This morning I awoke to find my little exercise class at the Y had been cancelled. I spent a good 30 minutes procrastinating and deciding what to do, and finally swam a few half-hearted laps.

In physical exercise, having someone guide you is a great help. It’s the same with spiritual exercise.

In our June webinar on spiritual direction (we just released an edited version on the Renovaré Podcast), Carolyn asked, tongue firmly in cheek, about the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius, ​“So, can I just get a book and take myself through them?”

Trevor smiled: ​“I would not recommend that, no.”

For those unfamiliar, the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius are a 500-year-old series of structured practices and meditations that cover the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, given by a trained spiritual director through a 30-day retreat or daily over several months. They’ve been transformational for many, and they’re a bucket list item for me.

We recently learned about a new course, led by Trevor Hudson and others, that trains people on how to lead the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. It sounds like an amazing opportunity for spiritual directors who have done the Exercises and are looking to guide others through them (more details are at the bottom of this email).

Of course, not all of us can commit to a 30-day retreat or intensive training. Thankfully, sometimes a simple guided program can help move the needle in our spiritual life.

That’s the idea behind the Renovaré Book Club — which just opened its registration. For those of us who sometimes buy books and never read them, much less put them into practice (guilty!), the Book Club offers a plan and a gentle nudge: ​“This week read and try this.” (This season’s lineup is really good, check it out here.)

In re-listening to that webinar, I am reminded how much we need guides and communities of practice to make progress in loving God and loving each other.