Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction by Margaret Guenther

What makes this book so enduring is its tone. Guenther doesn’t write like someone

delivering spiritual advice from on high. Instead, she speaks as a seasoned friend who has spent years listening—really listening—to people’s longings, doubts, questions, and hopes. She is clear that the role of the spiritual director is not to instruct or to fix but to create space: space for the directee to speak honestly and space for God to speak gently.

Guenther describes the spiritual director with three rich metaphors: midwife, host, and witness. Each image captures the humility and reverence required in this ministry. Like a midwife, the director helps bring forth what God is already birthing in the soul. Like a host, the director welcomes the other, sets the table, and creates safety. Like a witness, the director stands alongside, acknowledging the presence and movement of God.

Throughout the book, Guenther shares stories from her own practice—moments of silence, surprise, struggle, and grace. These vignettes are not heroic tales but honest glimpses of what it looks like when two people seek to be present to God together. Her writing reminds us that the holy is often found in the small and seemingly ordinary moments of conversation and prayer.

What stands out most is her emphasis on the humanity of the director. There’s no need to be perfect, all-knowing, or spiritually advanced. What is required is deep listening, humility, compassion, and the willingness to hold another’s story with reverence and care.

Holy Listening is not just for spiritual directors. It is for pastors, caregivers, teachers, and

anyone who desires to listen more deeply to God and others. Guenther’s wisdom flows from a life of prayer, patience, and presence—and it offers something increasingly rare:

a vision of ministry that is quiet, faithful, and utterly attentive to grace.