Do you have an anamchara?
The Celtic word for 'soul friends' or 'spiritual director' is an anamchara.
St. Brigid, a 6th century saint said, 'a person without a soul friend is like a body without a head."
A soul friend provides: sanctuary, safe place to reveal, to ponder, to learn, and ---confession---so that the words may be heard in an audible way making us more aware of our sins and accountability. We lack safe places today and we grow restless in spirit--we are afraid to voice our honest questions because of fear of condemnation. An anamchara can help.
Tracey Balzer in Thin Places, tells the story of a friend who spoke to her students about the power of the secret life and the need to "break the secret.'
The anamchara ask questions and listens well. In essence, the anamchara enables a person to hear from God, listen to God, and to walk the life of faith better.
It is not good to be your own guide.
That statement at the end of chapter (2) was for me the best thing said.
Scot McKnight blog, August 31 2007
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