Samantha M Rauh

My most recent article on Silence. Check it out on my substack (link in bio).

https://open.substack.com/pub/samanthamrauh/p/is-it-possible-to-hear-god-in-silence?r=4c0mce&utm_medium=ios

So what is Spiritual Direction? The simple answer: Holy Listening.

If you have ever been in a counselors office, you know that most of the time you show up and just talk. They will ask you if there is something in particular or keep the conversation going and through their questions, you end up talking about what you needed to talk about whether you knew it beforehand or not.

Spiritual Direction is not unlike that. You show up with your Spiritual Director with a set intention: further intimacy with God. Maybe it is recognizing God in your moment by moment. Maybe you are questioning God's presence in your life completely. Maybe you have a big life decision you need an answer on and you aren't sure you are recognizing God's voice.

A candle is lit for the invitation of the Holy Spirit and invitation for the Triune God to be at the center of this time.

The Holy Spirit is in control of the session.

From there, there may be a spiritual practice you begin with, or perhaps silence. Whatever you bring to your session, your Spiritual Director listens. Based on what you share, or perhaps body language, or your own questions, the Spiritual Director ask questions and point out observations they are noticing.

You will wrap your time with prayer and blessings.

You will not get your Spiritual Directors opinion, personal theology, or political convictions. You will not be told what to do by your Spiritual Director. Your Spiritual Director will not claim to have all the answers.

Your Spiritual Director will dedicate time for intentional prayer for you and what you bring. They will see their own Spiritual Director and peer mentor group to keep themselves accountable and focused on the Holy Spirit, not their own will.

Personally, my Spiritual Director has kept me grounded in my faith and helped me recognize blocks/walls I have put up between myself and God.

When we were living in the RMH while Lucy was in the NICU, I randomly got a message from .kites . Over the last three years, I have seen Danielle and her team continue to advocate and grow this beautiful non profit into a community space, coffee shop, garden, and continue to send celebration and encouragement to new families added to our world—the lucky few. As my own path continues to be refined, I reached out for feedback in what I have been called to do and my own platform, not expecting to be asked to be added as a resource to their own site. I am so honored and grateful for this community who not only supports from step one but continues to support thousands of steps later.

My platform? Spiritual Direction for families navigating disability and theology.

So, you can find me on my own website and under the resources page for Illinois on .kites 💛💙 thank you so so much and praying that we can continue to encourage, love, and support our community and that is spills over into the whole world so there is no question to the worth of our children.

Happy Down syndrome awareness month! My goal this month is to write something everyday. Here is day one’s post.

Realizing We Don't Belong Here How a gymnastics class brought to light my fears for my daughter

1. Energy at the beginning of the week
2. Energy at the end of the week
3. Meanwhile, Lucy thriving at Camp Grandma and Grandma with her counselor, Uncle Zach

This week has been an adventure. Being away from Lucy and Juneau has been difficult…so has realizing I really am getting old by how often I complained about my feet.

Despite it all, the Lord was (and is) evident and faithful.

Three years and forever to go

I love you the morstest

❤️

Easter
Nap time
Snack time
New best friends
And
Enjoying the sunshine

Photo dump of the last month ☀️

OH and if you are looking for a spokesmodel, I think you found your girl 😉

Crossroads Soul Resources
What a blessing to spend my day with these beautiful souls today.

My newest post-check it out and consider subscribing to my substack

Inclusion for All; Just Not for You A reflection of my first published writing on Disability Ministry, and where we are now

Conviction is a scary thing. I can’t stay publicly silent about this anymore.
Go to https://open.substack.com/pub/samanthamrauh/p/already-invisible?r=4c0mce&utm_medium=ios to read a reality for so many of us right now.
Please share.

It may not have been France
But it was still freezing in Peoria
And some of us began to lose our voices
But we still supported one another like the world wasn’t crumbling around us.
We learned the importance of communication
Especially between men and women.
And that at the best of times
We can bust out of the closet and share our true feelings.
Though the Civic Centers hot dogs were $5,
Not following the faithful promise by our beloved Costco,
It at least made space for both Disney Princesses AND the Founding Fathers to support analysis and thought.
As long as there was breath in our lungs,
We celebrated being there, together, creating and accomplishing something beautiful-
Even if we experienced our individual heartbreak.
Our deadlines may not have been pressing,
But there was an urgency to exchange of expression and awe at each persons talent and what is shared with us all.
It is in those moments, if we had been questioning if any of this actually matters,
It is clear that it ALL does;
Because everyone is going through something, so you never know how far your kindness can go.
We thank each and everyone one of you for tuning in on this craft and our lives. Remember that it is never too late to chase and accomplish your dreams.
You all really are dza baddies…
Hiee-Fumph.

(Brought to you by Social Taco, “Come for the taco, stay for the social.”)


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