Dr. Aundrea Baker
Spiritual Director, Coach, and Enneagram Consultant
What is Spiritual Formation?
“The essence of Christian spirituality is following Christ on a journey of personal transformation.
The distant land to which we are called is not heaven. Nor is it some external, physical place.
The distant land is the new creature into which Christ wishes to fashion us—the whole and holy
person that finds his or her uniqueness, identity and calling in Christ. Spiritual friends
accompany each other on that journey.”
-David Benner, Sacred Companions: The Gift of Spiritual Friendship and Direction
The Spiritual Journey: Becoming Who God Created You to Be
The spiritual journey is a journey of transformation, a journey of becoming the person God created us to be. There are two main parts to this journey. First, there is the process of undoing and unlearning things that are not serving us on the journey. It is a deliverance from the false self that once helped us navigate the ups and downs of life. The second part is growing more and more into your true self, the self that God created you to be.
​
As Henri J.M. Nouwen writes in Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit, “Spiritual formation prepares us for a life in which we move away from our fears, compulsions, resentments, and sorrows, to serve with joy and courage in the world, even when this leads us to places we would rather not go. Spiritual formation helps us to see the face of God in the midst of a hardened world and in our own heart. This freedom helps us to use our skills and our very lives to make that face visible to all who live in bondage and fear. As Jesus told his disciples: ‘So, if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed’ (John 8:36).”
​
The process of becoming is not a journey that one takes alone. To bring seekers together for an opportunity of communal growth, healing, and support, spiritual formation retreats are offered as a safe space for abiding in the Spirit, connecting with oneself, and building spiritual friendships. Contact me for upcoming retreat offerings.
