After more than thirty years of receiving spiritual direction, Valerie Roberts reflects on the safe space it has offered her to explore her inner life, encounter God in deeper places, and grow into greater authenticity and acceptance.

As a hospice chaplain providing spiritual care to patients and caregivers, I have borne witness to the pain of many souls.  Some struggle with questions such as: ‘Is God still present?’ ‘What’s the meaning of life?’ ‘Why does God allow suffering?’  As they wrestle with these complexities, I seek to offer a safe, hospitable space – not only in the physical environment, but in the inner room of my heart.

In the following excerpts, Carolyn Officer shares reflections from her personal diary written during a difficult season of despair, healing, and rediscovered hope. Together they offer an intimate glimpse into the role spiritual direction can play in helping us remain attentive to God’s presence amid life’s storms.

Nicky Brown is a spiritual director with a background in nursing. She is also an artist, creating  art inspired by the natural world and enjoys gardening and walking her dog, Asha, on the local beach and bush tracks. Married to Simon, she is a proud Mum to three young adults. In this blog post, Kathryn Overall-Cass has a conversation with Nicky about her formation journey and finding her way as a spiritual director.