine Presence is working in your life. My commitment, as your spiritual friend, is to stand beside you.”
Illustration by Alice Popkorn