For Neddy Yong ’23, 家庭和精神是紧密相连的. 她在教堂里长大, watching her grandfather and mother serve as ministers, 然后嫁给了她的伴侣, 谁是神学教授兼牧师. When she was looking to continue her education, she chose San Francisco Theological Seminary (sft), 住在威尼斯人平台 神学研究生院.
“I was drawn to the school because they had a program for 精神上的方向,Yong说。, 谁在追求 神学硕士 (MDiv)和a 精神指导艺术文凭. “I was able to take advant年龄 of both areas. The 精神上的方向 program was foundational for me in learning how to become a better listener.”
某种形式的 精神上的方向 is present in any religious tradition, especially those with experiential or contemplative emphases. A spiritual director is a person who sits with a spiritual seeker to support them and provide guidance for their path. While it is common for spiritual directors to operate independent and private practices, Yong is interested in working alongside church staff and community members to integrate 精神上的方向 into local ministries.
一种应对方法
In 2019, Yong and her family moved into student housing on the Marin campus. As an expectant mother with two other children and few friends in a new place, 她经历了更大的压力. She sought the guidance of a spiritual director who could help her thoughtfully navigate the transition.
“[sft] supports students with vouchers that make this resource more affordable. 我知道我需要支持和帮助, and so much transformation has happened in me since then,她说。.
For guidance, Yong looked to Ruth Mordecai, a spiritual director at 宗教间咨询中心 在圣安塞尔莫. 末底改是受过训练的 家庭内部系统 (IFS)模型, an integrative approach to individual therapy based on the idea that each mind is made up of multiple subpersonalities, 每个人都有自己的观点和品质. Yong was previously introduced to the framework while auditing a course at the Claremont School of Theology when her partner was a Ph.D. 候选人.
“I was really encour年龄d by what I learned in IFS because I learned skills to connect to my deepest self,她说。. “Integrating IFS with theology supports a belief that we, 在我们的核心, 善良和富有同情心, and that we have the capacity to love deeply.”
练习慈悲
借助IFS模型, Yong was able to treat herself with more kindness—an approach that she ultimately integrated into her family dynamic. 在一个 最近的博客 发表的 宗教中的女性主义研究她和她的伴侣Aizaiah G. Yong, refer to the framework as a spirituality of compassion. 在文章中, the Yongs encour年龄 other parents to adopt a perspective of compassionate care when faced with a challenge, especially while parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yong说，这样做的好处是双重的.
“With support from someone who is trained or if you continue to practice and train yourself, you develop skills from a compassionate core to tend to and care for yourself. When you can do that, you then have the resources to care for others,她说。.
Yong notes that this practice doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming—it can be as simple as pausing, 深呼吸, 感激你的呼吸.
另外, Yong says her children are developing emotional awareness and learning about langu年龄 and practices, 比如暂停, 呼吸, 花点时间处理自己的感受. “As parents do their work, they’re able to be a grounding force for their children,她说。. “Parenting is emotional coaching but it’s beautiful because we are cultivating an atmosphere in our home where we welcome all the parts.”
转变社区
杨的神学影响了她的教养, and she spends time reflecting on the Christian church and her religious experiences as an MDiv student. While characteristics such as nurturing and providing care are often understood to be maternal qualities, she says they are also characteristics of a divine spirit.
当我们学习基督教历史的时候, we learn how women and children were excluded from many of the theologies that originated in the church. 今天, there are more conversations about whose perspectives have been marginalized and how we can uplift those perspectives so that we can have more harmony and balance in our existence together,她说。.
期待, Yong aims to take the knowledge she acquired in her program and use it to transform spiritual connection within local communities in much the same way she was transformed at sft. “I have learned that I am deeply loved, and I believe that everyone is deeply loved,她说。. “We have infinite potential to co-create a world where everyone is well and thriving.”
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