We’re back for another round of introductions to some of the most incredible people I know. I met Todd Spencer about 2.5 years ago in the context of our spiritual direction practices. Todd is one of the most humble, kind and thoughtful directors I know. He also has an unwavering dedication to living, receiving and giving the extravagant love of God. It’s the kind of love that always challenges me to offer myself more boldly to others, and to love others more unconditionally and deeply. His email signature says it all:
Good news is God’s love wins, starting now.
Introduce yourself to the Anam Cara readers. Who are you? Where do you live? What do you do other than spiritual direction?
My name is Todd Spencer and I live here in Colorado Springs. I have served as a spiritual director to adults in a formal fashion for 7 years. I am an ordained United Methodist minister and have serve in ministry to youth and young adults for 25 years.
What brought you to the ministry of spiritual direction?
My life was deeply changed by a number of great humored, deep-hearted contemplatives during my teenage and young adult years. Once I discovered how much my ministry was already becoming one of spiritual direction with teenagers and the wonderful adult volunteer staff I was leading, I went on a search for places to deepen that. First, I found a spiritual director to journey with. Then, I was thrilled to participate for 2 years in the Youth Ministry Spirituality Project led by Mark Yaconelli at San Francisco Theological Seminary. The goal of the YMSP was to develop a contemplative model of youth ministry in the congregational setting. So enriching, hope-filled and challenging! And then, some years later, I found The Shalem Institute and was given the opportunity to complete their Spiritual Guidance Program. What amazing souls and minds I met and learned from there. While I continue following my call in youth ministry, God has been blessing me with more and more adults who thirst for deeper waters with Christ in spiritual direction.
Why do you think spiritual direction is valuable?
What I see as most valuable in spiritual direction is, first, how it allows a person to slow down, breath and have undivided space to notice the presence of Christ who is stirring already in the person’s life. God’s eternity is where we already live. We don’t have to be other-worldly to discover the Divine Lover. But it really helps to have another person who has been swimming intentionally in deeper waters to help us hear and see and discern Christ’s handprints on our lives.
Also, like Richard Rohr says, there can come a time in a person’s life when they realize that their religion—with it’s structures, creeds, formalities, rigid attributes—is not enough. Not that it’s altogether bad. But it isn’t the Good News itself—only the imperfect vessel attempting to hold the Good News. Having a good spiritual director, hopefully, helps a person hold their religion, and themselves, more lightly and see how God is already moving, yes, perhaps through their faith tradition, but even more so beyond, around, under and in spite of it. Indeed, each day we breathe in God’s presence, but if we are not listening for how the Presence is wishing to aid, heal and love us, we are missing out on so much joy. God won’t force himself upon us, because that is not in God’s nature. But God will always draw near and direct the person calling out and then listening for response. Spiritual direction is a practice with rhythm and space for the potential of this to be experienced.
What’s your favorite thing about being a spiritual director?
There is so much I love about the work of spiritual direction. Probably, the parts that give me the greatest joy are: the slowing down and quieting that happens almost every time, the laughter that arises from a person feeling new freedom to be themselves in God’s hands, the long-term nature of the relationship and the life stories that I am very honored to hear. But there is much more!
What question about spiritual direction do you get asked the most? (And/or what question do you wish you got asked?)
Probably the one I get the most is: “How is spiritual direction different from counseling or therapy?” (Spiritual direction is not about problem-solving or fixing things, but paying attention in prayerful conversation for what God is doing or inviting us to participate in.) The questions I would enjoy being asked more often might be: “Would you tell me more about that song/piece of music you just played?” I enjoy the language of music (all kinds). I use at least one piece of music at the beginning of nearly every session. But I don’t talk a great deal about the specifics of the piece unless the person wants me to do so. Or, another question I like is: “Would you tell me more about the symbol/picture you have placed next to the candle?” Same kind of thing.
You were just given a yacht. What would you name it?
That’s a fun question! Maybe one of two names: “Centering Prayer,” for the spiritual practice that has most given me holy rest and a sense of rightness with the world. Or “Cuthbert’s Raft,” for the Celtic St. Cuthbert. During September of 2010, I was stranded overnight on Cuthbert’s Island, a tiny tidal island at the edge of the isle of Lindisfarne on the North Sea. I prayed, shivered in the rain and tried to sleep in a howling wind next to ruins at the foot of a wooden cross. This was one of the most liminal, and in many ways, humorous, experiences of my life. I wished I had Cuthbert’s raft.
Give us your life story in 6 words.
Life, death, new life; God’s grace.
My contact information is:
Todd A. Spencer
719.433.3493
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If you’d like to hear Todd’s voice (and some of his music), please feel free to visit his podcast here. Todd shares a regular podcast of lectio divina and meditation on both art and Scripture.