January 2007

The other week my Spiritual Direction class watched a video, "September 11th: God at Ground Zero." As an assignment, we were to write a one page reflection paper on the video from the perspective of a spiritual director and how we would respond to directees who had been through the experience. I thought for January, it would be appropriate to post what I wrote as this months newsletter. Feel free to respond if you feel so moved, my e-mail is below.

September 11th: God at Ground Zero

        That morning was one of those moments we wish we could do over again. It was one of those times we wish we could change for after it had passed, as a country we entered into the collective conscious of a world staring evil in the face and we discovered much to our chagrin, we couldn’t get rid of it. As much as we would like to think ourselves safe from terror, removing it from our lives can never be done. It is a hard reality, but one we must deal with as spiritual directors and as human beings.
       Though I cannot imagine what it must be like to loose so much in a single hour, the things people said in response to their loss reminded me of questions of my own I have been grappling with for some time. The answers are not apparent, I am trying to live with not knowing, but there are some truths within the questions I have become aware of, questions many of my directees will share. Though the questions are varied, the truths are startlingly similar. I believe they all have to do with the fact there is a greater evil we all share, deeper than any one act of violence. We are all perpetrators of it, all victims of it, and most importantly, we are all survivors of it. More vital, there is a bigger God than we could ever imagine, bigger than us, bigger than what we cannot see, and bigger than the evil we can see. As someone stated in the video, “You have to hope for something much deeper.” He is the One who is deeper; He is the one we find when all we have are pain-filled questions. We must each come to this place of not knowing, of accepting the greater reality of not knowing why. There is a reason beyond reasons, there is a love beyond love, and there is a true God who is beyond it all.
        It’s not that the answers are unimportant, but perhaps we can encourage one another as directors and directees to sit a little longer with the questions. Though it is not what we usually do in our culture, perhaps it is time to let the questions just be without answers, perhaps it is at last time to let the questions speak for themselves. As directors, we can help our directees hear what their questions have to say.

In Him,

Sarah Katreen Hoggatt

New Poem!

This poem was composed on a morning walk last Winter in the neighborhood around my campus. School had been delayed and the outdoors drew me to experience the snow in silent wonder. Considering the current weather around America, and especially where I live in the Willamette Valley, I thought this one was especially appropriate for this month.

Morning Snow

Branches bathed in purity

reverently resting in awe of your reign.

Below, daffodils bowed in holy white vestments

before your sacred throne.

Quietly, these gentle blessings fall to the ground—

living icons walking us into prayer.

You lovingly reveal the world in silent glory

and my heart kneels down before your grace.

News

A Christian bookstore in Gig Harbor, WA, called "Good News Christian Books and Music,"

is now carrying the second book, "In His Eyes" for $14.95. The address is:

Good News Christian Books and Music

5500 Olympic Dr
Gig Harbor WA 98335-1487

(253) 858-9477

Last Updated: 12/30/2011